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Step 1
Use the correct size for your baby. Pacifiers come in small, medium and large. Choose a small one for a newborn to encourage sucking.
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Step 2
Pick a pacifier made of soft silicone instead of rubber. Latex rubber can develop microscopic cracks that harbor bacteria, while silicone has a smooth, non-porous surface that is easier to clean.
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Step 3
Wash your baby’s pacifier every time it falls on the floor and boil it on a regular basis to keep bacteria from forming under the plastic holder. Some pediatricians recommend washing with hot soapy water during the day and boiling the pacifier every morning.
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Step 4
Give your baby a pacifier at night. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a study in November of 1995 indicating that babies who used a pacifier when they were put to bed were at 90% less likely to die of SIDS, although the reason for the reduction is unknown.
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Step 5
Limit pacifiers not manufactured in accordance with orthodontic standards. Orthodontic pacifiers fit an infant’s mouth in a way that promotes healthy tooth formation. They often have a flattened edge on one side, allowing the infant to suck without creating pressure on their developing palate.
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Step 6
Wean your baby from her pacifier when she no longer needs to suck for comfort. Although all children are different, you can try limiting your baby’s pacifier to bedtime and allowing her to discover other ways to comfort herself during the day. Pediatricians recommend weaning a baby from a pacifier by the age of 18 months.
