Are you looking for safe pacifier alternatives for your little one? These are the best alternatives and tips to say bye-bye to those pacies.
Pacifiers are a big topic among parents. Some parents absolutely swear by them, while others stay clear of them.
If you are a new parent wondering if you should give your baby a pacifier or a parent whose child is already a pacifier lover, I’ve got all the details you need to know about a binky.
We will review the pros and cons of a pacifier, give you a list of pacifier alternatives, and how and when to wean your little one if they already use one.
What it comes down to for us as parents are finding ways for our little ones to soothe themselves and have a sense of security without needing to be attached to us at all times. A calm, happy baby means less stress for us.
This Post Is All About The Best Pacifier Alternatives
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The Pros & Cons Of Using A Pacifier
If you are having a baby shower, chances are you will get some pacifiers, so before you decide to give one to your baby, let’s take a look at how they can affect your little one.
Let’s weigh the pros and cons to best decide if using a pacifier is suitable for your baby. While there are pros to using a pacifier, there are also cons that are important to take into consideration.
Pros Of Pacifiers
- Soothes Your Baby: Soothing a fussy baby is the number one reason parents use a pacifier. Babies are born with a sucking reflex, and giving them something like a pacifier to suckle on helps a newborn baby feel relaxed while they are experiencing a whole new world of senses. Suckling helps a baby lower their heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels.
- Reduces Risk Of SIDS: Studies have shown that using a pacifier helps reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by 90%. While it is unknown exactly how the pacifier helps, it has been hypothesized that it helps babies breathe, the sucking opens their airway, and the possibility of keeping the baby from rolling over.
- Temporary Distraction: Because of a baby’s innate desire to suck, using a pacifier helps distract a baby from being fussy or upset. It is common for a parent to give their baby a pacifier if they are colicky, upset for any reason, or sleepy.
- Can Help Your Baby Fall Asleep: Just like a breastfed baby likes to nurse to fall asleep, using a pacifier helps them fall asleep easier without needing a bottle or breast. While a pacifier does not help a baby get a deeper or better sleep, it does help them fall asleep faster.
- Pacifiers Are Disposable: Some parents will argue that a pacifier is easier to wean a baby off since it is disposable, unlike a thumb-sucking baby since their hand is connected to them.
Cons Of Pacifiers
- Your Baby Can Become Dependent On The Pacifier: Some babies become so dependent on a pacifier as they grow into toddlers that nothing else can soothe them besides a paci. Some little ones have to have it in their mouth at all times (besides when they eat), creating a pacifier habit that can cause many more negative side effects to their health.
- Can Increase The Chances Of Ear Infections: The chances of an ear infection are lowest between 0-6 months of age. The likelyhood of your little one getting an ear infection as they reach their toddler years is much higher. This is because the sucking motion of a pacifier abnormally opens the tubes in a baby’s ears, letting secretions from the throat into the middle ear.
- Can Lead To Dental Problems: While it’s not common for a young baby to have problems with misaligned teeth, as your little one gets older, the continuous use of a pacifier can create dental issues as their teeth come in.
- Can Cause Nipple Confusion: In some cases, using a pacifier right off the bat can cause nipple confusion in exclusively breastfeeding newborns. If you intend to breastfeed your new baby, it is suggested to wait until your little one is around 4 weeks old. This way, your newborn has had practice nursing and has gotten the hang of it before learning a new technique of sucking on a pacifier.
- Can Cause Speech Delays: Prolonged pacifier use can cause speech delays in a couple different ways. The misalignment of teeth can cause speech sound delay or a speech disorder.
If your little one is an avid pacifier user through their prime toddler years when a baby is learning speech development, it can delay your little one’s speech. This is due to them consistently having a pacifier in their mouth throughout the day instead of having a free mouth to babble and learn sounds and words.
Can My Baby Do Without A Pacifier?
If you wonder, “Can my baby do without a pacifier?” the answer is yes. Your little one can do without a pacifier and find other ways to soothe themselves.
Other pacifier alternatives will soothe your baby and can work better than a pacifier.
Pacifier Alternatives For Babies
Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding is one of the top pacifier alternatives. Babies like a paci because of their natural ability to suckle to eat or calm themself. Nursing does just that. You’re basically a human pacifier.
Your baby will feel comfortable and calm, which will help them fall asleep or relax if a stressful situation arises.
Rocking & Bouncing Your Baby
The motion of rocking, bouncing, or swinging your baby is a great alternative for soothing a crying baby.
