USE OF PACIFIER FOR BABIES

oops sorry for my assumption...welcome to fatherhood and all the best....

Hi,

Thanks for the input. Last night we tried not to give him. Then he slept anyhow, but after few moments, he woke up and never fall to sleep. WE fed him and he gave in. After the milk, he was crying again.

We put the pacifier on his mouth for 30 seconds then he slept.

Whew difficult decision though.

By the way I am a new Dad.

I am for pacifiers any slight chance that it may reduce SIDS is a bonus to me.....

Keypoy05...once u rule out any medical issues re weight/loss and u find that the problem is the pacifier..discontinue use of it..as it sounds like its causing u more grief than its worth...

However if ur child is happy with it..its obviously working..

My first child cried for three weeks non stop when he was born and i was against using them back then...and to my horror my husband gave it to him at 4am in the morning (on his shift) and he stopped crying and slept through 5 hours....he loved it...and i can assure u his appetite didnt increase..he would happily spit it out in lieu of feeding...

My second child hated it..he would spit it out constantly..but i insisted he has it due to reports that it may elp decrease SIDS which scares me in their first year of life.

As for dependancy on it when my son turned 17 months i just explained to him that he no longer needs it anymore as he started to have one in each hand and one in his mouth (lol)which wasnt a nice look..my second child was born andi explained to him it is only for babies and now its his brothers turn to use them.He only asked for it once and never mentioned it again.. In fact he used to pop them into his brothers mouth to pacifiy him.

Its a personal descision wheather u use one or not..If its worrying u dont use it b/c ur baby will feel the stress you r under and in turn will make your baby stressed out...

As for the mother in law.." a long story suggests that there input into ur parenting descisions which conflict with your. Nip them in the bud before they get out of hand...Being a new mum can be stressfull enough an u dont need others stressing you out more. If their input isnt constructive..just thank them for their advice and just do what u want...its hard to do..but sooner is better than later..

And good luck with being a new mum...its a 24/7 unpaid job but they are worth it...

Keypoy05....i really think u should take ur baby to a dr..re loss of appetite/weight...i ve never come across a child losing apetite/weight due to use of pacifiers ( icould be wrong, but never come across it...i would take my child to a dr to rule out anything else..

mimi..ur the article u supplied is a great one and this should help mothers make an informed descision about use of pacifiers..

Irrysa,

Yes i think so. I prefer cuddling him really than putting the pacifier. But I guess i am pacified by your answers. Still collecting though.

Thanks.

Hello Moonbeam,

Thanks for your words. Maybe our difference is that my baby is no longer breast fed after his first month.

oh, that is quite early to use a pacifier, isn't it?

i thought ur baby was older.

but if u see anything that is bothering u, just stop giving it to ur baby.

if u have some serious concerns why ur baby isn't eating, the best for u is talk ot ur doc.

If you're looking for a problem, you're probably gonna find one.

Hello Irrysa and Mimi,

Thanks for your quick replies. Our baby is now three months old, and up to last night, he was a user of this pacifier starting June 2007 of this year.

Currently, i really pity for him because sometimes he doesnt drink the milk even after the 4 hour interval of a 4 oz drinking bottle.

Funny thing sometimes is I can hear myself murmur (not cursing) for introducing the pacifier to him.

Irrysa, waiting for him to enter nursery/kindergarten before removing him might be too long. Last night i was watching the photos before and after the use of the pacifier, and you can really see the difference of their cheeks (fatter before the use). He weighs 6 kilos when he was 2 months up to now. Of course, i am not blaming it to pacifiers but might be the cause.

Even my friend who has a one and a half month daughter noticed the slight drop of his weight. His newborn can finish an 8 oz milk in a staright session, and he baby is not using pacifier. My small boy cannot even finish sometimes the 4 oz bottle.

Please help more. I am really desperate.

I agree very much with what was written on cnn. At the end of the day the choice is yours.

In my experience, it did not interfere at all with breast feeding, and I had no problems weaning my baby off the pacifier.

