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As the owner of an infant and maternity retail store, I talk to people all day long about the pros and cons of various baby products, chief among them, the pacifier. I've seen fads come and go and medical studies that first prove they're evil then that they're a godsend. However, the bottom line is that babies have a ravenous need to suckle that cannot always be attributed to hunger.

Safety should always be the first concern of any product that is introduced to your baby, particularly something designed to go in their mouths. Pacifiers that have hard to clean edges or creases are breeding grounds for germs to proliferate. Wash and sterilize them often and keep extras on hand during outings in case one has an unfortunate encounter with the floor. Before each use, tug a bit on the nipple to ensure that it is securely attached to the base.

Avoid fads. The "new, hot trend" in baby accessories has not proven to be a safe route to go. Recent recalls of tens of thousands of pacifiers, prematurely touted as "celebrity worthy," because of safety concerns should give parents pause; choosing a well-known brand name with an established safety record is preferable to risking your baby's life for a little bling. Check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov) website to make sure the products in your home haven't had safety recall notices issued for them.

The bottom line is that the safest and best pacifiers are those given by conscientious and attentive parents. Assuring that baby is not hungry, wet, lonely, or frustrated before giving the pacifier, and that the pacifier given has been sanitized and checked for defects, are the only ways to ensure that your baby's use of a pacifier is as safe as you can possibly make it.

Learn more about this author, Tara Bren.
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