This artificial nipple named pacifier designed for babies to suck on for comfort, is often used to “pacify” babies when they cry, by making them transfer their energy into sucking rather than crying. But are all these pacifiers that we find in the shops the same? If not, how to choose the right one for our baby?
There is a wide range of pacifiers that vary in shapes, designs and features, and before buying one you should take a look at all types, and follow some tips to choose the right one for your baby!
Types of Pacifiers:
Latex Pacifier: babies often prefer this type of pacifiers since it’s flexible and soft in their mouth.
Silicone Pacifier: this type of pacifiers is more suitable for parents since it is easy to clean and harder for babies to bite through.
Rounded Pacifier: it has a rounded nipple that is sometimes advertised as “most like mother”.
Orthodontic Pacifier: this type of pacifiers has a nipple with a rounded top and a flat bottom and is designed in a way that your baby’s top and bottom jaw are in correct position when he’s sucking on it in order to prevent tooth problems later in their life.
Different handles: some pacifiers have buttons on the back, others have rings. And if ring handles make pacifiers easier for parents to retrieve, button-back ones may be easier for babies to grasp. Moreover, some pacifier handles glow in the dark, which helps you find the pacifier in the crib at night.
Snap-on Caps: some pacifiers come with a snap-on cap that keeps your baby’s pacifier clean when it’s not in use.
Important Tips to Follow:
Don’t buy too many pacifiers before your baby arrives because some babies just don’t like pacifiers, and others are very particular about which types of pacifiers they will take.
Be sure that the nipple of the pacifier you’re buying is firmly attached to its base. If you are able to detach the nipple with a tug, your baby will eventually detach it too, which may cause a choking hazard.
Choose the right pacifier for your baby’s age. Pay attention that they come in three sizes: those for babies six months and younger, for babies from six to 18 months, and for babies over 18 months old.
Pacifier chains with a clip that affix to your baby’s clothes at one end and to the pacifier at the opposite end are very helpful if your baby continually drops the pacifier. But remember; never hang a pacifier around your baby’s neck on a ribbon because this can be a strangulation danger!