How to choose the right pacifier for your baby
This video can help you choose the right pacifier for your baby. Remember, this is really individualized, and I am only showing a few options here!
Also, if you are using a pacifier, and I don’t describe it here, you don’t necessarily need to change. If feeding is going well, and your baby is content… keep going.
The Avent Soothie
This is my go to starting point with most families. It is the pacifier I used with both of my boys as well.
I love that it is a longer pacifier, and allows for parents to gently put a finger in to apply gentle pressure to the roof of the infant’s mouth to elicit a sucking reflex!
The Avent Soothie is also the pacifier most lactation consultants and therapists use when doing suck training with infants (for babies with feeding challenges or oral restrictions).
The Bibs Pacifier
The Bibs Pacifiers look so cute and come in the best colours, but are bulbous and in my opinion, not an optimal shape. That being said, I have seen many babies use them and do great. If you are having trouble with your baby sucking shallow during breastfeeding, these can potentially make that worse. I did look on their website and see they now have a flattened shape and an orthodontic shaped pacifier as well (not pictured). These may be better choices than the bulb shaped one.
The Orthodontic Pacifier
These are great for babies who love to sleep with pacifiers in their mouth, and are also for babies who are using pacifiers for longer term use past the 6 months mark as they potentially may help prevent teeth or palate challenges secondary to pacifier use. There isn’t a lot of research on pacifier use and dentition, but you can see this one study here that talks about the impacts of using a pacifier over age three. Both the Canadian Pediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics don’t tell parents not to use a pacifier, and recognize that they are a tool for settling infants. The option I show in the video is the Nuk Orthodontic pacifier.
The Gradual Slope Pacifier
These types of pacifiers can be great for babies that struggle to maintain a deep latch at the breast or with the bottle, because they have a gradually sloped nipple, which mimics a deep latch (to breast or bottle). The one I show in the video is the Happy Paci by Dr. Browns, and the other option is the Ninni.
Choose the pacifier that works for you
If a pacifier is working for you and your family, amazing! I know there are alot of worries on whether you should introduce a pacifier or not, and you need to choose what feels best for you. I don’t think long term pacifier use is ideal (into toddler hood and beyond), but I can tell you that offering a pacifier in the first stages of infancy can make life easier for you and your baby.
If you need help navigating this, and are having feeding issues, I see you! I can help connect you to a nurse that I personally mentor. You can find a nurse closest to you here.
-Carrie Bruno RN, IBCLC, Founder of The Mama Coach
p.s. this is not a sponsored post and none of these links are affiliated.
