Pacifier Safety: How to Use Them Correctly

6 min. read time

Pacifiers can offer a great deal of comfort to babies – and a welcome moment of peace for their parents. While many parents turn to pacifiers when their babies need help soothing, it’s only natural to wonder are pacifiers safe and whether your baby is using them safely.

Here, we will breakdown the pros and cons of pacifiers, provide tips for safe pacifier use, and offer guidance on choosing the right pacifier for your infant.

Pros and cons of pacifiers

First, let’s quickly explore the pros and cons of pacifiers for your infant:

Are pacifiers good for newborns and infants?

Pacifiers are popular for a variety of reasons:

Self-soothing benefits. If you’ve ever questioned ‘Are pacifiers good for newborns or infants’, it’s good to know that pacifiers can help babies with self-soothing. This new, big world can be scary and overwhelming for a baby and a pacifier can provide some much-needed comfort.
Sleep aid. Due to its soothing effects, many parents give their infant a pacifier before bedtime, helping them drift off to sleep.
Travel aid. A pacifier can be great when going on long trips, especially on airplanes as it can help relieve any discomfort from built-up pressure in the ears.
Stops them from using their thumb. Thumb sucking is a hard habit to break. Pacifiers are desirable for parents mostly because they can simply be thrown away when they’re no longer needed.
Helpful during feeding time. Pacifiers can be beneficial for developing a sucking reflex among preterm infants. This can have major benefits during feeding time and helping weight gain.

Are pacifiers bad for newborns and infants?

But, with everything, there may be some cons to using a pacifier:

Dependency. While most parents agree that disposing of a pacifier is much easier than stopping their infant from sucking their thumb, it is still a habit that is hard to break. If your infant relies on a pacifier to drift off to sleep every night, it is likely that they will struggle if this routine is abruptly broken.
Misfeeding cues. Young infants may begin to confuse the pacifier for your nipple. As it is much easier and less effort than breastfeeding, your baby may develop a preference for their pacifier over your nipple, which could affect their interest in feeding altogether.
Higher chance of developing ear infections. Overdependence on a pacifier can cause a change in pressure in the throat and ears, which can make your infant more prone to infection.
Bacteria risk. Pacifiers can harbor bacteria if they are not regularly cleaned and sterilized. This is why it’s important to wash and sterilize regularly.
Choking. Pacifiers can pose a choking hazard if they become damaged.
Teeth and gum development. Most infants begin to start teething around 6 months.² Using a pacifier after the teeth have begun to develop could cause future dental problems. It is important to wean your child away from using their pacifier before this point as continuing to use one could affect the straightness and spacing of their teeth.
Speech development. ‘Do pacifiers affect speech development?’ The answer is, potentially, if overused. As pacifiers can affect the development of your infant’s teeth when used over a prolonged period, this in turn could also impact speech and language development.¹

You may still be wondering ‘Are soothers bad for newborns?’. To answer: pacifiers are great, but like most great things in the world, they should be used in moderation. It is important to learn how to use them correctly. To look out for your infant’s best interest, let’s go over some practical tips for safe pacifier use:

Tips for pacifier safety

Clean your infant’s pacifier regularly. It may sound obvious, but to prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses and fungi, it is essential to clean and sterilize your infant’s pacifier often. Do this by washing it with warm, soapy water before boiling it in clean water for a few minutes. After sterilization, store pacifiers in a clean and covered container or zip lock bag.
Regularly check the pacifier’s quality. Like most things, pacifiers will begin to show signs of wear and tear after excessive use. Keep an eye out for any tears or holes in your baby’s soother – they could pose a choking hazard. If you spot any damage, take the pacifier away from your baby and replace it immediately. We recommend replacing your pacifier every 4 weeks to be safe!
Avoid giving your infant their pacifier around meal times. Giving your infant their pacifier during periods of hunger will only strengthen misfeeding cues and pacifier overreliance.
Do not tie your infant’s pacifier to their neck or crib with a ribbon or string. Pacifiers can go missing easily, so it is understandable that you may want to tie it to your child or their crib. However, this can easily pose a choking hazard. Instead, attach pacifiers to clothes using a clip (there are many clips out on the market made for this purpose), or simply make sure you have plenty of spare pacifiers at hand.
Break overdependence. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), your infant should stop using their pacifier before 3 years of age.⁴ However, it is recommended to start weaning your child from it around 12-18 months. As we saw earlier when considering do pacifiers affect speech development, overdependence on pacifiers might contribute to some dental or speech problems but it’s important to take a slow and steady approach when managing this transition to avoid unnecessary discomfort for your child. Start by only giving them a pacifier at bedtime and introducing other ways to self-soothe, like cuddling a soft toy.

What you need

$10.89*
Super Soothie

SCF192/46

One piece silicone design

3m+

Orthodontic & BPA-Free

4-pack
4.5 (357 reviews)

Overall rating 4.5 / 5
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$11.89*
Soothie

Soothie Heart

SCF099/42

One-piece silicone design

0-3m

BPA-Free

4-pack
4.3 (134 reviews)

Overall rating 4.3 / 5
View product

Are pacifiers safe? Choosing the right pacifier

Are pacifiers safe for newborns and infants? Yes, when used correctly. But what about the different types of pacifiers available – are any better, or safer, than others?

Here are some important factors to consider when choosing the right pacifier for your baby:

BPA free. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a harmful chemical that is sometimes used in hard, clear plastics.⁵ When choosing the right pacifier, it is essential that you avoid pacifiers that may contain BPA. Go for a medically trusted pacifier, like the Philips Avent Super Soothie, which is made of BPA-free medical grade silicone. This pacifier is perfect for babies over 3 months old.
One-piece pacifiers. One-piece pacifiers are less likely to come apart than one with multiple parts and therefore help reduce the risk of choking. One-piece pacifiers are also great as there are less cracks for bacteria and water to get trapped in, making cleaning and sanitizing easier. Consider using the award-winning newborn-friendly Philips Avent Soothie Heart. Made entirely from medical grade silicone, the Soothie Heart features a one-piece design, providing your infant maximum comfort and safety.
Silicone or latex. You can find pacifiers made of a range of different materials, the most popular being silicone and latex. It is important to read the product description before making any purchases to ensure your infants pacifier offers them the best care and comfort.

If you came here wondering ‘Are pacifiers bad for newborns’, you will have discovered that moderation is key! Pacifiers are a wonderful invention that have saved many parents lots of sleepless nights and any small risks they have can be easily managed with proper care and use. So, choose the right pacifier for your infant, clean, maintain, and sanitize them regularly, and be prepared to take them away when it is time for your little one to move on.