Before having a baby, giving a pacifier seems like such a simple and easy way to soothe a crying baby. However, that may not always be the case. Some babies don’t take to pacifiers right away. New moms may stress about the implications of giving a pacifier while breastfeeding. Or maybe your baby is constantly spitting their pacifier out and you cannot figure out how to get them to keep it in!
In this post, we’ll go over the 9 best tips for how to get baby to take a pacifier, benefits of pacifiers, when to introduce a pacifier, and more!
Benefits of Pacifiers
Decreased Risk of SIDS
In some research studies, researchers found a correlation between pacifier use and a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that pacifier use reduces the risk of SIDS, even if the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth while sleeping. But not to stress if your baby doesn’t take a pacifier.
Distraction/Pain Management
Pacifiers can be used as a distraction or for pain management during things like vaccines or other painful procedures. During procedures in the doctor’s office or the hospital, a nurse may dip the pacifier in sucrose which provides pain relief to your baby.
They can also be used with premature babies for pain management as well as reduce the risk of oral aversions.
Soothe and Calm
If you have a fussy baby that isn’t hungry but just needs some extra help with soothing, a pacifier can work great for this situation. Non-nutritive sucking (any sucking that isn’t providing nutrition or fluid) can be very calming for a baby.
May Help with Sleep
A pacifier can help satisfy baby’s need to suck that’s not related to hunger. A pacifier can allow for longer stretches of sleep for baby, once they are no longer needing night feeds. Some older babies that have an easier time soothing themselves can find a pacifier in their crib, and help themselves fall back asleep.
Reduces Thumb Sucking
Thumb sucking has more long-term effects on dental development. It’s also a lot harder to take your baby’s habit for thumb sucking away versus taking a pacifier away.
When to Introduce Pacifier
If you’re planning to breastfeed, you may have heard about nipple confusion from offering a pacifier too soon. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waiting to introduce a pacifier until breastfeeding is well established, around 3-4 weeks.
However, studies have shown that the use of a pacifier in healthy breastfed babies, starting from birth or after lactation is established, did not significantly affect breastfeeding outcomes.
With this in mind, if you do choose to introduce a pacifier at birth while breastfeeding, avoid using the pacifier close to feeding times to prolong your baby’s hunger cues.
Related Post: The 10 Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Babies
If your baby isn’t breastfeeding and is being formula-fed, you can introduce a pacifier any time after birth.
If you wait a few months to introduce a pacifier, that is fine as well! But your baby may be less likely to take it then because they never experienced one those first few months.
9 Tips for How to Get Baby to Take Pacifier
1. Try different brands and shapes
If your baby hates a certain pacifier, that doesn’t mean they hate all pacifiers! There are different pacifier shapes such as round, flat, bulb, and slanted.
Register for or purchase multiple different brands and different shapes to see which one your baby likes best. The best pacifier for your baby may be different from someone else’s baby.
If you’re bottle feeding your baby, you may go through a similar experience trying to find the right bottle and nipple.
Give each pacifier a couple of tries before giving up on it completely and moving on to the next one.
2. Offer when baby is relaxed
If you’re having trouble getting your little one to take a pacifier, offer it to them when they’re relaxed rather than when they’re fussy and crying. Yes… you would usually use the paci to help calm and soothe baby’s cries. However, if your baby is already refusing the pacifier they most likely won’t take it when they’re upset.
Introducing the pacifier when they’re happy and relaxed may go over better.
3. Offer after feedings
Similarly to offering the pacifier when baby is relaxed, you may also want to introduce the pacifier after feedings. Your baby will be full and know that this nipple type is not meant to provide them milk, but to fulfill their sucking needs.
If they’re hungry and you offer them a pacifier, this can further upset them since nothing is coming from the artificial nipple.
4. Dip the pacifier in breast milk or formula
Try dipping the pacifier in a little breast milk or formula to entice your baby to take it into their mouth and suck on the pacifier. For a baby taking a pacifier for the first time, this can be a helpful trick to figure out what to do with the pacifier.
5. Make the pacifier warm
Warming the pacifier may just be the trick your baby needs to accept it. A warm paci can mimic the feel of the breast for your baby. Instead of leaving it out on the counter you could wrap it in a warmed cloth, dip it in warm water, or warm it with your hands.
Make sure it’s body temperature and not too hot! This is not a step that you would need to do the whole time your baby takes a paci. Just while you’re getting them to accept it and like it.
6. Pull the pacifier slightly to get baby to suck
This is a simple trick to get your baby to keep sucking to help the pacifier stay in their mouth. After you give your little one their pacifier and you notice a long pause in their sucking, gently pull the pacifier like you’re going to take it out.
This will initiate your baby to start sucking and pull the pacifier further into their mouth. You may hear this technique referred to as “reverse psychology”. Essentially, your baby feels the pacifier leaving their mouth and pulls it back in.
7. Have someone else offer the pacifier
If you’re a breastfeeding mom, your baby may not want to accept a pacifier from you! Just like a baby may not take a bottle from their breastfeeding mother.
Try having another caretaker introduce the pacifier to your baby if they’re having trouble accepting one from you. They may be more successful.
8. Have patience
This is a tough one, but don’t give up the first few times your baby denies a pacifier. Give it multiple tries and at different times. If you’ve tried one pacifier type for a few days and your baby still won’t take it, switch to a different brand or shape.
Persistence is the key here. And if after a few weeks your baby still won’t take one, that’s okay! We never want to force something onto our little ones that they don’t want.
9. “Bait and Switch”
As soon as your baby is done feeding (breast or bottle feeding), quickly switch out for the pacifier. Have the pacifier right next to you, ready to go once your baby is finished eating. The quicker you do it, the less likely your baby may be to notice or refuse.
Some Babies May Not Take a Pacifier
Using a pacifier can have its benefits and convenience for new parents, but it is not a necessity for a baby to have. Give it a few weeks! If you’ve tried all of these tips for how to get baby to take a pacifier and your baby still isn’t taking one, it may be time to accept that they won’t and find other methods of soothing your baby.
It’s not a health risk if they don’t take a pacifier. And it’s one less thing you have to wean your baby from later. So don’t worry if your baby really doesn’t want one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the risks of pacifier use?
The most important risks of pacifier use are failure of breastfeeding, dental deformities, recurrent ear infections, and the possibility of accidents.
Breastfeeding may fail if the pacifier is used as a prop to delay nursing sessions or baby’s hunger cues. The possibility of accidents can occur once baby develops teeth and may bite through the nipple. Or if it’s a two-piece construction nipple that falls off and causes baby to choke. So always check the pacifier for any wear and tear!
Why does my baby not take a pacifier?
Some babies just may not care for pacifiers. Each baby has their own preferences for soothing. For example, my first baby loved her pacifier and my second baby absolutely refused them.
Is it too late to introduce a pacifier?
Pacifiers can be given at any age after birth, but I wouldn’t recommend giving a pacifier for the first time past one year old. This is because the weaning process will begin soon and your baby may be less likely to take one at that time if they’ve never had a pacifier before.
You can start giving a pacifier to your little one at 3 months of life or even 6 months old. There is no “right time”.
Do breastfed babies take pacifiers?
Yes! It’s totally okay for a breastfed baby to take a pacifier! Check out my post on the 10 best pacifiers for breastfed babies.
Other Posts You May Like:
- How to Keep Your Baby Warm at Night Without a Swaddle
- 7 Best Vitamin D Drops for Breastfed Babies
- Clever Ideas for How to Use Pacifier Clips
- How to Prevent Diaper Blowouts: 22 Best Tips Every Parent Must Know
