Pacifiers tend to divide opinions between families and health care professionals. Some caregivers see the supplement as a quick way to soothe the baby, while another portion fears dental changes, speech impairment, and interference with breastfeeding.
The truth is that the question is not just whether or not to use a pacifier, but understanding how, when and for how long. Non-nutritive sucking is part of a baby’s physiological behavior and in many cases helps reduce crying, promote sleep onset and bring comfort in stressful situations.
However, when the habit persists beyond what is recommended or replaces natural functions, such as breastfeeding or placing the tongue on the palate, the pacifier ceases to be an aid and begins to have effects that accumulate over time.
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When does a pacifier really help?
For some babies, the supplement can serve as a resource for emotional self-regulation – as long as it is only introduced after breastfeeding is well established. In these cases, it helps calm down, regulates behavior, and provides security in moments of discomfort.
In hospital environments, it can also help with neurological regulation of premature babies, reduce discomfort during painful procedures and reduce stress during hospitalization.
“Non-nutritive sucking can be useful even during tests and vaccinations, because it reduces anxiety and helps the child maintain a more stable physiological pattern,” explains Doctor María da Gloria Neiva, in charge of the Pediatric Service at Vitoria Pará Hospital, from Rede Américas.
In daily life, occasional use usually reduces crying time and facilitates sleep onset in the first year of life. However, it is important that the pacifier is not the only source that helps the child sleep, because dependence on it can lead to frequent awakenings during the night, explains the pediatrician.
Risks associated with prolonged use of a pacifier
Prolonged use of a pacifier exposes the child to changes in dental arch and facial development. This occurs because the constant pressure of the attachment changes the shape of the palate, favoring misalignment and reducing the natural space of the tongue.
Muscles also begin to work differently, as the repetitive sucking habit creates patterns that cannot be easily realigned. Pediatric dentist Ilana Guimarães, from the IGM Odontologia para Família clinic, in Brasilia, highlights that the effect includes the entire functional dynamics of the mouth.
“Using a pacifier for long periods of time causes the tongue to lose the space needed to perform its function, breathing changes and the arch adapts to these external forces. Over time, this imbalance becomes evident in the shape of the palate and the alignment of the teeth,” says Iana.
There are several effects observed in infants and children who maintain this habit for a longer period than recommended. Among them the following stand out:
- Open bite Which prevents the front teeth from meeting.
- Narrower palate And tall.
- teeth Presidents expected forward.
- Breathing to mouth.
- Inadequate swallowingWith effort or noise.
- chewing less effective.
- Speech distortionsEspecially in sounds that depend on the correct position of the tongue.
- Constant tongue dropWhich enhances muscle balance.
The more daily pacifier use, especially more than four to six hours, the greater the impact on the child’s life.
Pacifier and breastfeeding
Another important point is that introducing a pacifier before three to four weeks of age can disrupt the way the baby latches on to the breast to feed. Breast sucking requires specific tongue and mouth movements, different from those used with a pacifier.
This mixing reduces the efficiency of breastfeeding, reduces milk production, and increases the risk of early weaning. Furthermore, the pacifier acts as a vector for microorganisms. Therefore, when they are not washed properly, it can promote ear infections and other recurrent infections.
When does weaning from the pacifier begin?
The safest period to start withdrawal is between 6 months and 1 year. Keeping this thing after two years increases dental changes and speech impairment. Above the age of 3 years, changes in the arch become more noticeable and usually require specialized treatment.
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