I'm not a fan an apparently neither were my kids. I couldn't get either one to ever hold a pacifier longer than 30 seconds in their mouths. Both hated bottles too, never sucked their thumbs, and I wondered if it was some difference in the shape of their mouths? If you do a pacifier, toss it at 12 months. So many friends had horrible transitions if they kept it longer.

I hear you on the comfort sucking- it was the best part about nursing. Your supply should regulate soon and then it won't be an issue. Or pump once a day. I pumped because I had way too much milk for my newborns, but then they got used to it as they got bigger.

Yup, use it now, but only for soothing. I would NOT have it attacehd with a paci clip as then it becomes an "in the mouth all the time" thing vs a "when I need it" thing.

And, only for sleep, soothing and car seat by 6 or 8 months.... then by 12 months get rid of it for sleep because it's easier for a younger child to develop a new habit to fall asleep than a child who has needed it for all sleeping for 3 or 4 years. Trust me.

If you do it, just be strict that it is only for bedtime/naps. Otherwise you'll get a kid who wants to take their pacifier everywhere. Don't be that mom who is licking a pacifier clean that fell on the ground at the public park.

Both my kids got pacifiers in the hospital - one used it for two years, one for about 2 months. They both nursed fine and we never had any issues. The 2 year old gave hers up in favor of not being a baby at daycare anymore. . .

Definitely give her a pacifier for sleeping only. And definitely lose it at around eight months.

Don’t overthink it. Perfectly normal for a baby to suck a pacifier. Just don’t be like one of those moms in Whole Foods with a 4 year old who has one.

Definitely use a pacifier but I would try to wean off as soon as teeth start to come in. I can always tell a toddler that was/is pacifier addicted by their teeth

Just aim to wean down to only using the pacifier for sleeping around 6 months or so. I think the general guidelines are that kids start getting more attached to their pacifiers between 7-9 months.

But despite all my best intentions, we blew past this “window” and my kid still lost all interest in the pacifier by 10 months.

Love them. And so much better than the thumb!

Love em

Anonymous wrote:I used a pacifier for both my boys.

DS1 I ditched it no problem at a year-ish.
DS2 ditched it in favor of his thumb as soon as he figured out how to suck it (around 4 months if memory serves). He sucked his thumb until he was 3.5 and he only stopped because he fractured his arm and couldn't get it in his mouth anymore

I think there are kids that need to suck on stuff. They're maybe more anxious or something? I don't know. I think it can be really hard for those kids to lose their pacis when there's pressure from various people to ditch it.

But I do think it's easier than stopping a thumb sucker.

I’d have to cut off my kids thumb to get her to stop - she’s double digits that’s all I’m admitting to!

Love pacifiers

I used a pacifier for both my boys.

DS1 I ditched it no problem at a year-ish.
DS2 ditched it in favor of his thumb as soon as he figured out how to suck it (around 4 months if memory serves). He sucked his thumb until he was 3.5 and he only stopped because he fractured his arm and couldn't get it in his mouth anymore

I think there are kids that need to suck on stuff. They're maybe more anxious or something? I don't know. I think it can be really hard for those kids to lose their pacis when there's pressure from various people to ditch it.

But I do think it's easier than stopping a thumb sucker.

Do it if you think it will help the baby self-sooth. The sucking reflex is a proven comfort to newborns. You can always break the habit later.

I have an over-supply with this new baby (was now six weeks) and she seems angry not to be able to comfort suck. My older child never needed a pacifier other than me but I had more time back then!

So what’s your opinion on introducing a pacifier?