Every mother knows that it is practically impossible to avoid the use of such an important thing as a pacifier. Parents of restless children know what a great sedative and hypnotic effect it has. Most children simply suck on a pacifier to find peace and balance, as well as to sleep. This is because the sucking reflex of the infants is very well developed. Research using ultrasound showed that the baby’s sucking reflex occurs before birth, and that is the reason why a newborn needs pacifier. Breastfeeding and the bottles with an artificial mixture cannot fully satisfy this basic instinct.
How to choose a right pacifier and to use it?
When buying pacifiers parents should be familiar with their types to buy something that is necessary for your child. It is necessary to choose a pacifier that is most suited to your baby, not the most beautiful and expensive. Moreover, parents should consider not only the shape of the pacifiers and a material they are made of, but also its size (there are different sizes of pacifiers for children up to six months, and after six months) as well as the degree of reliability.
A child grows, and the size of its mouth increases. A pacifier must be adapted to these changes. 7-month-old baby cannot suck on a pacifier of a newborn. It is not recommended to allow a child over 2 years to use the pacifier. In this case a pacifier can disrupt the proper development of the teeth and upper jaw. It is better to choose a pacifier made from a single piece of rubber or silicone, or at least it should be hard to take to pieces, because a baby can swallow its parts. It is also necessary to ascertain that the plate at the bottom has holes that enable a child to breath easily. Never lubricate the pacifier with honey or sugar, so as not to trigger the development of caries on teeth. Always bear with you the spare pacifiers, especially when going for a walk.
Keep the pacifier clean. Before you offer your child a pacifier, wash it thoroughly. The immune system of the infants (under six months) is not yet completely formed, so the pacifiers should be boiled or sterilized. For children older than 6 months it is enough to wash the pacifiers with soap and hot water. Resist the temptation to “wash” the pacifiers in your own mouth – you’ll just pass more microbes to your child. A pacifier should be inspected regularly, and if you find any damage, it should be immediately thrown away. It is generally accepted that a pacifier should be changed every month.
When choosing a pacifier, parents often doubt which one is better – those made of latex or silicone? This is a common doubt the parents have when buying pacifiers. Your baby is able to determine which one is more convenient. But when the first teeth appear, you should buy latex pacifiers, since the pacifiers made of silicone are less strong to endure the biting with teeth.
Silicone pacifiers are more tight and elastic, they are less susceptible to deformation; in addition, silicone is also a very durable material, so such pacifier will last longer than latex. They have neither taste nor smell. Such pacifiers can be easily sterilized, they are not destroyed by either the sun or from fat in the meals of a child. Children are not allergic to silicone. However, when the baby teeth begin to appear, the hard silicone may cause their deformation. Silicone is easier to bite, and some kids may even take a bite of the, which is very dangerous.
It is important to remember that it is recommended to change silicone pacifiers every 4-5 weeks, even if there is no damage to the pacifiers, and the latex pacifiers – once in 2-3 weeks.
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Pacifiers with round nipples of the “cherry” type (a ball on the end). These pacifiers are identical on all sides, so the baby can put a pacifier in the mouth as he wants. You do not have to fear that it will be placed there wrongly.
Orthodontic pacifiers. Doctors often recommend orthodontic pacifiers. Such pacifiers have a flattened and slightly slanted tip at an angle. The form of orthodontic pacifier corresponds to the structure of the gums and has less impact on their structure. This form of pacifiers causes the lower jaw to move up and down, which contributes to the proper development of the maxillofacial area of a child and the formation of a correct bite of a baby.
It is important to ensure that a baby pacifier is placed with a sloping side downwards in the mouth.
One-Piece latex pacifier. Made from a single piece of latex, extremely soft, bend in all directions as you like. A kid will not be able to take it apart and choke on small parts, will not get hurt while sleeping. It can be used as a gum massager.
Mouthpiece. Mouthpiece – is a bed of a pacifier in which the nipple is attached. Mouthpiece is round and oval (they can be made in the form of “heart”, i.e with an upper cut for baby’s nose, or “butterfly”, when there are notches on the top and bottom, so it does not matter from which side to take a pacifier in the mouth).
Classic round mouthpieces. As a rule, they can be straight or curved. Therefore, they are ventilated and suitable for everyone. Mouthpiece can be simple or bright, decorated with drawings or made in the form of a flower or with a funny little animal faces.
Ring. The “decorated” pacifiers have a decorated ring and mouthpiece; it is often decorated with subject images. Babies like to look at pictures, keep a pacifier at the ring and scratch their teeth using the ring. You can stick a pacifier to clothing by using such ring.
It is important to examine the ring closely to ensure that it is securely locked.
Night pacifiers. A task of the night pacifiers is to let a baby rest comfortably and take a comfortable position during sleep. Night pacifiers are made with the most streamlined shape – with a straight mouthpiece, or with the one that follows the contours of the face. Many of them do not have a ring, or they have a small one that does not go beyond the mouthpiece, and is pressed against it during the sleep by fixing with a click.
Accessories. Pacifier should be kept clean, not only at home but also outside it. That’s why there are convenient pacifiers fitted with a protective cap that fits over the nipple and is latched.
Baby’s pacifier should never get to the other children. It should not roll in your pocket or bag, since it is not hygienic. There are special cases for the pacifiers where they should be kept.
It is useful to purchase a special pacifier chain, belt or strap. With their help, you will attach it to the child’s clothing. Clasp of the holder can be made in the form of a beautiful and vibrant children’s brooch with safety lock, pin or clip. Brooch fixes pacifier in a more reliable manner, so a baby can not tear it apart. But if while playing a child accidentally caught hold of something with a tape, then clamp of a clip will just be unfastened and come off, and a child will not be harmed.