by Franchesca Bisignano

Created on: June 23, 2009

When a baby or toddler is crying the first thing many parents do is stuff a pacifier in their mouth. The pacifier is often miss used and can lead to some serious problems down the road. Many parents misuse the pacifier and don't even realize it.

A pacifier should only be used for a short amount of time. We all see those children with pacifiers when they are four years old. You should get rid of the pacifier as soon as your child can go without it. The quicker you get rid of the pacifier the easier it will be. Children have a shorter memory than adults to but the older they get the longer they remember and the harder it will be to take away the pacifier.

Your infant naturally wants to suck on something it soothes them. A pacifier is meant to soothe your child but if you allow your child to use a pacifier constantly they will not learn how to soothe themselves and will become dependent on the pacifier. Your child needs the skill of being about to soothe themselves by letting your child have the pacifier to long it will hinder them.

A pacifier is good for infants because it soothes them and they will not over eat. If you do not use a pacifier it is likely you will feed your child more often than if you use one. An infant will become disinterested in the pacifier that is your small window to get rid of it. If your child does not seem interested in the pacifier do not make them suck on it.

When toddlers and young children are allowed to constantly suck on pacifiers it can't lead to problems. A pacifier can affect your child's teeth. If your child is constantly sucking on a pacifier they can make their teeth grow in at an angle which is not a good thing. The longer a child sucks on a pacifier thee more severe the problem can and will become.

A pacifier is a tool to help with your infant it is not something they should become dependent on. You should not give your child their pacifier every time they wake up. It is often easier to give your child their pacifier while you try to figure out why they were crying but sometimes it is good to let them cry. Crying develops their lungs and it also will teach them self soothing.

A pacifier if used correctly can be a wonderful thing but it is important not to misuse it. A pacifier is a tool like everything else you use to raise your infant and should only be used when needed.

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