I use vinyl gloves WHENEVER I can, as I feel this (latex) is an important
potential risk.  It is a very risky allergin in babies with spinal cord
defects, closed or open and can be life threatening if they go into surgery
with a reaction.

 I AM very concerned about the rampant use of latex pacifiers as well and
recommend silicone single piece pacifiers for the many parents stateside
who insist on using them to silence their babes......I have some info I
give my parents at the hospital on the toxic chemicals related to latex
processing including the use of nitrates and nitrites ( potential
carcinogens ) used to "preserve" this  organic substance rubber derived
from trees...... I have a theory why the (limited) research has found an
increase in otitis media for the "pacified" babies.   If you've been around
latex much you will notice it has a skin-like quality and develops "pores"
with time, I believe it is these "pores" that harbour more bacteria and
viruses than the silicone counterparts which are inert and inorganic.  The
research should also compare latex vs silicone pacifiers and their
relationship to otitis media.

 ACTUALLY I hope we find all pacifiers increase OM because I can't stand to
look at babies with "no mouths".  In public I personally applaud families
that have thumb suckers instead of pacifiers, (one who sucked her thumb
until 12 years of age and was turned away by the orthodontist who treated
my pacifier sucking sister's crooked teeth) I still miss my thumb..........

a closet thumb sucker in recovery.......ruthy wilson rn ibclc