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Your baby has been crying the entire time you’ve been at the store. People are staring at you like you’re the worst parent in the world. You know that giving them a pacifier would most likely calm them, but your baby has never taken to one.
There is a certain trick you can use when introducing a pacifier. If you perform it right, your fussy baby won’t only take the pacifier; they’ll love it. We can teach you this trick.
Check out this guide to learn everything you need to know about giving your infant a pacifier, complete with safety tips.
In This Post:
Is it Okay to Give a Baby a Pacifier?
Yes, it’s fine to make at least the attempt to give your baby a pacifier. They’re good for helping your baby sleep. They can help distract them if they’re getting a shot at the doctor as well.
You only have to make sure that your baby doesn’t become so attached to their pacifier that they still use it well on into their toddler years. You also have to be careful that you don’t get attached to it too. It can become such a fast fix that you resort to it instead of finding out what’s wrong with your fussy infant.
Introducing a Pacifier
Now that you that pacifiers are safe, there’s only the question of when to use a pacifier. The answer is around 3-4 weeks. By then, your infant has gotten the hang of breastfeeding.
The sucking mechanism is different for using a paci, then it is for breastfeeding. If you introduce the paci too early, it may interfere. If you can’t get your picky baby to take their pacifier, there is one trick that you can try out.
Every time your baby does put the paci in their mouth, pull it back ever so slightly. As you pull it away, your infant will start to suck harder on the pacifier to keep it in their mouth. It feels mean, but it’s effective.
Safety Tips
When giving your baby a pacifier, there are a few safety tips you should keep in mind. Don’t try to attach the paci to the baby with a cord, string, or ribbon that’s longer than a few inches. We get that you don’t want the baby to spit out the paci and send it to the germ-infested floor below.
Try and find the best pacifier clip to use for this purpose instead of a cord. Don’t reinsert the paci when the baby is sleeping and keep the pacifier clean.
Make sure the baby isn’t hungry before giving the paci and don’t dip it in sugar or honey to get them to use it.
Teaching Your Baby how to Use a Pacifier
Introducing a pacifier to your little one can be tricky even after you get them to take it. There are specific safety measures that you have to be aware of. Use this guide to make your baby’s experience with a paci a good one.
Becoming a parent provides more challenges than getting a baby used to their paci. Check out our blog daily for all the latest parenting advice.