How to Keep a Pacifier in a Baby's Mouth
It’s a love-hate relationship. You and the pacifier. One minute you don’t know what you’d do without it and the next you want to throw them all out the window.
One of the most frustrating issues parents have is how to keep a pacifier in their baby’s mouth. Baby is mad because it won’t stay. Mom and Dad are pulling their hair out because they are picking it up, washing it off, and putting it back in their baby’s mouth a million times a day.
Should you introduce the pacifier at all? Here are some thoughts to help you decide if starting this habit is right for your family.
Reasons to Use a Pacifier For Your Baby
There are several reasons parents use a pacifier. They include:
Babies were born with the sucking reflex. Sucking a pacifier can comfort them.
It’s a distraction. Use a pacifier at the doctor’s office if the baby needs to get shots, blood tests, or other procedures done.
To fall asleep. A fussy baby might easily soothe with something to suck. It might even help them sleep through fireworks.
To ease discomfort during flights. Helps to relieve ear pain caused by air pressure changes.
Pacifiers are disposable. You can throw them away. If your child prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it might be a bit harder to break the habit.
When Should You Introduce the Pacifier
Pacifiers can be introduced at any age, starting right from birth if you wish. You may even wait a few months to see how things go and then decide to introduce one.
If you’re breastfeeding it may be recommended you wait 3-4 weeks until your breastmilk comes fully in and you’ve established a routine with the baby. But according to Mayo Clinic they don’t think it matters, “a review of unrestricted pacifier use in healthy, full-term infants found that it had no impact on the continuation of breast-feeding.”
How to Get Your Baby to Take a Pacifier
The key to getting your baby to take the pacifier is finding the right one. First, be sure to look at the age range on the package. The younger the age, the smaller the nipple will be.
Second, determine what shape and texture of the nipple your baby will like. Pacifiers are made from non-toxic soft plastic, silicone, or latex depending on the brand. The two main shapes are orthodontic and conventional. This may be a game of trial and error with you having to buy a few types to find what your baby likes.
Once you’ve selected a pacifier there are a few ways to get them to take it.
Put it in your baby’s mouth at sleepy time. They are relaxed and the sucking comforts them as they fall asleep.
Try to insert the pacifier at the end of a meal. Again, they are relaxed and hopefully they will grab right on.
This third method uses a bit of reverse psychology. Instead of pushing it all the way in when you know they may resist, pull on it a little when they give it a suck. Repeat a few times throughout the day. A game that says to them yes I want it!
How to Keep a Pacifier in a Newborn’s Mouth
You can give yourself a pat on the back for successfully introducing the pacifier. You found the right type that the baby likes and it works when they are fussy to soothe them. What a great invention you think! But uh oh. Your baby is helpless in keeping the pacifier in their mouth. You are getting nothing done because as soon as the pacifier plops out the crying begins.
Here are a handful of ideas to help keep the pacifier in your baby’s mouth. None of them are perfect but hopefully can do the trick.
The tuck. Gently tuck the bottom edge of the pacifier into the swaddle blanket.
The prop. Roll up a swaddle blanket and use it as a prop to help support the pacifier if it pops out.
As they get older and have better hand coordination, teach them to put it back in themselves. A new skill is exciting!
Attach a pacifier cord or clip to it. This won’t keep it in their mouth but will reduce the number of times you have to bend down to the floor to pick it up and wash it off.
If your baby has been taking the pacifier well for weeks or months and is suddenly unhappy, it may be time to size up or find a new shape that is growing with them.
Do’s and Don’ts with the Pacifier
Do let your baby set the pace. If your baby's not interested in the pacifier, don't force it.
Do keep the pacifier clean. Follow the cleaning instructions on the package.
Do replace the pacifier when needed.
Don't sweeten it. Don't put sugar or honey on the pacifier to entice them to take it.
Don’t tie the pacifier to your baby as this could lead to injury.
Don’t be afraid to stop using the pacifier as they get older and the habit gets harder to break.
The pacifier may be a lifesaver on some days and a headache on others. How to keep a pacifier in your baby’s mouth is probably one of the biggest headaches of starting the habit in the first place. But knowing that your baby is comforted with their natural reflex of sucking, goes to show that it may all be worth it in the long run. A calm and happy baby means a calm and happy household.
