Yes, the pacifier can actually do this for your baby …
2. Pacifier can help your baby gain more weight. Preemies who suck on binkies gain weight faster, according to a 1992 study published in the Swedish journal Acta Pediatrica. Other research has found that preemies who use pacifiers shortly after birth show earlier sucking patterns and experience fewer health complications. “Sucking promotes oral-muscle function and muscle development,” says Nina L. Shapiro, M.D., assistant professor of pediatric otolaryngology at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. Source: FitPregnancy.com
Pacifiers don’t have any kind of nutritional content; that’s for sure. However, the actual process of sucking a pacifier seems to boost the oral-muscle development of your baby.
So what’s that got to do with weight gain? Grey.colorado.edu explains it pretty well.
Newborns are born to suck. When a baby sucks, they strengthen their oral motor muscles, explore different sensations in their mouth and learn about tastes.
Furthermore, the pacifier can also ease the pain of teething. According to parents.com, a pacifier can help massage your baby’s gums. This makes the teething stage a bit more comfortable for your baby.
So if your baby is not experiencing any kind of discomfort in the oral area, feeding wouldn’t be such a struggle. With that, your baby has more chances of gaining weight.
Remember this. Feeding and sucking on a pacifier are two different things. You can never replace one with the other.
There is one more good reason as to why it’s okay to allow your baby to use a pacifier. Did you know that …
1. A pacifier can help premature babies. A dummy may help if your baby is premature. If he’s given a dummy to suck on before feeds, he may adapt more quickly from tube-feeding to bottle-feeding. He may also be calmer and settle more easily before and after his feeds. Premature babies who are given a dummy also have shorter hospital stays. Source: BabyCentre.co.uk
Do you find that hard to believe? If you do, then take a look at what medicaldaily.com has to say about it.
Whenever a premature baby is born, they are given a pacifier, among other things, to assist with therapy — many of them can’t feed correctly because of a lack of sucking power.
If you decide to allow your child to use a pacifier, here are some great additional guidelines that were provided by North Shore Pediatric Therapy.
Try to limit your baby’s pacifier use to nap-time or sleep only.
Instead of offering your child his or her pacifier during moments of boredom or increased emotion, find new ways to assist in self-directed entertainment or self-soothing; for example, redirect your child to a fun activity, play music, read a book, or offer a preferred toy.
Restrict use if your child has a history of recurrent otitis media (middle ear infections)
Use an appropriately sized pacifier. (Pacifiers are sized based on your baby’s age.)
Do not allow children to share pacifiers.
Wash pacifiers in soap and water to keep them clean between uses.
Use a pacifier with ventilation holes to let air in.
Do not sweeten a pacifier, as it can damage your baby’s teeth.
At the end of the day, the decision to allow your baby to use a pacifier is all yours. Should you decide to grab a pacifier for your baby, you have all these good reasons to back you up.
Do you allow your baby to use a pacifier?
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