Babies naturally have the desire to suck or put something in their mouths, even when they are not hungry. This can be seen from the habit of babies sucking their own fingers or any objects they can reach.
Because of this habit, many babies are given pacifiers by their parents. In addition, pacifiers are also used to make babies calmer and less fussy.
However, mothers and fathers need to know what are the benefits and risks that can occur if their little one sucks too often.
The Benefits and Impact of Pacing Habits on Infants
Until now, the use of pacifiers or pacifiers in infants still reaps pros and cons, especially regarding the effect on the baby's health. In general, the benefits of nursing are:
- Makes babies feel calmer, more comfortable, and less fussy
- Helping babies sleep more soundly
- Reducing the baby's discomfort in certain situations, for example during immunizations or when he is fussy because of colic
- Reducing the baby's risk of sudden death
- Train babies to learn to swallow and suckle, so they gain weight faster
Even so, the habit of suckling can also have a bad impact on the baby's health, you know. If the baby takes too long and often suckles, he is more at risk of experiencing the following conditions:
- Difficulty learning to suckle directly from the nipple or nipple confusion, especially if he has been left on the pacifier since he was under 4–6 weeks old
- More prone to ear infections
- Infection due to use of dirty or unhygienic pacifiers
- Dental problems, such as crooked or uneven teeth
- Pacifier dependence
Tips So Your Little One Doesn't Have A Pacifier Addiction
If you decide to give your little one a pacifier, be sure to choose a good quality pacifier. Mothers can choose baby pacifiers that are made of silicone, free of bisphenol-A (BPA), easy to clean, and according to the age of their little one.
Also choose a baby pacifier that has a hole on the side so that air can go in and out. The following are some guidelines for using pacifiers for babies to make them safer and not make them dependent on pacifiers:
1. Don't give your baby a pacifier too early
The earlier your little one is allowed to suckle, the higher the risk for the baby to become dependent on the sucker. Therefore, you can start giving your little one a pacifier after he is good at suckling through the nipple or at least when he is over 4-6 weeks old.
2. Don't use a pacifier as an initial effort to calm your baby
Avoid the habit of giving pacifiers as a "weapon" to calm your little one when he cries. Mother can try other methods first, such as cradling your little one, giving a massage, or singing a song to calm your little one down. You also don't need to give your little one a pacifier when he's not fussy and isn't looking for his pacifier.
3. Avoid giving sweeteners to the pacifier
Avoid the habit of applying sweeteners to pacifiers, such as honey, sugar or syrup, because they can damage your little one's teeth. In addition, the sweet taste can also make it more dependent and difficult to stop nursing.
When giving pacifiers to your little one, mothers should not give pacifiers that have ropes or chains because of the risk of choking the baby.
Mothers also need to clean the pacifier frequently and make sure that the pacifier that will be given to the Little One is clean. If the pacifier is dirty, your little one can get a bacterial or viral infection from the pacifier.
Avoid giving pacifiers with a rope or chain so as not to risk suffocating the baby. This is dangerous because it can cause injury to the baby.
How to Train a Child to Stop Pacing
Mothers should start controlling or reducing giving pacifiers when their little one is 6 months old or no later than 1 year old. The following are tips for training your little one so he can stop pacifying:
1. Keep the pacifier out of reach of the child
Mother can store the pacifier in a drawer or high place and lock it, so that it is difficult to reach and the little one cannot take it.
2. Limit child's nursing time
So that your little one doesn't make pacifiers a habit, you can schedule babysitting times for your little one, for example only in the morning or at night.
3. Distract your little one from his pacifier
When your little one wants to suckle, try to divert his attention by inviting your little one to do other activities, such as singing, playing, joking or watching television.
When it's time for your little one to sleep and want to nurse, you can distract him by reading a story or playing a song with a calm rhythm.
4. Give understanding slowly
If your little one is old enough and starts to understand what Mom and Dad are saying, start giving him a simple understanding of why he should stop pacifying. For example, by saying that the habit of suckling is only done by babies and not children their age.
So that nursing doesn't become a habit or dependency for your little one, Mother can apply the methods above and do it gradually but consistently.
Usually, children will stop pacifying when they are 2–4 years old. However, if your little one finds it difficult to get rid of the habit of nursing, even when he is big, you can consult a doctor to get the best solution.
