A pacifier for a newborn consists of a nipple, a protective disc (lipper) and a ring. The nipple is made of latex or silicone.
Latex nipples softer, so they are easier to suck on, which is especially suitable for weak and “lazy” babies. Latex nipples are also more elastic - even if you chew them, it will be more difficult to bite through latex than silicone. However, unlike silicone, latex has a specific smell and taste; some may not like it. Under the influence of light and high temperatures(sterilization) it fails faster: the latex nipple darkens, begins to stick together and collapse. Therefore, latex pacifiers need to be changed quite often - after about 3-5 weeks.
Silicone nipples They are tasteless and odorless, while being tighter and more elastic than latex, they can withstand high-temperature treatment better and last longer - up to several months. True, a silicone pacifier is easier to bite through, and especially “toothy” guys can even bite off pieces of the pacifier, which is very dangerous. The pacifier for a newborn should be checked regularly, and if the slightest damage is detected (deformation, cracks, tears), the pacifier for a newborn should be immediately thrown away and replaced with a new one. Silicone pacifiers are tasteless and odorless and will last quite a long time - several months.
Mouthpiece- This is the base of a pacifier for a newborn, in which the nipple is attached. Moreover, the fastening must be so reliable that the pacifier cannot jump out of the pacifier when the child sucks on it. As a rule, mouthpieces are round or oval. The latter, in turn, can be made with a “heart” (with an upper cutout for the baby’s nose) or a “butterfly” (there are cutouts on both the top and bottom, so it doesn’t matter which side the pacifier is taken into the mouth). Oval mouthpieces are most often straight or curved “to the face”, repeating the contours of the child’s mouth and chin. The main thing is that such a mouthpiece has enough ventilation holes through which air will pass to the skin and excess saliva will come out, otherwise irritation may appear around the mouth. Classic round mouthpieces, as a rule, are straight or curved “from the face”, and therefore such models “ventilate” without problems and are suitable for everyone. The mouthpiece can be laconically simple or, on the contrary, bright, decorated with drawings and played out as a flower, a heart, or the face of an animal.
The same applies to the ring. In “decorative” pacifiers for newborns, it is decorated with plot images, which adds a playful aspect to the pacifier - babies like to look at the pictures, holding the pacifier by the ring, and biting it. Thanks to the ring, the pacifier is also more convenient for the mother to use: put it in the baby’s mouth, and when he falls asleep, carefully remove it. You need to keep an eye on how ring securely rests on a dummy. Otherwise, it may accidentally detach and end up in the child’s mouth, and this is a risk!
Are nipples different for pacifiers? Form is everything!
Pacifier nipples also differ in shape. For the first acquaintance with a pacifier, you can offer your baby several options for nipples for newborns, let him choose the most comfortable one for himself.
The most common ones are round nipples for newborns of the “cherry” type with a ball at the end, shaped like a light bulb. The advantage of these pacifiers is that the baby can roll the pacifier in his mouth (especially in combination with a round mouthpiece) without fear that it may not be positioned correctly. The anatomical teardrop nipples are slightly flattened and are most similar to mother's breasts during feeding. These nipples occupy a minimum of space in the mouth between the palate and the tongue and do not have any negative impact on the formation of the bite, and due to their symmetrical shape they will always be placed correctly in the mouth.
Orthodontic nipples have a slightly flattened tip and an angled tip. This form is positioned by manufacturers as forming the child’s maxillofacial apparatus. But when using a pacifier with an orthodontic nipple, mothers should make sure that it is in the baby’s mouth with the beveled side down: the top and bottom should not get tangled, and the pacifier should not stand sideways. Size matters!
A pacifier for a baby should be selected according to his age. The size ranges of pacifiers from different manufacturers can differ significantly from each other. Some brands have gradations in two sizes (for example, 0–6, 6–18 months), others in three (for example, 0–3, 3–6, 6+) – with an emphasis on models for newborns or, vice versa , for children over 1.5 years old (these are 18+ models). There are also pacifiers that are specially sized for premature babies (this is what it says on the packaging, marked “0–3”). These pacifiers have a very small and soft cherry nipple and a lightweight mouthpiece. Many domestic pacifiers are available in only one size, and on the packaging (if there is one) you can see the mark “0–24”.
Another option for nighttime pacifiers are soft pacifiers, which are made entirely of latex or silicone. The soft pacifier is monolithic and cannot be broken or disassembled. Most importantly, it does not prevent the baby from changing position during sleep, does not leave imprints on the face, and even if it falls out of the mouth and ends up under the baby, he will not lie down.
