One of the greatest discoveries when exercising motherhood is discovering that there are not always concrete answers. Many times the path of motherhood is learned through trial and error. Especially when it comes to calming the baby or getting her routines in sync. The pacifier, the bottle, sleep are basic questions in a newborn and that is why the debate is opened in search of an answer but… are there any? doIs it good for the newborn to use the pacifier to sleep? Or put him to sleep in his crib?
Whoever is looking for the concrete answer is in an initial mistake because the truth is that the first thing to learn is that each child is a world. In any case, it is about finding the best answers for each baby and for that there is nothing better than observation and intuition.
Pacifier or no pacifier?
I remember the first days of my eldest son… he was always a good and serene child but the first nights in the sanatorium were somewhat difficult. I was recovering from a complicated C-section and could barely move. The baby was also getting used to the world and on those first nights he woke up with whimpers and crying that in the middle of the night seemed deafening. We tried everything: rock him, cradle him, co-sleeping, breastfeeding and so on... but nothing. Until breaking the recommended rules we gave him his first pacifier And then the magic happened, he calmed down instantly and slept for several hours, exhausted after so much crying.
After this experience, I always recommend the same, as Serrat says "there is no path for walkers, the path is made by walking". Who said that the pacifier is not good for newborns? doIt is good for the newborn to use the pacifier to sleep? This question is a bit broad because one thing is that it is not the best considering what we want to teach the baby from the beginning. Another is that it causes some damage in the future. And here is the key, in discerning both issues.
The pacifier does not harm the newborn, in any case with it the baby will get used to using it early and then depend more on it at bedtime or calm down.
Pros and cons of the pacifier
As is known, in addition to pacifier dependency, wearing it may increase the risk of middle ear infections, although this is unlikely as infection rates are lowest from birth to 6 months. It is also said that the prolonged use of the pacifier can cause problems in the teeth, and that they are misaligned. Although this could happen, it would be a reality if the pacifier is used very long and for several years.
Another against the pacifier argues that it is best to wait until 3 or 4 weeks to offer the baby pacifier. This so that it has become accustomed to the suction process of breastfeeding. Theories against the pacifier ensure that it is not good for the newborn to use the pacifier to sleep during these first few months and until he learns the sucking reflex of breastfeeding well. However, this will depend on the child as there are children who learn to suck from the start and do not need to get used to it. In that case, there is no risk that he will use the pacifier from the start.
If you want your newborn to use a pacifier to sleep, then keep a few tips in mind. Keep it clean and avoid adding sweet substances to it for it to take in its mouth. In any case, you can hold him with your finger until he gets used to doing it on his own. Avoid forcing him to use the pacifier, let the baby determine when he wants and when he doesn't. There are babies who never like the pacifier and others who love it. Finally, try several pacifier formats in case you reject one, as each child has a different taste.