Pediatr. praxi. 2016;17(6):387-389 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2016.088

To give a pacifier to an infant or not?

Mgr. Jaroslava Fendrychová, Ph.D.

Katedra ARIPP, Národní centrum ošetřovatelství a nelékařských zdravotnických oborů (NCO NZO), Brno

The article deals with the infant´s need to suck not only for the reason of feeding but also for the reason of self-pacification, self-satisfaction or pain relief. This can be achieved by giving the baby a pacifier, the advantages and disadvantages of which are documented in the article on the basis of earlier foreign research. It could lead to a conclusion that the problem whether to give a pacifier to an infant or not has already been resolved in western countries, but in our country, we are still at the beginning of the solution. So far, the opinion not to give the pacifier is prevailing, the main reason being the fear that the infant will not learn to suck from the breast. Therefore the article deals also with other advantages and disadvantages of giving the baby a pacifier, including the recommendations published by American associations of paediatricians, paediatric dentists and family physicians.

Keywords: pacifier, newborn, infant, advantages and disadvantages, recommendations

Published: December 1, 2016  Show citation