When it comes to baby gear, you’ll likely question whether you should give your baby a pacifier. While some babies can’t get enough of them, some babies turn up their noses to pacifiers.
So, how do you get a baby to take a pacifier? Is it magic, or do they just take it?
You will want to gently introduce the pacifier and not force it.
Wait until baby is a pro at feeding, and try out a few different brands in an effort to find your baby’s preference.
The Best Ways to Get Baby to Take a Pacifier
Offer it After They Feed
After your baby has finished feeding, offer the pacifier since they will have a full tummy but will happily continue to suck. Sucking is an instinct for babies, so you don’t have to teach them how to use a pacifier. It’s more about keeping it in their mouth.
By offering it after they feed, you will also establish the pacifier is not a source of food. In addition, if they have just eaten, the pacifier can help soothe them to sleep. Remember to burp your baby before giving them the pacifier.
Let it Tickle Their Lower Lip
Avoid forcing the pacifier into your baby’s mouth. Let it touch their lower lip and almost tickle it to entice them to want more. I occasionally would brush the pacifier across my baby’s lip as a way to get them interested.
If you are determined to get your baby to take a pacifier, you can express some breastmilk or add a drop of formula to the pacifier. This puts a familiar taste in their mouth as they explore the idea of sucking the pacifier. While you don’t want them to favor the pacifier, they aren’t going to get much milk using this technique, so it’s nothing to worry about.
Don’t Force It
Remember, babies don’t have to use pacifiers, so if you feel like you are forcing your baby to take it, back off some. Gently offer it and if they don’t want to take it, try again in 15 minutes. If they don’t take it the first day you offer it, try again the next day. Babies can be finicky and they may dislike something one day, but love it the next.
Try Out a Variety of Pacifiers
If you think your baby will benefit from using a pacifier but won’t take it, try a few different varieties. Thankfully, pacifiers aren’t typically expensive, so it won’t break the bank to buy a few packages of them. All three of my kids had their favorite brands, and there were some they would refuse to take.
If you have the chance, add a few different types to your baby registry so that you aren’t the one buying various brands of pacifiers. In addition, pacifiers tend to be either silicone or latex, and you may realize your baby favors one over the other. You should also pay attention to the material in case your baby has a latex allergy.
Picking the Right Time to Introduce a Pacifier
If you are breastfeeding, it’s recommended to wait a month until you offer your baby a pacifier for the first time. Delaying pacifier use allows time for your milk supply to fully come in and prevent your little one from developing an incorrect latch. Babies will suck on a pacifier different than the way they will breastfeed.
In addition, if your baby is strictly bottle-fed, you may want to consider waiting as well. This allows you to get your baby into a feeding routine and accustomed to eating from a bottle before introducing a pacifier.
RELATED: Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Babies
How to Keep the Pacifier in Your Baby’s Mouth
When babies still have the startle reflex, it’s up to you to keep the pacifier in their mouth. Little ones thoroughly enjoy spitting a pacifier out of their mouth over and over again. If I were cuddling with my baby or trying to get them to sleep, I would keep my finger in the hole of the pacifier to ensure it didn’t fall out.
However, you can’t expect to keep your finger there all night long, so be patient as your baby learns to control their sucking. Before you know it, they will be able to pick it up and put it back in. It’s truly a magical day when that happens.
Finally, make sure you have the right-sized pacifier for your little one. If the pacifier is geared towards older babies, your newborn may have a hard time keeping it in.
We’ve got a whole article on how to keep a baby’s pacifier in their mouth to help arm you with helpful strategies.
Benefits of Using a Pacifier
Helps Your Baby Self-Soothe
Do you know what can help soothe a screaming baby? Pacifiers! While it’s not foolproof (because nothing is with parenting), most babies soothe themselves by sucking away on a pacifier. In addition, they may help your baby get to sleep quicker since it is a comfort mechanism.
If you are getting ready to tackle sleep training, a pacifier may aid in the process and help your baby learn how to fall asleep on their own.
May Reduce the Chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
While pacifiers don’t eliminate the chance of SIDS, research has shown pacifier use can help reduce the likelihood of SIDS. The sucking motion needed to use pacifier forces a baby to position their tongue forward. In turn, this decreases the risk of oropharyngeal obstruction, which can lead to SIDS.