The up side of using a pacifier, is that if your baby needs the comfort of sucking on something, if he or she doesn't have a pacifier, they'll end up using their thumb. In the end, it's harder for the parent to stop a baby sucking it's thumb (you can't remove a thumb!) :) and toddlers tend to get dirty hands from walking on the floor....so you can imaging what goes in their mouth then. :)

Anyway, good luck on your decision; at the end of the day you know your baby best.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Mahatma Gandhi

how old is ur baby?

my experience: sometimes it is really hard to convince ur baby to stop using the pacifier. the same story goes for sucking the thumb.

usually the baby is really nervous when we try to stop this habit.

but i know that kids who started going to nursery/kindergarten usually give up this habit quite easily and without any big stress...why? because they see that other kids don't do that :o)

it actually stops by itself then :o)

i don't know how old is ur baby, but if u i am not sure if it would be the reason for him/her for not gaining weight.

maybe u need to consult a doc about this?

good luck!

If you're looking for a problem, you're probably gonna find one.

Hi kepoy05!

I found this article on CNN, thought you migt be interested in reading it.

From MayoClinic.com

Special to CNN.com

Babies are born wanting to suck. Some even suck their thumbs or fingers before they're born. Beyond nutrition, sucking is often an important method of self-soothing — a comforting, familiar and calming mechanism in a new world.

That's why many parents rank pacifiers as must haves, right up there with diaper wipes and onesies. But are pacifiers really OK for your baby? Although the answer to that question is often debated, new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics give pacifiers the green light throughout baby's first year.

The pros

For some babies, pacifiers are the key to contentment between feedings. Consider the advantages:

A pacifier may soothe a fussy baby. Some babies are happiest when they're sucking on something.

Pacifiers offer temporary distraction. When your baby's hungry, a pacifier may buy you a few minutes to prepare a bottle or find a comfortable spot to nurse. A pacifier also may come in handy during shots, blood tests or other procedures.

A pacifier may help your baby go to sleep. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick.

A pacifier may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers have found an association between pacifier use at naptime and bedtime and a reduced risk of SIDS.

They're disposable. When it's time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your baby prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it may be more difficult to break the habit.

The cons

Of course, pacifiers have pitfalls as well. Consider the drawbacks:

Early pacifier use may interfere with breast-feeding. Sucking on a breast is different than sucking on a pacifier or bottle. Some babies have trouble learning how to nurse properly if they're given a pacifier too soon.

Your baby may become dependent on the pacifier. If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you may face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth.

Pacifier use may increase the risk of middle ear infections. Ear infections are most common in children younger than age 3. However, rates of middle ear infections are generally lowest during the first six months of life — when the risk of SIDS is the highest.

Do's and don'ts

If you choose to offer your baby a pacifier, keep these tips in mind.

Wait until breast-feeding is well established. Be patient. It may take a few weeks or more to settle into a regular nursing routine. If you're breast-feeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting to introduce a pacifier until your baby is 1 month old.

Let your baby set the pace. If your baby's not interested in the pacifier, try again later — or skip it entirely. Don't force the issue.

Choose the one-piece, dishwasher-safe variety. Some pacifiers have been recalled due to the risk of breaking into two pieces, which poses a choking hazard. The shape and firmness is up to you — or your baby.

Buy extras. Once you've settled on a favorite, keep a few identical backups on hand. Many babies refuse a substitute pacifier.

Keep it clean. Before you use a new pacifier, wash it with soap and water. To keep fungus at bay, soak your baby's pacifier in equal parts white vinegar and water for a few minutes a day. Allow the pacifier to air dry thoroughly before returning it to your baby. Resist the temptation to "rinse" the pacifier in your own mouth — you'll only spread more germs to your baby.

Watch for signs of deterioration. Replace pacifiers often. A worn or cracked nipple can tear off and pose a choking hazard.

Use caution with pacifier clips. Never use a string or strap long enough to get caught around your baby's neck.

Let sleeping babies lie. If the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth while he or she is sleeping, don't pop it back in.

Try other ways to calm your baby. Don't use a pacifier as a first line of defense. Sometimes a change of position or a rocking session may be all that's needed. If your baby is hungry, offer the breast or a bottle.

Know when to pull the plug. Most kids stop using pacifiers on their own between ages 2 and 4. If you're concerned about your child's pacifier use, consult his or her doctor for suggestions.

The bottom line

The decision to use a pacifier — or not — is up to you. Let go of any guilt or pressure as you learn what works best for your baby.