True or false? – Facts and myths about the pacifier
Pacifiers satisfy babies' natural need to suck That babies are born with a pronounced need to suck is undisputed. Likewise the fact that sucking calms them, for example when they are tired or unwell. With a view to the sucking need, the pacifier is therefore not a permanent solution, but a targeted, temporary soothing – the same function that sucking at the breast also fulfills.
Pacifier babies feed worse at the breast There is no medical evidence that children who are given a pacifier have difficulties nursing at the mother's breast – but there is evidence that non-breastfed babies are more likely to receive a pacifier than breastfed ones. If you are worried that the pacifier could disturb your baby's feeding behavior, avoid it in the early period. By one to two months most babies are so practiced at the breast that the pacifier has no influence on their sucking behavior.
Pacifiers promote jaw and palate misalignments There are various studies that confirm an increased risk of jaw, palate and tooth deformities – if a pacifier is used regularly beyond the second year of life. Whether the pacifiers are symmetrical or anatomically or "jaw-friendly" shaped does not matter.
Some children reject pacifiers altogether Not all children take to the pacifier – often the pacifier's size and shape play a role or it is offered too early. In the first weeks many children still have difficulty keeping a pacifier in their mouth, so it may seem as if they are spitting it out again.
Children who do not get a pacifier become thumb suckers Not all children who grow up without a pacifier suck their thumb, and pacifier children also sometimes suck or chew on their fingers. In principle, the pacifier is preferable to the thumb because it is easier to wean. Children who suck their thumb often still do so at four or five years of age. Therefore, when weaning off the pacifier, make sure your child does not switch to thumb sucking and get used to it.
When is the right time to wean my child off the pacifier?
According to the German Association of Pediatricians and Adolescent Physicians (Bundesverband der Kinder- und Jugendärzte e.V.), it is recommended to wean your child off the pacifier around the seventh month of life to be weaned. At about six months many babies get their first teeth and the sucking reflex diminishes while the chewing reflex becomes increasingly pronounced. That's a good time to begin weaning. At the latest by the third year of life you should have weaned your toddler off the pacifier for good.
But note that there is not a single right time for weaning. Some babies still have a stronger need to suck even after half a year and continue to feel comfortable with the pacifier. Just be attentive to what your child needs and feel your way together to the right time.
Our tips: How to succeed with pacifier weaning
Finding the right time: The weaning should not coincide with a time of major changes, for example the Settling into kindergarten or the birth of a sibling – choose a time when there is enough calm
Avoid 'radical weaning': For many children the pacifier is an important part of everyday life that gives them security and comfort. A radical stop is usually associated with stress – also for the parents. Start the weaning as gently as possible by offering the pacifier to your child in fewer situations.
Reduce pacifier times: If you slowly reduce pacifier times, weaning becomes easier. This works from about one year. Many parents also restrict the pacifier to certain areas, e.g. to the bed, to the car or to the stroller.
If possible, voluntarily: If your child is not among those who at some point lose interest in the pacifier on their own, you should still try to negotiate a voluntary giving up of the pacifier. From about two years on, children are able to consciously say goodbye to their pacifier, if weaning hasn't already taken place before.
Pacifier fairy: The pacifier fairy is widespread: If the child is ready, they leave the pacifier in the evening at an agreed spot. During the night the pacifier fairy comes, collects the pacifier and leaves a small gift in return. This method has the advantage that your child does not give up their pacifier but rather exchanges it. Some parents also tell their child that the pacifier fairy brings the pacifier to other "little babies".
Giving-away ceremony: Some parents prefer a pacifier ritual to the fairy tale of the pacifier fairy. In this the child can, for example, hang the pacifier on a tree, dispose of it themselves in the trash or bury it in the garden. This way they actively contribute to the weaning and always know where the pacifier is.
Offer alternatives: When the chewing reflex develops, you can give your child a teething ring as an alternative to the pacifier. This makes weaning easier and helps strengthen the muscles of the mouth.
Summary: Dos and Don'ts for dealing with pacifiers
Offer a pacifier only after breastfeeding or bottle feeding is working smoothly.
Use the correct (age-appropriate) pacifier size.
Use pacifiers only temporarily, e.g. when your child is crying or as a sleep aid.
Wean off pacifiers by the third birthday at the latest to prevent tooth misalignment.
Don't start weaning during periods of major change.
Make the weaning process as stress-free as possible.
Don't worry unnecessarily: children can grow up perfectly well without pacifiers and won't necessarily become long-term thumb suckers.