Offer your baby the pacifier when they go to sleep, but don’t worry about putting it back in if it falls out. While there is research supporting this theory, remember that if your baby doesn’t want to use a pacifier, it doesn’t automatically put them at risk for SIDS. It’s always important to practice safe sleeping habits, including laying your baby on their back when it’s time for sleep.
Serves as a Great Distraction
Pacifiers don’t only soothe babies, but they can also distract them from less ideal situations. If your baby is about to get a vaccine, or you are leaving them with a sitter, the pacifier helps distract them from a situation where they don’t feel comfortable.
Keep in mind, you don’t always want to put a pacifier in your child’s mouth the second they get upset. This will lead to them relying on it for most situations. Instead, take cues from your baby to see if you think they really need it.
Helps Babies Deal with Air Pressure on Airplanes
I distinctly remember my mom always giving us gum on an airplane to get with any pressure in our ears. For babies, pacifiers help do the trick. The sucking motion needed helps relieve any pain a baby may experience in their ear. If your baby doesn’t want to take the pacifier, try breastfeeding or feeding them a bottle. I always made a point to nurse during take-off and landing to avoid any discomfort.
Cons of Using a Pacifier
They Can Be Hard to Take Away
I never enjoyed weaning my kids off of their pacifiers. It gave me a few brutal nights. However, a pacifier is an easier habit to break than thumb sucking. Using pacifiers is a habit children form, and like any habit, it’s not easy to break.
You Can Overuse a Pacifier
If you pop in a pacifier every time your child lets out a cry, you may be ignoring the natural source of the tears. They may be fussing because something is bothering them, but the pacifier will soothe them in the meantime. You always want to rule out any other reasons why they might be upset.
In addition, you don’t want it to get to the point where your child is only happy if they have something in their mouth. Relying too much on a pacifier can lead to big problems if you forget your pacifier or if you are getting ready to wean them off of it.
Pacifiers May Increase the Risk of Ear Infections
Babies who use pacifiers past the six-month mark may be at a greater risk of ear infections. The continuous sucking can cause a child’s auditory tubes to become abnormally open. Babies aren’t prone to ear infections before the age of 6 months, so you usually are in the clear during that period.
Keep in mind. This doesn’t pertain to all babies. Just because your little one uses a pacifier after they turn six months, it doesn’t guarantee you will be dealing with an influx of ear infections.
Pacifiers Can Interfere with Speech Development
If your child always has a pacifier in their mouth, it prevents them from talking. While some kids may try to speak with the pacifier in their mouth, it doesn’t fully allow them to speak. In addition, pacifier use can cause a delay in babbling and imitation; something babies do to express language development.
Tips for Giving a Pacifier to Your Baby
Attach Straps to Prevent Losing Pacifiers
One of the best inventions for parents was the pacifier strap. It easily clips onto your baby’s clothes or car seat to prevent the pacifier from rolling away.
Finally, make sure you never send your baby to sleep with the strap still attached. While it’s not long enough to wrap around their neck, it’s not something they should be sleeping with. Instead, have some pacifiers with a strap, and some without.
Avoid Buying Pacifiers with Extra Accessories
While the pacifiers donning a mustache or a pair of lips make for pretty funny photos, you shouldn’t be using the novelty pacifiers on a regular basis. Unfortunately, anything will extra pieces is at risk of breaking and becoming a potential choking hazard. So, it’s best to take your funny photo and then swap it out for a regular pacifier.
Pacifiers will a small stuffed animal attached are very popular as well. I don’t recommend giving these to newborns, as any extra fabric should stay away from their faces. As a baby gets older and is able to hold onto the lovey, there is less of a risk of the stuffed animal laying over their face.
Finally, a basic pacifier is really your best bet. No need for extra decorations or features when it comes to pacifiers. Simple is the best and safest.
Don’t Clean Your Baby’s Pacifier With Your Mouth
Yes, this is a thing, mamas. At some point, someone said you could do a quick suck on your baby’s pacifier if it were to fall onto the floor. Sounds gross, right? Some people said this removed any bacteria the pacifier may have rolled in.
The reality is, any bacteria in your mouth have now transferred onto the pacifier. That bacteria can actually cause cavities in your baby’s mouth. In addition, any germs it may have picked up are now in your mouth. Your newborn baby’s immune system isn’t as stellar as yours, so you don’t want to swap spit with them.
