Are you looking for an easy and effective way to calm your baby down? Then a baby pacifier may be the right choice for you! Though it may seem like you can just get any old baby pacifier, that is not always the case. Today we are reviewing the top ten baby pacifiers of 2018.
What Is A Pacifier?
A pacifier, also known as a binky, is a rubber or plastic silicone nipple given to babies to suck on. The most standard baby pacifier has a nipple, mouth shield, and handle. Some pacifiers have little animals or a decorative look to them.
Types of Baby Pacifiers
Multiple-Piece Pacifier
This is the main type of pacifier. It is also the most common pacifier on the market. It is called a multiple piece pacifier because it has a nipple, guard, and handle.
Single-Piece Pacifier
Another type of pacifier is a single piece pacifier, also known as a one-piece pacifier. These pacifiers are made from only one piece as the name suggests.
Stuffed Animal Pacifier
These are baby pacifiers that have stuffed animals attached to the end of them. That way, your baby can hold their favorite animal as they use their pacifier.
Feeding Pacifier
A feeding pacifier can be used once your baby hits 6 months. You can place a liquid, like juice, in it and freeze. Then, as your baby sucks on the pacifier, they get the nutrients from the juice.
Glow-in-the-dark Pacifiers
These, just like their name suggests, are pacifiers that are able to glow in the dark. These come in handy if you lose the baby pacifier behind an object or if your baby needs to use the pacifier in a dark car.
safety tips
- If a baby pacifier is used correctly, it can be perfectly safe, but, as with any baby product, it's always smart to use caution.
- Make sure to never tie the pacifier around anything. The string could get tangled around your baby's neck.
- Do not put sugar on your baby's pacifier. This is not healthy for babies, and can lead to a host of problems including cavities.
- Make sure to use baby pacifiers that have passed safety codes. All the products we have reviewed above have met the safety code.
- Lastly, don't try to make your own baby pacifier.
Best Pacifiers for Newborns, Breastfed Babies, Preemies, and Toddlers
Many companies will say that they have the best pacifier for all stages of your baby's development. I've covered in detail the products above in their individual reviews. The biggest factor is going to be size. A preemie is going to need a much smaller pacifier than a toddler. For a preemie, make sure to talk it over with your doctor to make sure it's safe for your preemie to be using a baby pacifier.
How Many Pacifiers Do You Need?
You really only need one baby pacifier at a time. However, if you choose to utilize a baby pacifier regularly with your child, there is a good chance you could lose or misplace it. Some parents like to keep several on hand just in case. So the choice is ultimately up to you, but the last thing you need is a crying baby who wants his or her lost pacifier.
Different Ways A Baby Sucks On A Pacifier
Each baby is going to have his or her own sucking habit. There are mainly three different ways that babies suck. I'll go over these sucking patterns here.
Stimulation Sucking
This form of sucking is when the baby is properly attached to the breast and sucks quickly and strongly. This sucking pattern triggers your milk ejection reflex, also known as a let-down.
Nutritive Sucking
This sucking pattern is when your baby begins sucking quickly. As time goes on, his sucking rhythm will decrease to around one suck per second.
Non-Nutritive Sucking
Non-nutritive sucking is when your baby sucks two sucks per second, with each suck being quick and shallow. As your milk lets down, your baby may begin to have stronger sucks, but he may return to non-nutritive sucking.
Advantages and Disadvantages
- Puts Baby To Sleep
- Calms A Crying Child
How To Protect Your Baby's Teeth
Don't Allow Your Baby to Go to Bed With a Bottle
Allowing your baby to go to bed with a bottle or sippy cup may result in tooth decay. Your child may also choke and get an ear infection if he drinks milk all night, so it is best to not give your baby a bottle or sippy cup for the whole night.
Gently Wipe Your Child's Gums with a Washcloth
Before your child's teeth come in, you will want to wipe his gums with a washcloth gently. Once your baby's teeth come in, you can gently brush them with a toothbrush.
What Is Nipple Confusion And How Can You Stop It?
Nipple confusion is when your breastfed newborn baby picks up bad feeding habits when he is given a bottle or pacifier. Most studies are showing that pacifiers are what causes nipple confusion. However, some studies have revealed that pacifiers can help with nipple confusion. If you decide to use a pacifier, don't give it to your baby in replace of a meal, and you may not want to give it to newborns.
Besides perhaps helping with nipple confusion, some studies have shown that pacifiers can help reduce the risk of SIDS, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that breastfed healthy infants should be given a pacifier to limit the chance of infant death.
What To Look For When Buying A Baby Pacifier?
Size
When buying a baby pacifier, you will want to get the correct size. A general rule of thumb is using the small size for 6 months and younger, medium size for 6 to 18 months, and large for 18 months and older.
Construction
You'll also want to make sure that your pacifier is constructed well. I'd be very careful of purchasing a home-made pacifier that has not passed any safety standards. If a piece of it comes off, it could choke your baby.
Nipple Material
Pacifiers normally come in three distinct materials:
- Silicone
- Most common and easiest to clean
- Latex
- Softer and more flexible.
- Hard Plastic
- Not easy to clean, and could develop a jagged edge.
When Should I Introduce The Pacifier?
There are a wide range of beliefs about when is the right time to introduce a baby pacfier to your child. Some nurses at hospitals will give your baby a pacifier right away. So, if you would like to limit your baby's interaction with the pacifier at a young age, make sure that the hospital doesn't give your baby one. Have an open discussion with your spouse to figure out the right time to introduce the pacifier to your child.
If you are breastfeeding:
- Some experts believe it's best to wait until your baby is breastfeeding well to introduce the pacifier. Whether you choose to wait or start him or her right away, make sure that you keep track of your baby's weight. If he or she is not gaining enough weight, it may be a good idea to discontinue pacifier usage.
If you are bottle feeding:
- If you are bottle feeding, introduce the pacifier once you know that your baby is gaining enough consistent weight.
When Should My Child Stop Using Pacifiers?
It is best to have your child be done with the pacifier by the time she reaches age 2. If your child uses the pacifier beyond age two, your child's teeth may begin to slant. And when your child's adult teeth start coming in around age four, your child may have long-term dental problems. Some experts have said to stop using the pacifier by one year of age, since it may interfere with speech development skills.
Tips For Weaning Your Child Off The Pacifier
To begin, give your baby his pacifier only at nap time and bedtime. After a couple of weeks with this routine, stop giving it to your child at nap time. Once your child gets used to not having the pacifier at nap time, you will want to take the pacifier away at bedtime. If your child starts fussing, think of other creative ways to calm your child down hat don't involve a pacifier. You may want to allow your child to go to bed with the pacifier, and then you can take it away once he is asleep or close to sleeping.
Recommended Best-Sellers
Conclusion
I hope that our review of the top ten best baby pacifiers of 2018, can help you decide what pacifier is best for your child. Remember to click on the links above to read our individual assessments for each baby pacifier.