But while a toddler aged 4 months and older is awake, a rattle pacifier may well come in handy. It is convenient to hold the pacifier by the large ring, the baby can look at it, twirl it in his hands, wave it - in response, it will quietly “sound” and thereby amuse the child.
Movable pacifiers will force the baby to “work” a little. The peculiarity of this model is a movable nipple, which the child needs to “suck” from the base, where it tends to return. Such movements of the pacifier reproduce the movements of the mother's breast while the baby is sucking, and therefore there is less risk that he will refuse breastfeeding.
You can’t predict which pacifier your baby will like. It happens that an expensive and sophisticated model is mercilessly spat out by a picky little one. But the cheapest, simplest pacifier goes with a bang! If a child rejects the “new thing”, nothing can be done, you will have to continue the search. By the way, pacifiers cannot be returned or exchanged.
Night pacifier for sweet dreams
Night pacifiers are available especially for sleep purposes. Their task is not to disturb or disturb the baby while he is sleeping. Night pacifiers are made as streamlined as possible - with a straight or following the contours of the face mouthpiece. Many of them do not have a ring or it is small, does not extend beyond the mouthpiece, and during sleep is pressed against it, fixed with a click. By the way, some night pacifiers have luminescent rings that glow in the dark with a greenish-bluish glow - mom can easily find the pacifier in the crib without turning on the light. In order for a luminescent pacifier to glow brighter and longer in the dark, it needs to be “charged” with light before going to bed at night, for example, by holding it under a switched-on lamp.
What to look for when buying a pacifier for a newborn?
A nipple for a newborn should have a uniform texture, without damage or deformation, and when squeezing it with your fingers, it should not stick together or allow air to pass through. Plastic fittings should be smooth, without cracks or sharp burrs that could cause the baby to prick or be scratched, and all components should be securely connected to each other. Latex dark brown, sharp bad smell rubber or plastic is a reason to stop using a pacifier.
You can give your baby a pacifier to calm him down, but it should not be abused. Before calming your baby with a pacifier, you should find out what is causing his anxiety. He might be hungry or it's time for his diaper to be changed.
It is also not recommended to give a pacifier too often to children prone to increased excitability. You need to try to calm the child in another way, and resort to the help of a pacifier only in extreme cases.
While, when the baby is calm, you should not give him a pacifier. If he can do without her, let him do without. The pacifier is a way to meet the needs of the child, not the parents. This is the first thing to remember.
In no case Don't give a pacifier to a hungry baby. Otherwise, he will get tired of sucking it, and he will not have the strength to eat enough.
Pacifiers should not pose a threat to children's health. To make them safe, they need to be looked after properly:
- Pacifiers must be stored in clean, sealed cases;
- at least once a day, the pacifier should be disinfected by boiling;
- pacifiers have their own service life. Thus, a silicone pacifier can be used for no more than 1 month, a latex pacifier - 3 months;
- Do not give your child a new pacifier from the package. It needs to be disinfected by boiling it in water with salt.
Popular manufacturers
engaged in the production of products for children a large number of enterprises. Of course, children want to choose the best, so you should pay attention only to products that have proven themselves to be of the highest quality and safest.
The most popular products are from trusted manufacturers. Among them are company pacifiers AVENT Naturally & Philips– co-production of Great Britain and Japan.
German brand pacifiers are no less popular. BABY-NOVA.
There is also high demand for mid-price products from manufacturers such as Chicco and Poupy, Nuby (Italy) and Camera (Germany).
Manufacturers' products World of Childhood, Dandy, AMT trade They are an order of magnitude lower than their imported counterparts, but are of good quality.
To understand which pacifier is right for your baby, it is recommended to let him try products from different manufacturers.
When purchasing a pacifier, it should be remembered that when the time comes, the child will need to be weaned off it. A pacifier can be quite useful. But the abuse of such an item will undoubtedly cause a lot of harm.
If a child refuses a pacifier from the first days of life, he spits it out, which means that he does not need it.
On the other side, if it is impossible to calm the baby in any other way, it’s better to give him a pacifier than to suffer with an umbilical hernia later.
When looking at the assortment of baby products in a store, young parents involuntarily get lost and buy a pacifier based on the attractive appearance. Then they wonder why the baby categorically refuses to suckle it. Before purchasing, you should figure out which nipples are optimal for newborns and which ones are better.
Distinctive features
Today, pacifiers produced by manufacturers are divided according to several criteria that help determine which pacifier is best to choose:
Material of manufacture
Form
Attention! If used for a long time, a round nipple can affect your baby's bite.
Size
Performing a protection disk
"Special" pacifiers
Raising a baby presents parents with numerous surprises; it is useful to know how to choose a pacifier for special occasions. The following options deserve special mention:
Attention! The use of such pacifiers must be under the supervision of parents; leaving the child alone with a special pacifier is not acceptable.
