Pacifiers?

[monkeysmom]

Hi there, I tried to give DD a paci when she was a few weeks old, because the ped told me she was using me as a human binkie, give her a real one. We tried off and on for a few months, and decided she just hated pacifiers and I was okay with that as I didnt want her to have one anyway. Since she got her 2 bottom teeth (about 3 weeks ago-she's almost 6 months now) shes been loving the "MAM" pacifier. Should I stop giving it to her-?? I really don't want her to be entering kindergarten with a paci in her mouth. She has started solids and loves them, takes a sippy of water here and there, but seems to be nursing less. I'm afraid that if I let her keep the paci, she will wean herself-any advice?? TIA!! Also, she really studies the binkie when she takes it out of her mouth, like she's wondering what it is, and if theres one near her, she manages to put it in her mouth the right way.

[lolabear]

i think mam pacis go well with bf babies, i use those and always have. my first dd was a paci baby for a little while but one day she just didnt want it anymore, and it was well before she was a year old. dd2 had one every once in awhile, mostly when she was really little and then wasnt interested. ds just wont have anything to do with it and uses me as his paci which i dont mind b/c we spend a lot of time apart so i figure he needs the "mommy time".

so i wouldnt worry if she does like it now, not all kids have pacis until they are in middle school (lol) i dont want to say it is all the parents fault but sometimes i notice that its easier for them to just give in. at our daycare when they are in the toddler room (12-24 months) there is no more paci or bottle but the one girl who works in the 2-3 room her dd is in there and she will always go in and give her the paci even when shes not crying, which makes no sense, then other kids see it and want it just b/c she has it. most kids will find ways to enterntain themselves when they get older and they have less of a need to suck. sucking comforts them and thats why pacis work, once they get older they naturally should lose that ineterest at least a little bit, and i think thats why my girls just naturally lost interest. once they stopped showing they really needed it we just put them away for good, out of sight out of mind.

[jodyvo]

I swear by the pacis. Babies need to suck in order to soothe. It is natural. A paci fufills that need. You have controll over how long and how often you will let you LO use it later .
My DD loved her paci untill she sound her thumb.
Good luck

[Stephanie]

Pacis aren't bad. You do what feel right for you. Ds was a paci baby, and we limited its use to bedtime, naptime, and long car trips. We took it away when he was 2, although in hindsight, I wish we hadn't. I think he would have weaned himself of it in the next 6 months. During those 6 months, he was an awful sleeper.

[SingingMom]

I used a paci with baby #2. I have OALD (which is way a lot of milk, way fast) and my DD was not able to soothe herself by nursing without drowning in milk. So a binkie solved that problem.

My DD isn't interested in them anymore (22 months) and hasn't wanted one in months and months. Not every baby becomes all that attached to her binkie.

If your baby is just teething and likes the feel of the pacifier on her new teeth, I wouldn't worry about her going to kindergarten with a pacifier. Her interest in the paci will likely pass long before then.

[Bumpy]

my dd has used the "MAM" since she was born, I love them. she is now a year old. The only time she really uses it is when I put her down to nap, bed, when she is crying because she hurt herself, or if I need her to be quiet.

Although yestuday she was crabby beyond the norm. so she had her binkers everytime she toppled over or what not. She had another tooth coming in, so i gave her some Ibuprofen and she seemed better,

If she finds a binky, it is in her mouth before anyone can say boo, lol. I just take it back, and she doesn't even cry

We have actually turned it into a game. i take out the binky, and say something like oh, I got binkers, and laugh, she thinks its funny now. Then i give it back and we repeat a few times, then I put it on the shelf.

[monkeysmom]

Thanks for everyone's replies. She does really love the binkie all of a sudden, and its really helping to soothe her at bed/nap time. I also no longer feel like she's attached to my breasts 24/7 which is quite nice. I think she really just like the feel of it on her gums and teeth.

[kohlby]

If you think that she's nursing less, then there is a problem. But it's more likely at that age that nursling less is caused by the solids (or teething), not the pacifier. You do whatever works when it comes to a pacifier. I desperately tried to get my son to take one since he wanted to be attached 24/7 - but nothing worked! He would scream in the car and other times that my breasts weren't available. I never tried a pacifier with my daughter since she sucked her fingers - which could be done when my breasts weren't available.

[Joyto5]

Pacifiers were a life saver in our home. All but one took them because of a strong need to suck. If they used me, they would always drown in Milk (OALD, and Over supply) and get frustrated because they didn't want to eat, just suck. Our one child that didn't take it I didn't nurse, but was bottle fed.

I would keep an eye on her teeth. My 4th child I had to take it away cold turkey (Yes it was a "MAM") because her teeth started to come in crooked. I also had to take away her brothers because she would snatch his. Thankfully, He was still nursing and didn't mind the OALD and Oversupply by that time. I much prefer a Pacifier over a thumb. Having been a thumb sucker myself, I know how hard it was to stop. I didn't want my kids to have to go through that.

[Shaunsmom]

I would keep an eye on her teeth. My 4th child I had to take it away cold turkey (Yes it was a "MAM") because her teeth started to come in crooked. I also had to take away her brothers because she would snatch his. Thankfully, He was still nursing and didn't mind the OALD and Oversupply by that time. I much prefer a Pacifier over a thumb. Having been a thumb sucker myself, I know how hard it was to stop. I didn't want my kids to have to go through that.

Is there a direct correlation between using a pacifier and teeth coming in crooked?

I just wondered. DD did not use a paci at all. She is 16 months and her teeth are coming in sort of crooked. I think it's genetics and not a true marker of how her adult teeth will be...but there, I'm just guessing. Her dental exam is coming up, I'll check then.

[Joyto5]

With some children. It has to do with the way they suck on it. My BGF has a daughter that's almsot 2. She is a avid binki sucker. Her front teeth are turning sidways like my DD's were. Once we took the binki away they turned back to normal. None of my other binki suckers had a problem with their teeth.

[Shaunsmom]

I'd love to see some medical back up showing the direct correlation between paci use and crooked teeth.

WebMD has some great reading information here: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/crooked-teeth-misaligned-bites

Couple of interesting excerpts:

Most often crooked teeth, overbites, and under bites are inherited traits just as the color of your eyes or size of your hands.

pacifier use beyond the age of three

I am not trying to argue that paci's can cause some teeth to be crooked. The OP's baby is only 6 months old. That is hardly paci use beyond the age of three.

If it's someone's opinion that paci use causes crooked teeth...that's a little different and I am just curious about there being any direct correlation w/regular paci use with an infant and them having crooked teeth.

Thanks!

[TiredMommy]

My ped told me that pacifiers are only for babies 4 months and under?

[Shaunsmom]

Tiredmommy- I think your ped is wrong with the age part.

Our DS was breastfed and took a paci. The paci was his best friend. We had to have a certain kind and have a back up- you know, for the ones that we always seemed to lose.

He took a paci until he was 2. His teeth are fine.

I think it's your choice as the mama whether you continue to give the paci or not. The baby has sucking needs that need to be met. For me, I was DD's human paci.