Methods for Accustoming the Newborn Baby to the Pacifier

Because newborn babies have a very strong sucking reflex, they start sucking while they are still in the mother's womb. Starting the pacifier (false breast), which often allows the baby to sleep for a long time and is often the savior of mothers, should be entirely with the mother's decision. Before making this decision, it is useful to know the benefits and possible harms of pacifier use. So, what are the methods of accustoming the newborn to the pacifier, how to choose the right pacifier, how to prevent pacifier attachment? You can find the details in our article below.

If your baby is inclined to suckle

If your baby is constantly whining in two breastfeeding plots from the moment you start breastfeeding after birth, and if the desire to suck continues despite being full, you can start using a pacifier. If you are going to start using pacifiers for the first time, you can choose pacifiers that are suitable for newborn babies.

Known Mistakes While Getting Used to the Pacifier

Most of the methods known among the public to accustom the baby to the pacifier are wrong by the experts. In the process of accustoming babies to the pacifier , honey, molasses, etc. It is wrong to dip it in sweets such as It is inevitable that pacifiers dipped in honey or molasses or after falling to the ground are cleaned in the mouth of the adult and given to the baby, causing the baby to have dental problems in later life and the formation of microorganisms in the baby's mouth.

Pacifiers Suitable for Mouth Structure Should Be Used

Another thing to consider when accustoming your baby to the pacifier is that the pacifier shapes you will give do not adversely affect oral and dental health. Experts recommend choosing orthodontic pacifiers that will not disrupt the mouth and palate structure of babies in the selection of pacifiers.

How to Choose a Pacifier?

Things to consider when choosing a pacifier for your baby;

• The size of the pacifier,
• The hole that provides air flow,
• It is the material of which the pacifier is made.

The size of the pacifier;

Pacifiers on the market are generally categorized in 2 ways for babies 0-6 months old and older. You should choose the pacifier of the appropriate size for your baby's age group.

The hole that provides air flow;

When buying a pacifier, you should pay attention to the fact that the pacifier has a hole that provides airflow. Otherwise, the baby's saliva may remain between the pacifier and the skin, causing various skin irritations.

The material from which the pacifier is made;

You should be careful that the pacifier you choose is made of a natural material such as rubber. Other pacifiers may contain substances harmful to health.

• Another point you should pay attention to when choosing a pacifier is whether the pacifier is with or without a palate. You can choose pacifiers without a palate for babies under 1 year old, and with palate for babies over 1 year old.

Pacifier Addiction

One of the most important issues that mothers who want to get their babies used to the pacifier are worried about is their fondness for the pacifier after the taste gets used to the pacifier. It may require a struggle in itself to discourage babies who are passionately attached to the pacifier from these habits. In fact, it is a normal behavior for babies to attach the rubber / silicone part that is initially attached to their mouth to this object, which then relaxes and gives pleasure. The reason for this is that the main source of pleasure is the sense of sucking in the oral period, which includes infancy between 0-1 years of age. The wrong behavior that turns the pacifier into an addiction is that parents tend to give a pacifier whenever the baby is in trouble.

How to Avoid Pacifier Attachment

There are things you should know beforehand while getting your baby used to the false breast (pacifier). The first of these issues is the baby's addiction to the pacifier. Excessive use of pacifiers over time makes the baby dependent on pacifiers. If the use of pacifiers is controlled, the possibility of addiction is minimized. The baby, who is given a pacifier every time he cries, loses his chance to endure the problems he will experience without a pacifier.

Reduce Pacifier Frequency

In order to prevent pacifier addiction in babies, the frequent use of pacifiers at the beginning should be used less frequently as the baby grows. For example, babies who have completed their 3rd month are more capable of coping with stimuli from inside or outside the body, reducing their need for comfort with a pacifier. During these periods, not giving a pacifier every time the baby is restless is one of the methods to prevent pacifier addiction.

Do not suddenly release the pacifier

Trying to make your baby, who is accustomed to the pacifier, first become passionate about it and then suddenly quit the pacifier is one of the most common mistakes. Such behaviors affect the baby negatively and wear down both the mother and the appreciation. The best way to quit the pacifier habit is to reduce the use of pacifiers and make them quit.

"85 percent of babies use pacifiers"

In studies on the use of pacifiers in babies, it is stated that approximately 85 percent of babies use pacifiers starting from the first months. In the questionnaires made to mothers regarding the use of pacifiers, it was determined that the use of pacifiers in babies was seen as a normal behavior. As a result of these studies, it has been determined that babies with frequent use of pacifiers take breast milk for a short time.

Negative Consequences of Pacifier Use

According to the results of a study conducted on 450 mother-infant pairs regarding the negative consequences of pacifier use in infants;

• Some of the mothers who prefer to use pacifiers for their babies either stopped breastfeeding or extended the interval between two feedings.
• It has been observed that babies who use pacifiers from the very beginning give up breast milk 4 times earlier than babies who do not use pacifiers.
• They stated that some mothers prefer to give pacifiers because they are ashamed of breastfeeding their babies and are disturbed by the sound of crying.
• As a result of the research, it was found that growth retardation was detected in babies using pacifiers.
• It has been observed that it is effective in cessation of breast milk in the mothers who are uncomfortable with breastfeeding, in accustoming the baby to the pacifier, but it does not affect the breastfeeding duration in mothers who are not disturbed by breastfeeding.

The Benefits of the Pacifier

Although the pacifier has many harms in terms of the baby's arrival, there are also benefits to the mother and baby. These benefits are as follows;

• The act of sucking is a source of satisfaction for the baby in itself. The reason for this is that the baby has the strongest reflex in the weeks following birth.
• Thanks to the pacifier, the baby relieves the tension on him, so he calms down and falls asleep more easily.
• Babies who do not use pacifiers may start to suck their fingers after a while. Despite this, it is stated that it is easier to discourage the baby from breastfeeding than to discourage him from sucking his thumb.
• Some experts suggest that pacifiers help babies develop some skills with their hands. Babies who drop the pacifier from their mouths state that this is caused by feeling around their crib or bed to find it, and trying to put the pacifier back into their mouths.

These Should Be Considered When Choosing a Pacifier

Mothers who want your newborn baby to acquire a pacifier habit should be careful in choosing the pacifiers they will give to their babies. The following issues should be considered when choosing a pacifier, which is important for the health of the baby.

• All pacifiers you use must comply with approved safety standards.
• The standards of the pacifiers you will buy should be clearly and clearly stated on the label.
• Having ventilation holes in the mouth of the pacifier is extremely important if the baby has a stuffy nose or if an older baby takes the pacifier completely into their mouth.
• If the pacifiers are even a little worn, you should throw them away immediately.
• Pacifiers should not be hung around the neck of very young babies: this can cause the pacifier cord to become entangled in the baby's throat and suffocate.
• The pacifier you will give your newborn baby should be disinfected by boiling, just like the nipples.
• You can use the same methods you use to disinfect baby bottles for pacifiers.
• When your baby reaches the stage where he constantly puts his fingers - and other objects - in his mouth, although there is no need to disinfect the pacifiers anymore, it is necessary to wash the pacifier thoroughly before giving it to the baby when the pacifier falls to the ground.
• Always keep unused pacifiers in the same container. This ensures that the pacifier stays clean, and when your baby starts crying and wants a pacifier, it prevents you from running around because you can't find where you put it.