Your Questions About Pacifiers And Sids

By sophie on February 1, 2012

Carol asks…

Do you think parents that use dummies/pacifiers during the day are lazy?

I personally have never given my daughter a dummy/pacifier but I understand why some people use them at night as there has been research to show it reduces the risk of SIDS. However, I do not understand the use of them in the daytime. Surely, if a baby needs comforting it should be the mums job to do that, not a dummy? Mums I know who use dummies shove them in whenever their babies even slightly fuss, or those with toddlers who still have dummies have got to the point where the toddler is only calm if they have their dummy and throw a fit without it. What do you think, is it lazy to give your child a dummy during the day?

sophie answers:

I think there is a wrong way and a right way to use a dummy. My two boys only had theirs when they went to sleep and did not have it in their mouth all the time.As soon as they woke up they had to leave it in their cot and they did not have it until they went to sleep

Lisa asks…

Any moms tht didn’t use pacifiers?

I’m due any day now and I’m debating whether or not to use a pacifier. My mom didn’t use one on me and I have friends tht didn’t give their babies one either. I feel like they turn out 2 b such bad habits n hard 2 break the child off of them. But now I’ve been doing so much research on SIDS n I’m so freaked out n jst dnt knw wht 2 do so I wanted to hear from you experienced mommies. Did you use a paci?

sophie answers:

I breastfed and formula fed my daughter, she never had any nipple confusion and would take pretty much anything we put in her mouth. She used a paci for the first week or so, but she didn’t really care for it. She would suck on it but mostly it just fell out of her mouth. I found that I spent more time making sure it was in her mouth than she did actually sucking on it, so I just stopped offering it to her. She was completely fine, and I really feel like I was the one pushing the paci on her, she didn’t really need it. As far as SIDS is concerned, I wouldn’t even worry about it! There really isn’t enough conclusive research to support this theory. I would say the biggest risk factors are making sure she’s sleeping in her own crib and not allowing any blankets or anything that can cover her face and slow her oxygen intake. Co-sleeping has been the biggest link to SIDS thus far.

Nancy asks…

what kind of pacifiers work best for a 2 month old?

i have tried the newborn blue ones, the gerber sids reducer,and the round ones with the flat tip. my 2 month old son doesn’t like any of them. what kinds worked for your babies? he also has tongue tie, where the thing under your tongue is to tight. he only sleeps with my nipple in his mouth and as soon as i take it out he wakes up.
i dont mind him on my nipple because i breastfeed but my nipples are starting to feel raw and sore, i need a pacifier for when he’s sleeping.

sophie answers:

My daughter loves the NUK paci’s. She wont take soothies or other paci’s. Except for Born Free but they are both pretty much the same.

Robert asks…

Babies aren’t supposed to be allowed to sleep unattended with a pacifier???

I just read on the packaging for my son’s new pacifier that a baby should never be left unattended with a binky in their mouth and should never be allowed to sleep unattended with a binky in their mouth. This seems very odd to me because I cannot envision a parent waiting for their baby to fall asleep and somehow prying the binky out of their babies mouth. What is the deal with this? My son has been using a binky at night for 8 months and I never heard not to let him…in fact I heard to give them a pacifier to sleep with because it reduced the SIDS risk. Any info anyone can give me to clear this up would be great. Why do they say not to let them have it overnight…my baby WILL NOT fall asleep without his pacifier and wakes easily so I dont know how I would go about somehow getting it from him before Ieave the room :S Thanks everyone

sophie answers:

Most babies who fall asleep sucking on something automatically spit it out as they enter deep sleep. However, the pacifier can cause a buildup of saliva in the mouth, and I suppose, theoretically, the baby could choke on his saliva. Plus, if the baby were alone with the pacifier and he needed to spit up, it would be in the way of that, and that would lead to possible aspiration of vomit.

I’d wait until he enters deep sleep to fish it out of the crib. If you place a finger under his lips when he’s deeply asleep (when his limbs are limp) it should pop out easily and the baby may only sigh or turn his head a few times before going back to sleep.

Sandra asks…

SIDS risk factors?

Maybe it’s because I’m a first time mom, but I’m terrified of my baby dying of SIDS. I know it’s pretty rare, but I am constantly checking on her during the night (she sleeps in a bassinet right next to my bed), and I get so paranoid whenever I can’t hear her breathing.

She sleeps on her back, I make sure she’s not overheated, she’s a very healthy baby. She’s a month old. Is there anything else I can do to help prevent SIDS?

Does breastfeeding reduce the risk?
Sleeping with a pacifier?

sophie answers:

While the cause of SIDS remains unknown, there are many things you can do to reduce the risk of SIDS apart from what you are already doing. The American Institute of SIDS recommends the following:

“1. Place infants to sleep on their backs, even though they may sleep more soundly on their stomachs. Infants who sleep on their stomachs and sides have a much higher rate of SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.

2. Place infants to sleep in a baby bed with a firm mattress. There should be nothing in the bed but the baby – no covers, no pillows, no bumper pads, no positioning devices and no toys. Soft mattresses and heavy covering are associated with the risk for SIDS.

3. Keep your baby’s crib in the parents’ room until the infant is at least 6 months of age. Studies clearly show that infants are safest when their beds are close to their mothers.

4. Do not place your baby to sleep in an adult bed. Typical adult beds are not safe for babies. Do not fall asleep with your baby on a couch or in a chair.

(With respect to the co-sleeping issue, I think much of the fear here is that you will have pillows or blankets that will accidentally suffocate the baby. I am sure, however, that there are many ways to co-sleep safely with your baby. Many parents do it successfully you just have to be extra careful.)

5. Do not over-clothe the infant while she sleeps. Just use enough clothes to keep the baby warm without having to use cover. Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for you. Overheating an infant may increase the risk for SIDS.

6. Avoid exposing the infant to tobacco smoke. Don’t have your infant in the same house or car with someone who is smoking. The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the greater the risk of SIDS.

7. Breast-feed babies whenever possible. Breast milk decreases the occurrence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Studies show that breast-fed babies have a lower SIDS rate than formula-fed babies do.

8. Avoid exposing the infant to people with respiratory infections. Avoid crowds. Carefully clean anything that comes in contact with the baby. Have people wash their hands before holding or playing with your baby. SIDS often occurs in association with relatively minor respiratory (mild cold) and gastrointestinal infections (vomiting and diarrhea).

9. Offer your baby a pacifier. Some studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS among babies who use pacifiers.

10. If your baby has periods of not breathing, going limp or turning blue, tell your pediatrician at once.

11. If your baby stops breathing or gags excessively after spitting up, discuss this with your pediatrician immediately.

12. Thoroughly discuss each of the above points with all caregivers. If you take your baby to daycare or leave him with a sitter, provide a copy of this list to them. Make sure they follow all recommendations.”

It sounds like you are doing everything right! (BTW: as a first time mom, I too am petrified of SIDS.)

Take Care!

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