Among babies, there are generally 2 clans: those who take their thumbs and those who are fans of the pacifier (well, and those who don’t need anything, but they are rarer ). If this is a choice made by Baby, it also impacts the parents’ lives… especially when this choice concerns the pacifier (also called a pacifier). Indeed, it is about finding the right model, the one that your child will accept and changing it regularly. Until it’s time to stop. We take stock with Dr. Julie Solomon, pediatrician at Necker hospital and Medical Director at Qare*.
At birth or after, how do you know if Baby needs a pacifier?
“Sucking is a reflex present from intrauterine life, and in newborns the sucking reflex is monitored by the pediatrician as a sign of good health”, begins Dr. Salomon, who adds that in addition to a nutritional function, this sucking reflex calms and soothes the baby. The need to suck is therefore not always synonymous with hunger but can reflect a need to comfort oneself. “If the child is breast-fed, this makes the situation delicate because the baby does not distinguish between the need for milk and the need for soothing, and taking food when the child does not have the desire or need can have the consequence of aggravating reflux, for example, of contributing to constipation or excessive weight gain.she specifies.
So, the nipple can be interesting if you feel that the baby needs to calm down but is obviously not hungry. The pediatrician adds that it is good not to make the child dependent on the presence of his mother to calm down (which is the case when the breast is the only means of soothing offered), especially for moments separation upon return to work with a day of crèche or care for him/her. “The pacifier can also be useful if the child tends to often ask for food, particularly in contexts of reflux, in order to make him/her wait a little.”
Newborn pacifier: from what age?
Nothing prohibits offering a pacifier to a baby from birth, but Dr. Salomon warns mothers who have chosen breastfeeding: “When the beginnings are a little difficult, and the baby is not breastfeeding well, it is preferable not to give a pacifier so as not to cause breast-pacifier confusion. When breastfeeding is established over time, the pacifier can be introduced to soothe the child or to help him fall asleep.” In the case of a baby taking only powdered milk, the introduction of the pacifier is possible at any age. The pediatrician advises rather offer it outside of meals, in order to help in case of need for non-nutritive sucking, but also during serious distress like the first vaccines, in addition to the comfort of the arms of parents.
When does baby get to put on his pacifier?
Let it be said: during his first weeks of life, “the child is incapable of keeping the pacifier alone in the mouth for more than a few moments, which does not mean that he/she does not want it, you must accompany him/her and give it back to him/her if you feel that he/she / she needs it. Later, when older, if he / she doesn’t want it, he / she will be able to make it understood by turning his head away! It may therefore be interesting to invest in a pacifier clip, in order to avoid losing the precious pacifier…
When to change baby’s pacifier?
Silicone pacifier, latex pacifier, physiological or anatomical shape, it’s your baby who will choose his pacifier. However, it is important to always offer him a pacifier size adapted to his age group. “Before first use, be sure to clean and sterilize it thoroughly”insists the pediatrician, who adds that thereafter, it will be important to change it regularly, “on average every 3 months or before if it seems damaged” (if small cracks or areas of wear appear).
Misplaced teeth, speech problems… Why and how to stop using the pacifier?
The impact of the pacifier on teething and speech
Although the pacifier is a great ally in helping the child to reassure himself, it can have harmful consequences: “Suction can lead to a deformation of the position of the teeth, whether it is an advancement of the teeth of the upper jaw, a deformation of the palate or even a more or less significant gap between the lower incisors and higher”says Dr. Salomon. “These deformations can be associated with speech or swallowing disorders due to faulty positioning of the tongue, with more or less annoying consequences. Dentists therefore recommend stopping sucking the pacifier, but also the finger or comfort blanket, around 2 or 3 years old to avoid repercussions on maxillofacial growth”she adds, specifying that the maximum limit is set by orthodontists at 6 years with the loss of milk teeth (keeping in mind that the later the stopping, the more serious the consequences can be and therefore difficult to prevent). fix).
Stopping the pacifier: the importance of gentle weaning for the child
The ideal is therefore to help the child to gradually separate from it: for this, we can set times during which the child can have the pacifier without always having it in the mouth. The pediatrician recommends not letting the child talk with the pacifier, so that he/she understands that it cannot be sucked constantly. She advises gradually leaving her in the bed and only using her for naps and sleep. Reading children’s books on the subject can also help to make him/her understand that he/she can do without them. Finally, setting a symbolic deadline with your child (Christmas, birthday, etc.) can give them time to prepare to quit.
Thanks to Dr. Julie Solomon, pediatrician at Necker Hospital and Medical Director at Qare.