One of the main causes of snoring is blocking of the airways -- that's why
tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy and removal of the uvula and part of the
back of the soft palate often relieve snoring.  Blockage of the airways
during sleep not only causes snoring, it causes sleep apnea and bed-wetting.
It makes sense to me that if some babies have difficulty breathing when they
sleep, and sucking on something helps keep their airway open, that they
would then "self-medicate" by thumbsucking or pacifier sucking.

There are probably also babies who have a higher than average need for the
comfort provided by sucking, even without any respiratory issues -- so they
also want to nurse all night, or suck their pacifiers or thumbs all the time.

I think some babies thumb-suck in utero and get used to the constant comfort
in the absence of getting "full" from milk, so once they are born, their
thumbs go right back in their mouths, and it can sometimes be a struggle to
get the thumb out long enough to put the breast in.

I think some babies are active go-getters who need the comfort of sucking,
but can't sit still long enough to meet those needs at the breast, because
they have to be "out in the world" exploring and looking and on the go all
the time.  These are kids who may wean well before 2.5 years.

I think pacifiers are not "the enemy" -- just like formula, it is the
inappropriate use of pacifiers that are the problem.  Many people use them
to replace the breast even when breastfeeding, because they don't think
babies should want to suck more than once every 3-4 hours, and because they
don't realize that pacifiers are "artificial breasts."  Many people use
pacifiers to keep the baby quiet all the time, instead of letting the baby
be awake and interacting with it.

I think pacifiers have their uses -- any time the baby wants to suck but it
isn't possible to breastfeed, like during a car ride when it isn't possible
for the mother to nurse the baby, or when the mother is not available
momentarily and someone else is caring for the baby and the baby is upset.
Occasional pacifier use is not the issue.

Kathy Dettwyler

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