The pacifier is one of the inseparable accessories of many babies. And it is not for less, since it reduces the risk of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), calms pain, anxiety and crying, reduces stress and helps sleep. Also, for those children who have not developed the sucking reflex well, the pacifier is very useful. It is also a less dangerous option for the baby than thumb sucking. They can be easily sterilized and are made of a less hard material, so the child does not injure his mouth or fingers.
To this day, there are still many doubts about the use of the pacifier, since, despite all its benefits, it also carries some risks. The most common that is associated with the pacifier are malformations in the teeth. However, according to data handled by www.dosfarma.com, the leading Spanish online pharmacy in the market, if it is abandoned before the age of three, there is no risk of malformation. Moreover, for there to be irreversible problems in the mouth, the child should use the pacifier continuously for about six hours a day. If its use is controlled, we should not worry about it.
Other problems with continued pacifier use beyond the age of three is that it increases the risk of middle ear infections or even difficulties in pronouncing some words or sounds.
Therefore, it must be remembered that the pacifier is a temporary tool. The longer the baby wears it, the more difficult it will be to remove it later. After half a year of life, the risk of sudden death is greatly reduced, and before that there is almost no probability of suffering from otitis. For this reason, six months may be the ideal limit to reduce its use and avoid being overly dependent on it.
How to choose the perfect pacifier for our baby?
But how do you know which one is the safest? Or what material should it be? DosFarma experts have prepared a small guide on what to consider and how to choose the most suitable pacifier:
1. Do not use it during the first days of life
Effective breastfeeding is always the goal, and pacifier use can get in the way. Therefore, it is better to incorporate it from the first month, when breastfeeding is well established.
2. Choose a safe pacifier
It is very important to buy a safe pacifier for the baby and therefore, it must meet the standards set by the Spanish Association for Standardization and Certification (AENOR), which include minimum security measures:
3. Choose the most suitable type of teat
The teat is the most important element. As the baby grows, the size and type of nipple must be adapted:
4. Choose the material
They must be made of latex or silicone. Although the two options are equally valid, they have different characteristics that make them suitable for different ages:
In any case, DosFarma experts recommend that they be made in one piece, as pacifiers with several pieces can break and pose a danger to children, who could swallow one of them.
5. Reserve it only for specific moments
We must try that the child does not depend on it and uses it as little as possible.
6. Have several spare
We will prevent the child from crying or getting angry for having lost his pacifier. In addition, this will make it more difficult for him to become attached to a particular one, which will make it easier to remove it when the time comes.
7. Avoid hanging it around the neck
It is dangerous to use a string or cord to hang the pacifier around the baby's neck, as there may be a risk of suffocation. If the one we buy brings a necklace, we must take it off. A more suitable option is the clip, although you must always be careful that it does not come off the child's clothes and could be swallowed.
8. Do not cover it with sweet substances
Although in the past many mothers have sweetened the pacifier with sugar, honey or condensed milk, this does not mean that it is well done, since it greatly increases the risk of future cavities, in addition to not favoring the development of the sense of taste.
9. Always keep it clean
We should always make sure that the pacifier is clean before giving it to the baby. It is best to boil it or wash it in the dishwasher if the child is less than six months old, since the child's immune system is still forming. From seven months it can be washed well with soap and water.
10. Change it regularly
Not only because it can break and spoil, but because you have to adapt it to the needs of the baby. Normally, the ideal is to change it every month and a half or two months.
Clara Motos, a DosFarma pharmacist, comments: "Although there are still many doubts about the use of a pacifier, in general, if you buy a quality one (putting aesthetics second) and one that meets all the safety requirements, there is no There is no problem in our baby using it. However, he should not depend on it and the ideal is to make him stop using it before the age of three. Therefore, it is best not to use it too often and not to accustom the child to use it if you don't miss it. At DosFarma we wanted to create a small guide so that all parents know how to choose the safest and most suitable pacifier for their children and that they can take advantage of all the benefits it provides".
