Pacifier, No Pacifier, Which Pacifier?

- By Patricia Le Caroff -

My daughter never wanted anything to do with a pacifier. Never. It was a relief in a certain sense to skip the eventual separation period when she got too old. According to my mother, I had a pretty severe case of separation anxiety when my pacifier was taken away from me. Apparently, she even had to invent a story about a mouse who nibbled on my pacifier before I was willing to let it go. 

For my son, things were a bit different. He immediately appreciated the relief that his pacifier brought him. Given that my daughter lived in the world of the hospital for the first three months of her life, I opted right away for whatever pacifiers I could find this product: Philips Avent – Soothie. Evidently, anticipating pacifier loss and potentially refusal, I also decided to take one or two other models. You can never be too careful!

I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t have to pay attention to them for my daughter, but I never noticed how many pacifier models are available! There are so many different shapes, lengths and materials. Like most things in the world of babies, you might have to do some trial and error before finding the ideal pacifier for your child.

The first thing that you should pay attention to for your choice of pacifier is the quality of the material. Since babies have their pacifier in their mouths at nearly every moment of the day, it’s preferable to prioritize ones that are BPA-free, made without latex, and which don’t have any scent or odor. Equally, it’s best to privilege shapes and sizes that respect the natural development of your child’s mouth. Different brands will often even put out different models based on the age of the child. 

Pacifiers that offer good aeration around the mouth are also interesting. Given that babies have their pacifiers glued to the face, their skin can become rapidly irritated. For this reason, this can be a good option, especially for babies with sensitive skin: Philips Avent – Ultra Air. 

Some companies make a considerable effort to make sure the pacifier resembles as much as possible a mother’s nipple. Not only are they made from natural products, but they encourage the sucking instinct in the most natural way there is (BIBS – Pacifier). 

Finally, my favorite: the WubbaNub – Baby. Right off the bat, I thought it was a little strange. I honestly thought it was a bit ridiculous. But then I got it: this little toutou attached to the end of the pacifier isn’t just a decoration, it also has its own use. Tired of picking up a pacifier that you child simply will not keep in their mouths? This little toutou prevents it from going too far. It stays in place on your child’s stomach for easy access. What’s more, once your baby has a bit more coordination, it offers them the chance to catch it themselves with their agile little hands. This little toutou will also surely become a calming and reassuring friend of your baby’s in no time. And on top of all this, what if I told you that this marvelous item was also distributed in hospitals, the USIN, and at neonatal intensive care units across the country? However, I should warn you that you will have to get rid of it once your child is six months old so you don’t alter your little one’s dental development. 

Once you’ve found your ideal pacifier, the only thing you’ll have to think about next is which story you should tell them to make the eventual separation easy and mutual.