Binky, dummy, soother, Nuk, paci… No matter what you call it, the pacifier has a long history of helping parents soothe their babies. They’re given to parents at baby showers and sometimes even at the hospital as a parting gift for your newborn. Pacifiers can help calm your infant, help them practice sucking skills and have even been shown to be protective against SIDS, but we’ve also heard about all the negatives of pacifiers. Babies can potentially become too dependent on them and they can negatively impact speech as well as jaw growth and development. When it comes to pacifiers, they are not all created equal. While tricky marketing may lead you to think that “orthodontic” pacifiers are best, they are actually not ideal for infant oral skills.

When we look at pacifier shapes we want to pick one that allows a baby’s tongue to cup around it (like a hot dog bun) and then elevate to make a wave like motion from front to back. Pacifiers that are flat (like the Mam) or bulbous (like the Bibs) will alter these optimal tongue mechanics.

Regardless of which pacifier you choose, I recommend intentional use for soothing purposes and then removing the pacifier once baby is calm. This will prevent baby becoming dependent on it and allow them to practice proper oral resting posture with their mouth closed and tongue elevated to the roof of their mouth. For all pacifiers I also recommend weaning between 6-12 months to prevent them from causing issues with teeth and jaw development.

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