The goodness or badness of pacifiers is closely related to the age of the baby! Let's explore the pros and cons of pacifiers from different angles before answering these questions.

The Pros of Pacifiers

1. Helps soothe their emotions. Research shows that sucking has clear benefits for newborns and can act as a pain reliever during minor medical procedures.
2. Reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends offering pacifiers to babies starting at three to four weeks old if they can breastfeed.
3. Babies go through an oral phase from birth to around age 2. Sucking on a pacifier can help them cope with stress, increase their sense of security, and lead to a happier feeling. Pacifiers can also help babies fall asleep more easily.

The Cons of Pacifiers

1. Excessive dependence on pacifiers for sleep can lead to disruptions when the pacifier falls out, and the baby can't retrieve it, causing nighttime wake-ups and affecting sleep quality.
2. If parents always offer a pacifier whenever the baby cries or expresses discomfort, they may overlook the baby's true needs, such as hunger, discomfort, or a wet diaper. Overuse of pacifiers might also make babies think that expressing emotions is not okay, potentially impacting their emotional development negatively.
3. Dental research suggests that if children continue using pacifiers after age three, it can affect tooth growth and lead to bite problems. Prolonged pacifier use can also reduce the time children spend learning language and engaging facial muscles, potentially affecting their emotional expression and imitation abilities, which can impact their interpersonal communication as they grow up.

The usefulness of pacifiers changes with a child's age, but most studies recommend that children should stop using them by a certain age, ideally before the permanent teeth come in. If your baby is over four months old and you find that using a pacifier is causing sleep problems, you can consider the following methods to help your child wean off the pacifier.

How to Wean off Pacifiers

1. Establish a regular daily routine and bedtime rituals based on your baby's age. This can increase their sense of security and help them feel sleepy at the right times, reducing fatigue. This way, they won't need to rely on a pacifier to fall asleep easily.

2. Find alternative soothing objects for your child, such as a soft toy or a blanket. Gradually shift the association of comfort from the pacifier to the new soothing object. Even if they wake up during their sleep cycle, they can find the comforting object themselves and fall back asleep.

3. If your child is older and already attending daycare or preschool, weaning off the pacifier may be easier because fewer children in their peer group may be using pacifiers. Start by reducing pacifier use during the day and only allowing it at night. Once your child adapts, organize a "farewell party" for the pacifier, allowing your child to thank and say goodbye to it one by one. There may be some tears and resistance during the process, but usually within a week or two, your child will have completely forgotten about the pacifier.

We hope you can find a suitable method and timing to help your baby say goodbye to the pacifier painlessly!

Sources:

AAP. (2005). The changing concept of sudden infant deaths syndrome: Diagnostic coding shifts, controversies regarding the sleeping environment, and new variables to consider in reducing risk. Pediatrics, 116(5), 1245-55. Barca, L., et al. (2017). Pacifier overuse and conceptual relations of abstract and emotional concepts. Frontiers in Psychology, December, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02014. Hauck, F., et al. (2005). Do pacifiers reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome? Pediatrics, 116 (5), e716-23. Moon, R. (2016). SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths: Evidence base for 2016 updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatrics, 138 (5). Niedenthal, P.M. (2012). Negative relations between pacifier use and emotional competence. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 34 (5), 387-94. Rychlowska, M., et al. (2014). Pacifiers disrupt adults‘ responses to infants’ emotions. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 36 (4), 299-308. Shotts, L., et al. (2008). The impact of prolonged pacifier use on speech articulation: A preliminary investigation. Contemporary Issues in Communication and Disorders, 35, 72-75.