Pacifier

It is not recommended to use a pacifier in the first six weeks. It is normal for a newborn to want to breastfeed every 2 or 3 hours. Even periods of hourly drinking are normal. The stomach is still small and breast milk digests quickly. Therefore, it is important to latch the baby as soon as he indicates he is hungry. By giving a pacifier before breastfeeding has started, there is a risk that the baby will miss feedings at the breast. This is because the feeding signals are obscured by the pacifier. It is also possible that the baby is so tired from sucking the teat that he no longer has the energy to breastfeed properly. In addition, the sucking technique on the pacifier (and also the nipple shield and bottle teat) is different than on the breast, which can potentially lead to incorrect sucking technique. There is still disagreement on this last point. A pacifier can be offered from about six weeks of age, but remain critical when it is given. A baby who is only a few days or weeks old sometimes allows himself to be kept sweet with a pacifier when he is actually giving hunger signals. Only give your child a pacifier if breastfeeding is going well.