The use of the pacifier is one of those issues that has raised quite controversy in recent years because of the balance between its risks and benefits for the health of the infant. The last recommendations of the AEP talk about limiting the use of the pacifier until the year of life.
The Breastfeeding Committee has carried out a review of the topic in an interesting article entitled "Use of the pacifier and breastfeeding." In it, the risks and benefits of using the pacifier are analyzed in light of the latest scientific research in this regard, and, among other conclusions, on which we will return, indicate that
To avoid other adverse effects of the use of the pacifier it is recommended, in all children, to limit its use until the year of life, which includes the maximum risk ages of sudden infant death syndrome and those in which the infant has more need to suck.
These adverse effects that the pacifier can have are a shorter duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding, increased otitis media, dental problems and risk of accidents.
On the other hand, the reason why the use of the pacifier is not discouraged is that it has been related to decreased risk of sudden infant death and other demonstrated benefits, such as its analgesic effect and the stimulation of non-nutritive suction in preterm children already finished.
All in all, the yes-soother pacifier issue is not yet far from being resolved, but if some clear conclusions can be had one of them is that the use of the pacifier be limited until the year of life, because later it could increase the risks.
Personally, for a baby accustomed to the pacifier it seems too soon to take it off. At the time I explained that my little daughter "forced" to take the pacifier because we preferred that to suck your finger as he did with fruition almost until the year of age. That is, he started using the pacifier precisely around the year. And with a year and a half still using it, and he has already forgotten his finger.
But, for the moment, I think it is too small to take it off (he uses it exclusively for sleeping, but it helps him relax and is not able to understand why he would "disappear"), although this AEP recommendation to limit the use of the pacifier until the year of life It has made me rethink the question and realize that the dreaded moment of withdrawing pups.