Making the right choice
It can be quite difficult for parents of their first child to understand the characteristics and features of nipples. Based on the differences listed above, let’s consider which pacifier to choose for a newborn:
- If the baby was born on time and his weight corresponds to his age, a category A nipple (0-3 months) is suitable. When large child a larger size option should be preferred;
- It is difficult to answer unequivocally the question of which pacifier is better - silicone or latex, since both varieties are suitable for infants. Latex is softer, but more susceptible to deformation and can cause allergies. Silicone nipples are stronger and considered hypoallergenic, but not every baby will like them due to their rigidity;
- In terms of shape, the best pacifiers for newborns are those that repeat the shape of the mother's breast. It is believed that it will be easier for a baby to grasp with his mouth orthodontic pacifier, which also contributes to the formation of a correct bite;
- The protective disk must match the size of the baby and be solid to prevent small parts from being swallowed. Choose the right pacifier with ventilation holes so that saliva accumulated on the chin does not irritate delicate skin babies. Glow-in-the-dark discs make it beautiful and easy to find the pacifier at night.
Attention! The specified selection method is advisory in nature. It is acceptable to use nipples of other shapes for infants; in each case, the choice depends on individual characteristics newborn
The best pacifiers
Information on how to choose a pacifier for a newborn and which pacifier is better would not be complete without mentioning well-known manufacturers, indicating the positive and negative characteristics of the accessories they produce for children. Below are companies popular among mothers and babies, leading in the quality of the pacifiers they offer.
While still pregnant, euphoric women buy many different pacifiers. As a result, when the baby is born, many of them turn out to be unnecessary, since the child simply refuses to suck on them.
To find that one pacifier that your baby will like, you need to take into account some nuances when choosing it. We'll look at what to pay attention to and how to choose the right pacifier below.
This question worries most mothers. Indeed, in some ambiguous situations a pacifier is not recommended, but in others it is simply necessary for the baby.
In order to understand who needs it, you should understand the positive and negative aspects of using a pacifier.
The disadvantages include the following:
- Pediatricians say that the nipple for newborns has a different structure than the mother's nipple. Children who get used to sucking a pacifier often begin to refuse the breast. This is due to the fact that the baby's latch changes and he can no longer receive the required amount of mother's milk. Therefore, pediatricians strongly do not recommend giving a pacifier to infants, especially during the initial development of breastfeeding.
- An incorrectly selected baby pacifier and prolonged sucking can change the child’s bite.
- If a child sucks a pacifier until the age of 2 or 3, then, as a rule, such children begin to talk later.
- Sucking on a pacifier for a long time can lead to psychological trauma if you give it up.
These ones negative sides, which may possibly affect the development and health of the child. But there are cases when a pacifier is simply necessary:
- Pediatricians recommend giving it to children who are bottle-fed. So, they satisfy their sucking reflex.
- A pacifier is an indispensable assistant when the baby is capricious at a doctor’s appointment, while visiting or on the road, or when changing clothes.
- Sucking on a pacifier is a great alternative. After all, sucking it is more hygienic than sucking a finger.
- Many children fall asleep and sleep well with a pacifier.
Of course, every mother must decide for herself whether to give a pacifier to her child or not. In any case, it should not be given to a baby up to a month old, first you need to establish breastfeeding. Otherwise, the baby will simply refuse breast milk.
It so happened physiologically that from birth to one and a half years, a child needs to constantly suck on something. It can be not only the mother’s breast, but also a finger, a fist, a toy, but most often for this purpose parents give the baby a pacifier.
Define best option This baby gear can be difficult. First, you should try several nipples before you understand which one suits your baby best. You should be very careful when choosing it. First of all she must be safe and convenient.
Material
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the material from which the pacifier is made. Any children's product must be made from safe materials. This is especially true for the pacifier, which will be constantly in the baby’s mouth.
Latex - material quite soft and safe. Latex pacifiers are very flexible and pliable, making them ideal for newborns and small babies. However, there is one caveat: such pacifiers are not durable, so they need to be changed once a month.
After long use, they can become deformed, and they cannot be boiled (latex is afraid of high temperatures). It happens that children begin to develop allergic reaction, since latex contains protein molecules. But still, allergies are a rather rare case.
Silicone - nipples made from it are hard. But such pacifiers can be boiled and do not cause allergies. The latex pacifier is yellowish in color, but the silicone pacifier is completely transparent. But due to its elastic texture, a child can easily chew such a pacifier. Therefore, they are not recommended for children who have already developed teeth.
