Breastfeeding and Pacifiers

Most moms new to breastfeeding soon discover there are no hard and fast answers to some questions. Why? It is because every baby is different and every single situation is different. So, when asking “Should I give my baby a pacifier” the answers vary.

Some breastfeeding moms use pacifiers with their babies with no issues. Overuse can be an issue though. Only part of the time spent at the breast nursing is spent in actually getting milk. Suckling is also a comforting activity and the skin to skin contact is very comforting for baby. Suckling also stimulates the mother’s breasts and helps milk production. A baby who is given a pacifier to suck on will be comforted in some degree and may not spend enough time suckling to keep up your milk production.

Moderation is probably the key here. There are times when a pacifier might be important or even indispensable. However, it should not be overused.

Nipple confusion, can using a pacifier with a breastfed infant cause it? Well, some experts say they have never seen a case of nipple confusion, others feel it happens. To be on the safe side until about the age of 6 weeks any nipple other than the breast should be avoided if at all possible, after that point a pacifier can be used but of course only with moderation as the stimulation of baby suckling is what keeps breast milk production up.

Some mothers are tempted to introduce pacifiers often with the first growth spurt when an infant seems as if they wish to nurse every hour on the hour. This can be tiring for mom, but a growth spurt usually only lasts a matter of a few days in infants. If you resist the urge to use or overuse a pacifier for that short period baby’s feeding habits will return to normal very quickly and your milk supply will be undiminished.

As stated in the beginning there are no hard and fast rules for pacifiers. There are only general guidelines that can be used as a rule of thumb depending on the mother and baby’s needs. Working moms are often forced by circumstances to introduce baby to pacifiers and bottles as soon as 6 weeks old. Yet, there are a remarkable number of successfully breastfeeding working moms. It all depends on the individual.

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