Pacifier is a way to help babies sleep soundly, sleep well, and reduce the risk of sudden death in babies (SIDS). But the dangers of a pacifier begin to outweigh its benefits as your baby continues to use it at an older age
So what is the right time to wean a baby pacifier? Join MarryBaby to learn more about this issue!
1 / Disadvantages of delayed pacification
Increased risk of ear infections: Pacifiers increase the risk of middle ear infections in babies and children. However, you can still use a pacifier until you are 6 months old because at this age your baby has very little risk of middle ear infections. At the same time, this is the time when the risk of sudden death during sleep is highest and the baby is very excited about the pacifier.
But using pacifiers often can be the cause of otitis media after your baby gets older. One study found that babies who stopped using a pacifier after 6 months of age had a third lower number of ear infections than those who continued this habit.
Timely weaning of pacifiers helps children avoid negative effects on health and development
- Cause dental problems: Let your baby use a pacifier in the first year of life will not affect too much on the jaw structure as well as the development of the mouth. However, if you maintain the habit of sucking a pacifier for a long time, it will adversely affect the development of the teeth, increase the risk of the baby's teeth being skewed, dislocated, the lower molars are stuck. teeth do not fit.
- Impeding language development : Some experts believe that pacifiers can prevent language development. Because at the time of starting to practice speaking, pronunciation practice, if the child is "busy" with a fake tiara in his mouth, he / she will be lazy in speaking and not pronounce correctly.
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2 / When to wean a baby pacifier?
According to experts of the American Academy of Pediatrics, after 6 months, the benefits of giving a baby a pacifier decrease, replacing it with many negative effects such as increasing the risk of ear infections , causing trouble. for oral health, language development,… So 6-12 months is the best time to start limiting and weaning pacifiers, especially for children prone to ear infections.
But that is not too rigid rule. For some children, latching on a pacifier can help reduce stress, adapt to new situations, challenges such as starting daycare, taking a long trip, etc. or if they feel extremely overwhelmed. If you are comfortable and excited to use a pacifier, parents can consider letting your baby continue to use it for a while. However, it should not be too late, past the age of 3-4.
And anyway, parents should also consider and consider helping the baby say goodbye to this special "friend" at the appropriate time as soon as possible. Because in addition to the undesirable effects, the "addiction" of the fake is very difficult to quit if the child is used for a long time. If your baby doesn't give up on her own, parents should somehow help them say goodbye when a pacifier is no longer a "good friend"!
Tips for mothers 6 ways to prevent sudden infant death Many cases of newborns falling asleep have occurred because parents lack experience in caring for their children. Let's take a look at some preventive methods to help children avoid suffocation leading to sudden death in sleep!
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