Whether you call it a pacifier, binky, dummy, or a miracle, this little tool plays a big role in the lives of many babies (and their parents, too). Still, it’s normal to have questions – when to introduce pacifiers, pacifier pros and cons, and how to know when it’s time to say goodbye.
We spoke with pediatricians, sleep consultants, and real parents to round up all you should know about pacifiers – from the soothing perks to the potential drawbacks, and when to consider weaning.
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Are Pacifiers Good for Babies?
For many parents, infants and pacifiers are a match made in heaven!
Overall, healthcare providers and sleep consultants also agree – binkies for babies are a safe and often effective way to keep your little one happy and relaxed. Pacifiers are meant to be a soother – so sucking a pacifier often calms a baby down, helps them fall asleep and stay asleep, and distracts them from whatever they may be upset about. But, like with many things, there are a few cons to consider.
Pros of binkies
- Self-Soothing or Self-Settling: The sucking sensation is a natural infant or newborn soother – which is why your baby may calm down when sucking their thumb or fingers or while breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Greg Stasi, PhD, pediatric neuropsychologist, told us that pacifiers build independence when it comes to falling asleep or falling back asleep in the night. “A pacifier can help a child self-settle,” he says, which is a great skill to have. “It can increase a child’s ability to fall asleep rather than relying on an adult to put them to sleep.” (However, a con can be if your baby won’t sleep without a pacifier...more on that below).
- Yawning Alternative: This is good news for anyone traveling on an airplane with their baby – pacifiers can help your baby “pop” their ears to relieve air pressure on planes, much like we adults may do with gum or a yawn. Don’t forget to through a few extras in your overnight diaper bag!
- Reduce Risk of SIDS: Though rare, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is one of the most mysterious and frightening medical issues out there and even after decades of studies, healthcare providers and researchers have few answers as to what may cause SIDS. But there are known ways to reduce SIDS. You may have heard that pacifiers prevent SIDS – according to healthcare authorities such as American Academy of Pediatrics, offering a pacifier during sleep is one of several recommended safe sleep practices to help reduce the risk for SIDS.
- Pacifiers Can Be Thrown Away: An upside to pacifiers versus a thumb is that pacifiers can be thrown away, which is useful when you want to wean off them.
Cons of binkies
- Don’t Work for Everyone: Newborns and soothers often go hand in hand, but the truth is, every baby is different – and some just don’t want one! When giving a pacifier to a newborn, you may need to try a few times before they get the hang of it. If you find a pacifier works and you like them, by all means, pacify away! If your baby really isn’t into the binkie, that’s okay, too. Some parents also choose to not offer the pacifier – you know your baby best. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about the paci.
- Nipple Confusion and Pacifiers: A pacifier is ok for a newborn, but some say introducing a pacifier too early can cause nipple confusion and delay the suckling skills needed to breast or bottle feed. That's why it may be a good idea to make sure that your baby is nursing before introducing the pacifier.
- Oral/Jaw Problems: For some, pacifiers can lead to misaligned teeth and in some cases jaw issues later in childhood. Usually, this risk is only for babies who continue to use a pacifier well into early childhood – the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends stopping pacifiers by age 3 at the latest. Research does show that stopping by 18 months can further reduce the risk of any oral-related problems.
- Ear Infections: Overusing a pacifier after 12-months-old may increase the risk of middle-ear infections.
- Germs: The mouth is a dirty place – and babies also tend to throw and drop their binkies multiple times a day! This is why pacifiers should be properly sterilized to minimize any germs that could cause illness – make sure it’s cooled before offering back to your baby. After six months when your baby’s immune system is stronger, you can wash it with dish soap and clear hot water.
When to Offer the Pacifier?
When to introduce a pacifier depends on your decision and your healthcare provider’s guidance – and many parents wonder how soon can you give a newborn a pacifier.
It's often recommended that parents consider offering pacifiers to babies as young as 1-month-old at both nap time and bedtime to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Many experts recommend waiting until 1-month-old or feeding is well established to prevent any confusions between pacifiers and breastfeeding or bottles. However, talk to your healthcare provider as they may have a different opinion.
Your baby can continue sleeping with their pacifier until you decide to wean, which should be done by 3 years old at the latest – many healthcare providers recommend earlier though. Keep in mind as they get older, they’ll likely rely on a pacifier as a sleep crutch – and habits get harder to break with age.
How long should your baby use a pacifier in a day?
When to give your baby a pacifier or in what situations throughout the day can vary: It can be used day and night, when your baby is fussy or happy. As your baby gets older you can offer your pacifier less – one way to wean from a pacifier is to limit pacifier use to naps or bedtime.
What are the benefits of using pacifiers at night?
Pacifiers are a great way to help your baby fall asleep – but there are a few considerations.
Once your baby is out of the 4th trimester, around 3- or 4-months-old, and starts to recognize patterns, it’s common for your baby wakes every time the pacifier falls out. This is because they realize they rely on it to sleep!
