How to choose the best pacifier for your baby?

For some parents the use of a pacifier for their baby has been a cause of controversy since some consider it a bad decision while others consider it the best decision. Historically, since its creation, the pacifier has been a very useful complement for parents to soothe their baby.

What is a pacifier?

It is a nipple designed to calm the baby's sucking instinct, an instinct that helps them to survive and also calms them because it reminds them of the feeling of being attached to the breast, the pacifier is an excellent stimulant of the sucking reflex in the baby allowing him to feel calm and relaxed.        

Benefits and contraindications of its use

In the midst of a sea of opinions on whether it is good or not its use, here we present you the different criteria obtained from different specialists, but the final decision is yours.

Benefits:

✔ Reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

✔ Helps develop the sucking reflex.

✔ Calms anxiety, crying and pain.

✔ Helps sleep and decreases stress.

✔ Prevents him from sucking his fingers.

Contraindications:

✔ Its use is related to oral malformations if its use is prolonged for more than 2 years.

✔ If used before one month of birth it may affect breastfeeding.

✔ If used for a continuous period of time it increases the probability of ear infections.

✔ May experience difficulty pronouncing some words.

How to choose the best pacifier?

The job of choosing the right pacifier can be complicated considering the wide variety of designs and models on the market. But we recommend you to take into account the following characteristics to choose the best pacifier for your baby:

1. It should be of one piece, because if it is of several pieces there is a risk of breaking and the baby swallows a small piece or gets hurt.
2. The ideal size of the nipple should be 3.3 centimeters.
3. It should have a ring or puller to be able to remove it from the mouth.
4. It should not have any kind of labels or stickers.
5. Rounded edges are recommended.
6. The base should not be too big so that the baby can put it in his mouth.
7. The disc of the nipple should have ventilation holes.

What is the best nipple?

When choosing a pacifier, you should also take into account the characteristics of the nipples. It is advisable to use latex or silicone nipples because they are resistant, elastic and soft materials and do not absorb odors or flavors.

You should also keep in mind that as your baby grows you should adapt the shape and size of the nipples, so we can classify the nipples as follows:

✔ Anatomical teats, recommended for babies between 1 and 6 months as they simulate the maternal nipple.

✔ Physiological teats, recommended for babies between 6 and 18 months, are flatter and more symmetrical and avoid pressing the palate excessively and not deforming it.

✔ Round teats, for older babies, are totally spherical, making it easier for the child to turn the teat around.

Which pacifier holder is recommended?

After choosing the ideal pacifier for your baby, you must choose where to store and transport it, so you should think about a pacifier holder that keeps the pacifier isolated from dirt and maintains the hygiene of the pacifier, keeping it suitable for use at any time it is needed.

It is not superfluous to recommend changing the pacifier regularly, as well as washing it with hot water. Do not cover it with candy. Do not tie it around the baby's neck.