Should I Give my Breastfed Baby a Pacifier?
Help! We’ve been given so much conflicting information!
Are pacifiers actually bad for brestfed babies?
When it comes to pacifier use for breastfed babies, there are multiple schools of thought (give it. don’t give it. SIDS prevention. nipple confusion. ahh!), but none of them seem to consider each family’s goals—that’s where we come in! =)
You’ve probably heard that giving a pacifier will cause nipple confusion. You’ve probably been given Mam pacifiers for signing up for a random baby registry. You’ve also probably been told to use a pacifier, so your baby doesn’t “use YOU as a pacifier.” And you may have even been offered one at the hospital if baby was a little more awake and unhappy on the second night.
We’re here to tell you that none of those are actually great recommendations. Here is some information, that may help you make a decision about pacifiers use that feels good for your family.
Pacifiers very rarely cause nipple confusion.
The breast is the OG pacifier! How did moms calm their babies, for hundreds of years, before pacifiers were invented? Chances are, they nursed them. Babies feed for many reasons—hunger, thirst, and comfort being the top 3. You can’t spoil a baby, and latching them when they need comfort is never a bad habit.
Babies should generally not be offered pacifiers in the hospital, as breastfeeding is typically still progressing (unless it is deemed beneficial for suck training purposes).
Mam pacifiers are not great for oral function and can promote a shallow, painful latch. If you’d like to find out more about pacifiers that promote optimal oral function and optimal latch, read this blog about Best Pacifiers for Breastfed Babies.
If baby is rocked, fed, and changed, and you know they are not hungry, using a pacifier to help regulate their nervous system and calm them can be really helpful in some situations.
Babies who are given pacifiers, receive 1-2 less feeds per day, on average, than babies who don’t. As you can imagine, that’s a pretty big deal for a brand new baby, who should be eating 8-12 times per day. Not only is baby feeding less often, but mom is also experiencing less stimulation, and her breasts are getting less frequent notifications to continue producing milk. This can be very detrimental for some families. This is where we review using the pacifier only as needed, after feeds, if you’ve offered the breast and baby isn’t interested.
For other families, breastfeeding may be going very well, parents are feeding on demand, and baby just needs a little comfort while mom showers, or drives. This would be a perfect opportunity for pacifier use.
According to some studies, pacifiers can be helpful for reducing the risk of SIDS.
They can also be helpful for suck training, in infants with suboptimal oral function.
So in conclusion, while introducing a pacifier to a breastfed infant is not generally a bad thing, it should be a thoughtful decision made by each family, after considering all of the information. Parents should weigh the pros and cons of introducing a nuk to THEIR baby, after considering things like latch progress, infant weight gain, feeding plan, oral function, and mom’s comfort with the decision.
Our general recommendation is that once breastfeeding and milk supply are well-established, after about 2-4 weeks, it is likely safe to utilize a pacifier to provide comfort for your baby. Be sure to watch for hunger cues and respond appropriately, and be sure to use a pacifier that promotes optimal oral function.
If you have questions about any of the above, please reach out to our team—we’re always happy to help!