Avoid trying to clean it via your mouth, and instead find the nearest sink to clean it with hot, soapy water and then disinfect more when you get home.
When to Stop Using a Pacifier
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends stopping pacifier use by the time they turn three. Using pacifiers for too long can start to affect your child’s teeth and puts them at risk for dental malocclusions. In other words, their teeth may not be properly aligned due to pacifier use.
You likely will hear many opinions on the matter, but keep in mind the longer you wait, the harder it will be to stop the habit. I recommend starting the weaning process by taking it away during the day, then in the car, and then at night. It allows your little one to get used to soothing themself during the day without it.
I was guilty of giving my kids their pacifier the second they started to get upset. Well, I learned pretty quickly they needed to learn how to calm themselves in other manners. Helping your child learn how to cope when they are upset will help the weaning process as well.
Finally, make sure you take away the pacifier if there aren’t any other life events going on. If you are moving, your child is starting daycare, or just moved into a bed, you want to get through that process before you take away their comfort.
FAQs on Getting Your Baby to Take a Pacifier
Does my baby need to use a pacifier?
If your baby refuses to use a pacifier, you may wonder if they even need one. The reality is, some babies never take to pacifiers and learn other ways to self-soothe. They may become thumb-suckers or suck on their fingers.
I had a friend whose baby absolutely refused to take a pacifier. She would spit it out anytime she tried to offer it to her. She had no interest in her thumb either, and would occasionally suck on her fingers. So, some babies just don’t enjoy pacifiers without any good reason.
How many pacifiers should I have?
This is all about personal preference. My kids always had a surplus of pacifiers in their crib, so one was always just an arms reach away. In reality, you’ll be set if you have 5-6 pacifiers on hand. Unfortunately, they do have a way of getting lost, so be prepared to buy additional ones every so often.
I also recommend keeping a few sterilized pacifiers in a container in your diaper bag. This way, if you are out and your little one drops their pacifier, you have a clean one on hand.
How often do you need to replace pacifiers?
It’s always a good idea to inspect your baby’s pacifier for holes or tears. If your baby has a few teeth, you will want to make sure they have not chewed any holes. If there is a tear in the pacifier, then there is a greater chance of your baby biting off a piece and accidentally swallowing it. With this, there is the potential of choking.
In addition, pacifiers have a targeted age range, so be sure you aren’t giving your baby a pacifier that is too small for their mouth. You’ll also want to avoid giving a newborn a pacifier meant for a 6-month-old. If the pacifier is too small for your baby, they may be able to insert the entire thing in their mouth, which clearly is not ideal.
What’s the best way to clean a pacifier?
You should boil brand-new pacifiers to sanitize them completely. After the initial cleaning, hot soapy water will do the trick. If I was out and my baby’s pacifier fell to the ground, I would do my best to clean it in a pinch. Most moms have a stash of wipes on them, which will at least clean off any dirt.
However, if you drop it on a germy floor, you may have to listen to a few tears before you can clean it when you get home. If you have a microwave bottle sanitizing bag, you can also use that to thoroughly clean your pacifiers. In addition, some pacifiers can go right into the dishwasher. It’s best to always check the packaging for proper cleaning directions.
Can babies develop nipple confusion?
I feel like this is a hot-button topic. Some will say a baby can develop nipple confusion when given a pacifier, while others say there is no such thing. In general, babies will have no problem switching from a pacifier to a breast or bottle. Remember, a pacifier isn’t giving them anything to eat.
The problem with introducing a pacifier too early is teaching your baby an incorrect way to latch when it comes to breastfeeding. The way they latch onto a pacifier is different than when they are nursing.
Final Thoughts
A large majority of babies will use pacifiers while they are little ones. Knowing how to get a baby to take a pacifier will help if you are trying to add one to your baby’s routine.
Don’t force the pacifier into your baby’s mouth and offer it after a feeding, so they are expecting any milk from it.
Keep in mind, it’s important to wait until your baby is about a month old before you offer a pacifier for the first time. This will ensure your milk supply is fully in, and your baby’s latch is not affected by using a pacifier.
Pacifiers are a great way to soothe a fussy baby, and potentially help them sleep better. Better sleep is a win for everyone!