That said, there is evidence that babies who suck their fingers have fewer sleep interruptions than those who use pacifiers. Probably because fingers are easier for your baby to find than a dropped pacifier. But of course, thumbs are harder to ‘take away’ when the time comes so that’s going to be a tougher habit to break.
Once your baby is older and able to reach for things, throw extra binkies in the crib to increase their chances of finding one at night – and preventing them from crying out to you for help. Babies and toddlers may wake up if their pacifier falls out – and want you to help them put it back in.
How to Get Newborn to Take Pacifier
If your newborn initially resists a pacifier, don’t worry – that’s totally normal! It can take a bit for some babies to get used to a pacifier – and others simply don’t like it. But often pacifiers are good for newborns so it’s worth trying a few ways to see if they like it.
Here are our suggestions for introducing pacifier to newborn:
- Offer the pacifier when they're relaxed – such as after a feeding.
- Renowned pediatrician and author Dr. Harvey Karp suggests removing your breast or the bottle from your baby’s mouth as a feeding winds down and replacing the nipple with a pacifier. Sometimes a baby will be so relaxed they simply take the pacifier right then and there.
- If that “bait and switch” still doesn't work, Dr. Karp suggests “reverse psychology.” Instead of pushing the pacifier into their mouth, try to “take it away”.
- When your baby first sucks on the pacifier, before they've rejected it, try pulling the pacifier away from their mouth. Your baby may instinctually “suck back,” as if saying, “this is mine”.
- This “reverse psychology” process may take a few days but has proven results with many of Dr. Karp's patients, and our friends, too.
- Pacifiers come in different sizes depending on your baby’s age – and sometimes the features or design may change to best suit their age, just like diapers. Make sure you are offering the right size to your little one.
- There are different types of pacifiers and sometimes you may need to try a few to see which one your little one likes. For example, there are orthodontic pacifiers designed to mimic the natural shape of the nipple and other more traditional round shape. See if your healthcare provider has a recommendation. Just make sure it’s made with safe ingredients and unable to break into two!
When and How to Take Pacifier Away?
It’s recommended you stop the pacifier by age 3 at the latest – but many experts say to start weaning from the pacifier earlier. That is because it is much easier to wean or take the pacifier away before a baby develops object permanence and develops an emotional connection to it, which is a big 9-month milestone. That said, you know your baby best and it does have benefits to reduce the risk of SIDS affects babies up to 12-months-old.
This is because once they start recognizing patterns: often a baby wakes up every time the pacifier falls out – which can disrupt your sleep and theirs. Also, once they get older sucking a pacifier can disrupt their teeth as they grow in and cause other issues.
Some ideas for eliminating the pacifier include:
- Phase it Out: First limit pacifiers to only naptime and bedtime. Once that’s going well, try dropping naptime and then eventually from sleep time too. Nighttime will be the most difficult – oftentimes sticking with your consistent bedtime routine and offering a transitional object (if they are over the age of 1) can help during the phase out time.
- Alternate Soothing Methods: If your baby won’t sleep without a pacifier, try different ways to comfort them and help them fall asleep. Avoid reaching for the pacifier first – hold them, sing lullabies, and keep their sleep environment cozy.
- Positive reinforcement: Praise your child when they don’t choose the binky and avoid any negative punishment when they do use it.
- Say Goodbye: Have a special farewell ceremony or maybe have the ‘Pacifier Fairy’ come and take it away, leaving a reward in its place. This tends to work well for older toddlers and children.
- Cold Turkey: Often the fastest way to wean from a pacifier is going cold Turkey. However, this potentially will involve the most ‘protesting’. In this case you rip off the bandaid and let your child ride it out without the pacifier. This is usually fastest and most effective with babies under 6- or 7-months old.
Every baby is different, and you know your baby best. Keep a positive mindset but be prepared that your child may simply not be ready to give it up yet and you don’t want them to feel like they are a failure. If they aren’t ready, you can say, “Okay, I understand how much you love it, maybe we can try again next week?”
Also, breaking a sleep association like sucking on a pacifier to sleep can get harder with age. But, like with sleep training, there are safe, proven ways to tap into their power of being able to fall asleep on their own. For information on other child transition topics, including now to nap transition, download the Smart Sleep Coach app.
If you’re struggling with pacifiers and sleep, take free 3-minute sleep assessment to get a personalized plan on how to help build healthier habits in your little one and break any sleep associations.
Final Thoughts
Pacifiers have many benefits and are the favorite baby item for many!
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to a pacifier – if your baby loves it and it helps them sleep, and you find it's more of a help than a hindrance, keep using it. Just keep in touch with your healthcare provider to get personalized guidance on when it's time to start weaning.
If you still have questions about a pacifier’s role in safe sleep, download the Smart Sleep Coach app. Your subscription gives you full access to exclusive content, my team of sleep consultants, and a personalized plan built to help your little one sleep like a dream.