Rubber - material It is considered outdated and today such nipples are not popular. Rubber can be an allergen for a child. But such pacifiers have an undoubted advantage - they are simply ideal for teething babies. They are better and faster than others at relieving itching and discomfort.
Form
The following forms (types) of nipples are distinguished: regular; anatomical; orthopedic. The usual shape has a classic papilla (rounded). This nipple, made of latex, is more anatomically reminiscent of the mother's breast than others.
The nipple in the anatomical pacifier is elongated and slightly flattened, thanks to which it is evenly distributes pressure on the baby's palate. Typically, manufacturers of anatomical pacifiers produce two types of them - for small and large children.
Such dummies should not be longer than 1.5 cm. Sometimes the baby sucks anatomical nipple concave side towards the tongue. There is nothing terrible about this, even with such sucking it will not harm the gums.
Nipple orthopedic pacifier there are the following types:
- “cherry” (recommended for large babies);
- “butterfly” (given to the baby who lies on his stomach);
- “heart” (helps to form the correct bite).
An orthopedic pacifier is suitable for newborns who are on breastfeeding since she told them resembles a mother's nipple. Some manufacturers produce such pacifiers with an air vent valve, which reduces pressure on the roof of the mouth.
Symmetrical orthopedic nipples are also produced, in which two sides are flat. They can be given to the baby in any direction.
Protective disc and size
The protective disc is needed to prevent the baby from swallowing the pacifier nipple, which is why it is usually wide. But given its size, it should not cover the child’s nose and be too heavy.
But it is also very important that the protective disk has holes for ventilation or pimples, which prevent a tight fit to the baby’s skin. Without such additions, saliva will accumulate under the disc, which can cause irritation on the skin of the chin.
It is desirable that the disk be made from solid material(monolithic), and not consist of several parts, which often break off. The ring used to hold the pacifier should fit snugly to the base of the pacifier.
The size of the pacifier is selected taking into account the age of the baby. Usually the age of the product is indicated on the packaging. All pacifiers are the same size divided into 3 categories:
- A - for newborn babies and up to 6 months.
- B - for babies over 6 months and up to one and a half years.
- C - intended for children over 18 months.
Some companies produce pacifiers for babies who were born weighing less than 1.75 kg. But many manufacturers also divide category A into pacifiers from 0 to 3 months and for children 3–6 months.
Popular manufacturers of baby pacifiers
When choosing a pacifier for your child, you should give preference to trusted manufacturers who make comfortable and safe baby products.
Price range for pacifiers popular brands is diverse, each parent will be able to choose a product according to their financial capabilities.
Well-known manufacturers who produce quality baby pacifiers:
- Avent is an English company, all of whose products meet high safety standards, which guarantees the health of the baby.
- Canpol babies are German-made products, all product quality is confirmed by the European Union Directive DIN-EN-1400.
- Chicco is a globally popular and reputable brand; all the company’s products are reliable, safe, high quality and time-tested.
- Nuby is an American company, one of largest producers newborn care products. High quality and recognizable design are known all over the world.
- NUK is a company from Germany, the concept of which is based on the patented physiological form of pacifiers, developed after many years of research.
- TIGEX is a French brand that is distinguished by its excellent design, high quality materials and attention to detail in all details.
How to choose a pacifier and how to care for it
These easy rules for choosing a pacifier and caring for it will allow you to use it correctly and safely.
It is very important for parents to catch the moment when they need to start weaning their baby off the pacifier. This should be done slowly, gradually, distracting her with games and removing her from the child’s field of vision.
In no case you can't scold a child, if he sucks her, be embarrassed about it or even beat her. After all, it was his parents who taught him to do it! But there is also no need to smear the pacifier with something unpleasant or burning - this can harm both the physical and psychological health of the baby.
You need to calmly explain to the child that his teeth may grow ugly and crooked. If you cannot wean your child from sucking a pacifier, then you can use the following technique.
Every day you need cut a small piece from the pacifier and at the same time, telling the child that she was eaten by fish (any animal). Usually babies get used to it, and it becomes uncomfortable for them to suck it every day. Thus, they will give up the bad habit faster and more painlessly.
Doctors and parents have several opinions about the need to use pacifiers for newborns - some believe that it is simply necessary for the child, others are confident that its use can only cause harm. We will try to understand this not entirely easy issue and talk about the positive and negative aspects in more detail. Is a pacifier for a newborn good or evil?
Most babies develop a sucking reflex in the womb, which is very necessary for their full growth and development after birth. When breastfeeding, many mothers try to give up the pacifier, not unreasonably believing that this can disorient the child.
