Pacifier Guidelines

If you decide to introduce a pacifier, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Let your baby guide your decision. If she seems to love the binky right off the bat, fine. But if she resists, don't force it. You can try again another time if you like or just respect her preference and let it go.

• Whenever possible, don't use a pacifier to delay your baby's feedings or as a substitute for your attention. Offer the pacifier between feedings, when you know she's not hungry. When she's fussy, try to comfort your baby in other ways first, such as cuddling, rocking, or singing.

That being said, sometimes your baby does have to wait to feed or be comforted by you (in the checkout line at the grocery store, for example, or in her car seat five blocks from home). In these instances, a pacifier can be a godsend.

• Never tie a pacifier around your baby's neck or to her crib. She could strangle in the cord or ribbon. It's safe to attach the pacifier to her clothes with a diaper pin or a clip made especially for the job.

• Take care of the pacifier. Choose a pacifier that's safe and appropriate for your baby and keep it clean. Replace it as soon as it shows any signs of wear.

Are there times when a baby definitely should not be given a pacifier?

A baby who is having problems gaining weight shouldn't be given a pacifier. If your baby is breastfeeding and having any difficulty nursing — or if you're having trouble maintaining your milk supply — you'll want to do without a pacifier, at least for now. You'll also want to consider having your baby go without a pacifier if she's had repeated ear infections.

If you don't want your newborn to have a pacifier at the hospital, alert the staff in advance — particularly if you intend to breastfeed. Although a day or two of pacifier use in the hospital won't hook your baby on binkies, it simply makes sense not to introduce something you aren't going to use at home.

Will a pacifier interfere with the development of my child's teeth?

Sucking on a pacifier well into the childhood years might threaten proper dental development, but it's unlikely that your child will be at it for that long.

During the years when your child is likely to be using a pacifier, she has only her baby teeth. (Permanent teeth generally start appearing by age 4 to 6.) If you ever become concerned about this, ask your baby's doctor or dentist to check that your child's jaw and teeth are doing fine.

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