By Matt Brignall, ND
Healthnotes Newswire —Use of pacifiers does not appear to lead to early weaning of infants, according to a study published in this week’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).1
In this study, a group of new mothers was counseled to avoid pacifier use and taught alternate ways to calm a fussy baby. At three months of age, the children of the moms who received counseling were compared with a group of children born to moms who received no counseling about pacifier use.
While the counseling intervention led to a greater than 50% increase in the number of babies not using pacifiers at all, the same number of children had ceased breast-feeding at three months in both groups. This finding refutes the idea that pacifier use could lead to “nipple confusion,” thus disrupting the urge to nurse.2
Regardless of the findings of this study, pacifier use is not thought to be entirely safe. Pacifiers have been associated with increased risk of ear infection.3 Extended use of pacifiers may also lead children to develop crooked teeth.4 On the other hand, preliminary evidence suggests that certain patterns of pacifier use may reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).5
Concerns about the dangers of pacifiers have circulated since at least the early twentieth century. The World Health Organization has issued a statement recommending the avoidance of pacifiers. The study in JAMA disagrees, however. In a patient instruction sheet accompanying the new study, moms are not given a recommendation either for or against pacifier use.
References1. Kramer MS, Barr RG, Dagenais S, et al. Pacifier use, early weaning, and cry/fuss behavior: a randomized, controlled trial. JAMA 2001;286:322–6.
2. Neifert M, Lawrence R, Seacat J. Nipple confusion: toward a formal definition. J Pediatr 1995;126:S125–9.
3. Warren JJ, Levy SM, Kirchner HL, et al. Pacifier use and the occurrence of otitis media in the first year of life. Pediatr Dent 2001;23:103–7.
4. Adair SM, Milano M, Lorenzo I, Russell C. Effects of current and former pacifier use on the dentition of 24- to 59-month-old children. Pediatr Dent 1995;17:437–44.
5. Fleming PJ, Blair PS, Pollard K, et al. Pacifier use and sudden infant death syndrome: results from the CESDI/SUDI case control study. CESDI SUDI Research Team. Arch Dis Child 2000;81:112–6. Matt Brignall, ND, is in practice at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center and at the Evergreen Integrative Medicine Clinic in Kirkland, WA. He specializes in integrative treatment of cancer.