The fact is that the shape of the breast differs significantly from the pacifier for a newborn, so subsequently he can no longer grasp correctly. mother's breast. As a result, the milk begins to flow worse, and the mother gets painful cracks in the nipples and hardening of the breasts. As a result, the child may even refuse the breast, crying and “demanding” a replacement that is convenient for him. But you shouldn’t approach this problem unequivocally - all babies are different and completely denying the use of a pacifier can sometimes be harmful, especially if for some reason you use artificial feeding.
Sometimes breastfeeding is not enough time to satisfy the sucking reflex, and the baby becomes restless and cries. In this case, you can apply it to your chest more often, but this is not always possible or convenient. Therefore, there will be nothing wrong if restless babies are given a pacifier in the first months of life.
Choosing the “right” pacifier
Among the modern variety of formulas and accessories for caring for newborns, inexperienced parents may not be able to figure it out and choose the best option. If you can choose a manufacturer according to your taste and discretion, then when choosing a shape and material you should take into account some nuances.
How to choose a pacifier for a newborn - pacifiers are made of silicone and latex. Latex is softer than silicone, but such nipples need to be replaced more often due to hardening and swelling with prolonged use. And, despite this drawback, they are more suitable for newborns. Stiffer silicone pacifiers do not absorb moisture and are therefore more durable and harder to bite through, but are more suitable for babies from the age of six months. In shape - round, teardrop-shaped and beveled pacifiers are present in the assortment of almost every manufacturer.
To form the correct bite, specialists have developed “orthodontic” nipples that take into account the anatomical features of the oral cavity of a newborn, which have a teardrop shape. But, unfortunately, it is not suitable for all children. Some people outright refuse such a pacifier, and then parents just need to choose an option that will satisfy your baby. It is very good if the pacifier has a special storage container or cap.
Pay attention to the plate covering the baby's mouth. It can be of any type and size, but it must have ventilation holes and be larger in size than the surface area of the child’s oral cavity. Pacifiers with a solid plate can stick to the skin, which is not only inconvenient, but also unsafe. It is better to have several pacifiers - they often fall or get lost at the most “critical” moment.
When does a child need a pacifier?
There is no need to use a pacifier unless necessary - it should serve as a means to calm the baby. Some parents, having read modern literature Opponents of pacifiers are tormented by a dilemma - can a newborn be given a pacifier or not?
There are several situations in which it is sometimes simply impossible to do without a pacifier:
- It is impossible to put a child to sleep for a long time - he is fed, healthy and dry, but continues to behave restlessly and cry.
- To distract the child when changing clothes, if he does not like this procedure.
- If he starts screaming loudly after bathing.
- If a child sleeps with his mouth open during a walk, especially in the cold season.
- If after feeding the baby he begins to whine, and other methods of calming do not bring the desired effect.
- If the child sucks his fist or fingers.
- To distract his attention when visiting a doctor.
These are the main situations when you can give a pacifier to a newborn.
At what age can children be given a pacifier?
The baby associates sucking at the breast not only with eating. A strong sucking reflex, according to psychologists, goes away with age. Contact your baby more often - in the first months of life, he especially needs protection and affection. You can determine whether a newborn needs a pacifier by his behavior. This is all very individual. Remember that no pacifier can replace parental warmth and care. It is necessary to use the pacifier as little as possible as a “sedative.”
To prevent the pacifier from getting lost, some parents secure it on the baby's wrist or neck with a ribbon, string or pin. This is unacceptable and can lead to serious consequences. For these purposes, pharmacies sell clothespins with a chain made of special safe and environmentally friendly materials.
How to accustom a newborn to a pacifier? - This question is asked by many inexperienced parents. If your baby needs to suck, he will take the pacifier for granted, but perhaps the baby won’t need it at all.
Two looks at the pacifier
So is a pacifier harmful to a newborn, or can it be safely given to a child?
The need for sucking in newborns is especially great during the first four months, but some children get rid of this need after a year. The sucking instinct is different for different children, depending on their needs and temperament. The habit of thumb sucking sometimes takes a long time to eradicate - in this case, a pacifier can help. It is known that sucking movements extinguish negative emotions and slow down motor activity– this is what the calming effect is based on.
On the other hand, sucking a pacifier for a long time can affect the child’s bite and speech skills. Problems may arise when breastfeeding - using a pacifier reduces the number of breastfeedings, which leads to problems with lactation - the amount of milk in a nursing mother decreases. Some children, having started sucking a pacifier, change the way they suck the breast correctly or completely refuse breastfeeding.
You shouldn't make hasty decisions. All children cannot be the same, and each perceives different situations differently. The process of sucking a pacifier has both disadvantages and advantages.
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