Your little one was in the womb for 9 months swaying and bouncing around. So they are used to the motion, but that isn’t the only reason. Babies are born with a calming reflex that is triggered by different movements.
You can use a rocking chair, yoga ball, or a baby swing, or even wear your baby in a sling or wrap to get them to relax and fall asleep.
White Noise Machine
A white noise sound machine mimics the sound your baby hears while in your womb. The sounds are so comforting and relaxing for them, which calms them and helps your little one sleep.
Teething Toys
Teething toys can be a good idea in replace of a pacifier because babies enjoy putting things in their mouth, sucking, and chewing on them. They also help with pain relief once your little one starts teething.
A Lovey
A lovey is one of the pacifier alternatives that I absolutely swear by. Babies create a bond with it and see it as a sense of comfort and security. A lovey can be used through the baby stage and into their toddler years.
Because of a lovey, my daughter goes to sleep without a fuss, doesn’t cry in her car seat, and uses it as an extra comfort when she gets a booboo, encounters a stressful situation or just wants to relax.
The trick to a lovey is introducing it to your baby around 3-4 months. You can lay it next to them during tummy time, when your baby is in a baby swing, or anytime you see fit for bonding. The consistency of the lovey being around them creates the bond.
Pacifier Alternatives For Toddlers
A Blanket
A blanket, or as some people will call them, a “baby blankey,” is similar to a lovey. It is a blanket that comforts your little one and helps them feel safe. Toddlers commonly choose a blanket that they use often and build an emotional attachment with.
A Stuffed Animal
A stuffed animal is another good option. Having something to hug and snuggle with helps your little one soothe themselves in many different situations. Some toddlers will choose a stuffed animal they love and create a bond as if it were their best friend.
Night Light
Having something calming and interesting to look at helps relax a toddler. It’s similar to how many people like to watch tv to fall asleep. Toddlers enjoy watching something on their ceiling, walls, or something like the Baby Einstein sea dreams soother. (you can start using the dreams soother as early as 4 months.)
The sea dreams soother is fantastic! My toddler loves the Baby Einstein “fish tank,” as we call it. I have recommended it to so many of my friends, and they also swear by it! We like to bring it on long drives and vacations to help keep her relaxed and quickly fall asleep.
Baby Einstein Sea Dreams Soother
When To Wean Off The Pacifier
It is a gradual process to wean your little one off a pacifier.
Around 6-8 months is the easiest time to wean your baby. After 9 months, your little one will create an attachment to it, which will be much harder to take away.
If you have chosen extended pacifier use, by the time your little one is 2-4 years old, they are more emotionally ready to say bye-bye to it.
Tips For Weaning The Pacifier
Weaning A Baby 6-8 Months
- Start by limiting the pacifier use to only naps and bedtime.
- Next, slowly restrict the number of naps you allow your baby to have a pacifier. Instead, use a white noise machine as the new cue that it’s time to sleep.
- If you notice your baby suckling, you can give them a lovey for comfort (don’t be surprised if your baby sucks on the lovey’s hands or face)
Weaning A Toddler
- Limit Their use: First, you can start by only letting your little one have their paci during the daytime since it can be harder to take away at night after a long day of stimulation. Or you can create “paci time” and carve out 30 minutes of paci time periodically throughout the day. Using a timer can make it easier for your little one to understand that the time is up when the bell rings.
- Offer A Comfort Object: Offer your toddler a lovey, blankey, or stuffed animal instead of the pacifier. This will help them learn to find comfort in a different object to soothe them in stressful situations.
- Make It Unappealing: Soak the rubber part of the paci in vinegar or lemon juice so they will spit it out and not want to keep using it.
- Read A Book About Saying Bye-Bye To The Paci: Sometimes, reading a book to your toddler about saying bye-bye to the pacifier will help them understand that it is time to stop.
- Positive Reinforcement: Hyping your little one up by giving them praise when they don’t use the pacifier will help encourage them that they are doing something good.
- Pacifier Fairy: You can tell your toddler that the pacifier fairy will be coming to pick up all the pacifiers and will replace them with a new awesome toy.
- Cold Turkey: While this works for some kids, it will take extra patience on your end. The hardest part will be not giving in during meltdowns, but if you can muster up the patience, it can work.
Final Thoughts
While your intentions are to help your baby find a way to soothe themselves, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons to make an informed decision. Trying out different strategies can also help you find what will work best for your baby. Either way, you know what is best for you and your little one and should not give yourself a hard time or compare your child to another.
This Post Was All About Pacifier Alternatives & Tips To Wean From A Pacifier
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