Hi all -- I also get a lot of questions from moms/dads regarding pacifiers. I
try to explain that babies' suck and hunger drives are what sends them to the
breast to "tell" the breast how much milk to make. I recommend not using any
artificail nipples at all, and tell them that it is OK for babies to meet
their suck needs at the breast (some just need "permission"). I also explain
how to determine that baby is eating vs hanging out, so that they realize
that the hours spent breastfeeding are not necessarily "feeding" (perhaps
there's the diff between nursing and bf??). When moms insist that baby needs
to suck more than she is *willing or able* to give, I tell her that baby's
fingers are there, and that the baby had probably been using them for the
last few months anyway in utero, and also recommend daddy's "clean" pinky as
an alternative. I also caution them not to use the "plug" (yes, I use those
words) to replace baby's need to EAT and to be tuned in to growth spurts,
etc. Thsi gives them a lot of food for thought...I also often describe the
kids I have seen in the mall who I can tell used a pacifier because of the
gap between their teeth at age 4!! And I quote the pedi dentist who speaks to
some of my classes who tells them that the pacifier should be taken away
between 12-15 mos anyway, and why would they want to start such a habit??? I
know they still use them, but I feel that I've done my best to make it an
informed decision.
Always learning...Kathy Rubin IBCLC RN in NJ