There are some points that all mothers should pay attention to when using pacifiers. One of them is the choice of pacifier. As you know, pacifiers are made of 2 kinds of materials: rubber and silicone.
Rubber pacifiers are natural, elastic and durable. Because of these features, it is more suitable for babies who start teething. However, these pacifiers also have a downside. It also absorbs water quickly. That's why they deteriorate quickly.
Silicone pacifiers are made of silicon. They do not break easily. However, since they are softer than rubber pacifiers, they are not resistant to teeth impacts of teething babies. If your baby has not started teething yet, it would be more accurate to choose pacifiers made of silicon in terms of longevity.
As we mentioned in our previous article, we recommend that you do not let your baby use these pacifiers after the age of 2. The reason is that there is a risk of disrupting the alignment of the upper anterior teeth.
If pacifier use is to be continued after the age of 2, our recommendation would be to choose pacifiers with a palate. Palate pacifiers adapt only to the palate thanks to their anatomical structure and do not cause any disorders in the teeth. Thanks to this feature, you can easily use palatal pacifiers between the ages of 2-3.
Another important point is the habit of dipping the pacifier in sugar or honey before giving it to the baby. This can damage babies' tooth enamel and cause cavities. Also, the baby who gets used to a pacifier dipped in honey or sugar will always want sweets from now on.
Taking care of your baby's milk teeth is also very important. Failure to take good care of milk teeth and their decay can also damage the permanent teeth located under these teeth.
Another important point in the use of pacifiers is the cleaning of the pacifier. The cleanliness of the pacifier varies according to the material from which it is produced. Silicone pacifiers can be sterilized with hot methods, while rubber ones are cleaned with cold sterilization methods.
One way to keep pacifiers clean is to prevent them from getting dirty. With the help of a safety pin, you can attach the pacifier to your child's clothing so that it does not fall to the floor.
In newborn babies, extra attention should be paid to the choice of pacifier. Make sure that the plastic mouthpiece of the pacifier you buy is small enough not to block your baby's nose.
On the contrary, if your child has passed the infancy period, it will be the safest for his/her safety if the mouthpiece section behind is too big to put it in your child's mouth.
The nipples of the pacifiers, called orthodontic, are flat. Other conventional ones are round. Although some experts say that orthodontic pacifiers are more suitable for gums, the best method of choice would be to have your baby test both types. The choice of the plastic mouthpiece is up to you. However, which pacifier you choose, make sure it has ventilation holes on it. Ventilation holes allow your baby to breathe through his mouth when his nose is stuffy.
It is also very important that the pacifiers comply with safety standards. Avoid buying pacifiers whose standards are not clearly labeled. After all, the health of our babies is more important than anything else.