Baby Soothers And Pacifiers: Your Perfect Guide

Baby soothers, pacifiers, comforters, or dummies have been used for centuries to calm and settle babies as they are soothed by the sucking action. Babies need to suck on something for comfort. Some babies can't even get through the day without a pacifier. You can find many baby soothers and pacifiers offered by different brands. But Tommee Tippee in HK remains the favorite of most parents. Let us now learn more about baby soothers and pacifiers.

Previously, anything that provided a baby with something safe to suck on, like teething rings or rattles with rounded ends, were considered soothes. But with time, pacifiers and soothers have developed into a standard silicone or rubber teat with a plastic or silicone mouth shield and handle. Irrespective of the brand you use, soothers should be sterilized before use. Also, parents should pay attention when their baby is utilizing a soother so as to prevent the baby from choking on or swallowing the teat. 

Which Type of A Pacifier Will be Best For Your Baby?

Finding the perfect pacifier for your baby may be a trial and error method, as some babies refuse to accept a pacifier. Most good quality soothers come with a silicone or rubber teat with a mouth shield that prevents the baby from swallowing or choking on the teat. At the same time, other brands may offer all one-piece pacifiers so that there are no joints or cracks that could harbor germs or come apart. 

You may also get latex or rubber pacifiers which are softer and more flexible than silicone, but these won't last long. Also, silicone pacifiers are easier to keep free from germs than latex pacifiers. Hence, most parents opt for Tommee Tippee in HK as they provide the best quality silicone pacifiers. 

Some other local pacifiers may even come with teats filled with sugar water or honey, but try to avoid buying these as any liquid in the teat can be a source of infection. Some parents also opt for orthodontic pacifiers that are flatter with square-shaped tips and are shaped to imitate a natural nipple in order to encourage the baby to suck in the same way as when breastfeeding. Orthodontic pacifiers may have less effect on how your baby's teeth develop. Non-orthodontic pacifiers include all the traditional soothers that have a uniform bulb tip.

When Can My Baby Start Using A Pacifier?

Many people, however, discourage using soothers and pacifiers as they could be a source of infection, like gastroenteritis, if not used properly. While other experts recommend that breastfeeding babies wait until they are about a month or so old to use a pacifier. This will help the mother better establish the milk supply and breastfeeding schedule. Most parents use a pacifier during the first six months to allow their baby to sleep at night and also for naps during the day. When weaning your baby off the pacifier, it would be best if you do it when he is between 6-12 months old, as there might be many consequences if he uses it for a longer time.

How To Use A Pacifier Correctly?

When purchasing a pacifier, ensure that you opt for a one-piece pacifier and strictly avoid using pacifiers with built-in gadgets, liquid interiors, or moving parts. Go for pacifiers that have sealed bases rather than open ones, and do not hang the pacifiers on a string around the baby's neck. Also, ensure you do not dip the pacifiers in honey, sugar, corn syrup, or other sugar materials. Clean the pacifier regularly, especially by boiling it if the baby is younger than six months. You can also use an automatic dishwasher for this purpose. If the soother is damaged, tech plastic starts to crack, or the surface breaks down into small pieces, replace it immediately. When your child becomes a year old, it would be better to talk to your pediatrician about how and when to wean your baby from the pacifier.

Benefits Of Using A Pacifier

The act of sucking can relieve pain in babies. So, giving a pacifier is a perfect way to soothe your baby when having his immunizations. It also helps the baby settle to sleep. Experts also say that soother can help premature babies because if he is given a pacifier to suck on before feeds, they can adapt more quickly from tube-feeding to regular feeds. Pacifiers are the most sought-after options for soothing a crying infant, which can give the parents peace of mind. It also helps reduce pain, and premature babies can use soother to shorten their hospital stays. Pacifiers also reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Summing Up

This is everything you, as parents, should know about pacifiers and soothers and the impact that the appropriate soother brand will have on your baby.