Here it is: everything you ever wanted to know about letting your baby use a pacifier. We’ve made it simple and quick to digest but also a compelling and interesting read.

Whether babies should be calmed by a synthetically manufactured “object” instead of comfort themselves or have a caregiver look after their needs, is a matter of debate. Parents should find out what’s bothering the baby before just stuffing in the pacifier.

In some instances it’s the parents, not the baby, who become addicted to the pacifier as it’s easier to “have peaceful time” rather than find out what’s could be the problem. Sometimes, however, a pacifier that quiets a crying baby is a godsend. While many babies can and will suck on their hand or thumbs to comfort themselves, it may take many weeks before they can get their hand to their mouths.

Sucking is a natural instinct for babies (and it may last less than a year). The sucking urge ensures a baby will eat. Many babies get enough satisfaction at the breast or milk bottle. For these babies, use of a pacifier may provide so much satisfaction that they would rather not nurse. Others need to suck more and will suck on their hands, parents’ fingers, pacifiers or anything that they’re able to pop in their mouths. Sometimes, only a pacifier seems to calm an otherwise attended-to baby.

Pacifier Tips

1. If you opt for a pacifier, then buy ones labeled “orthodontic” as they have a unique shape best for tongue or palate development. However, if your baby doesn’t like these, don’t fret. Some kids just don’t like pacifiers, or won’t till they are older. And your baby won’t be malformed because he or she uses a traditional-shaped pacifier. You may be able to find special “new-born size” pacifiers, as well.

2. Buy silicone, instead of latex/rubber, as they last longer and are less likely to break off and choke the baby. Also, they can be washed in the dishwasher.

3. Buy ones with air holes around the guard or shield around the nipple, so air can circulate and skin won’t get irritated by saliva. The guard should be too big to fit in the baby ’s mouth and should have ventilation holes so the baby could breathe if it did get in there somehow.

4. Cleanse a new pacifier before use, and check it by pulling on it to ensure no parts tear away.

5. Never use a homemade pacifier: it’s just not safe.

6. Never secure the pacifier around the baby’s neck or to a cord to prevent strangulation.

7. Do not dip the pacifier in honey (it may cause botulism) or other substances such as alcohol, corn syrup or milk (which could lead to tooth decay or gum disease).

8. To let the baby use it, “tease” their cheek or lip with the pacifier’s nipple, as you would to get the baby to take the breast or milk bottle. It may need to be rubbed on the roof of baby’s mouth or held in the baby’s mouth for a few seconds before the baby catches on and sucks readily. Some kids just don’t like pacifiers.

As they say, knowledge equals power, so continue to read information on this topic until you feel you are adequately educated on the subject.

If knowledge is power, then after you have finished this article, you will be feel like Mighty Man when this subject is brought up in casual conversation.

There are six techniques that have been proven effective to sooth a baby’s mood, as follows:

1) Swaddling

Wrap the baby tightly in a blanket, with or without hands free for sucking (sucking its hand may calm the baby in itself). Sometimes the compact feeling is comforting, rather like the womb. The sensation of flailing arms and legs may be like being lost in space.

To swaddle, put the baby’s head on one corner of the blanket. Wrap one corner over the baby and insert it under the baby’s opposite side. Take the end up and tuck it under the baby’s “open” side. Wrap the remaining corner of the blanket over the baby and tuck it into a fold anywhere. (You might ask the nurses to instruct you this before you depart the hospital.)

2) Music

A tape of comforting lullabies or unique soothing womb-like sounds and heartbeats can be purchased in baby departments, baby specialty stores, some toy stores and baby catalogs. Your own singing is cheaper and may work just as well. Don’t overlook trying the radio.

3) Noise

This might not appear all that different from “music,” depending on your singing voice. But “noise” means what’s sometimes called “white noise,” that steady drone of something that might annoy adults, but magically lulls babies to sleep.

Switch the vacuum cleaner on near the baby (or put the baby in a front-pack carrier while you vacuum). The vibration and consistent noise comforts many babies. The hum of the exhaust fan over the kitchen stove regularly works. A noisy room fan or air conditioner could have the same result.

Combine noise with other techniques, such as swaddling. Or turn on a noisy fan while rocking a swaddled baby. A car ride might help, and you don’t need to take the muffler off. Just the vibration and hum is sometimes sufficient.

4) Massage

Whole books, videos and classes are offered on this subject, and many parents find babies react to gentle massage of arms, legs, chest, back and head. Even without formal guidance, try rubbing backs or stomachs, which may alleviate gas pains, while holding the baby or while baby (or you and the baby together) are in the bathtub (remember that babies whose umbilical cords haven’t fallen off yet shouldn’t take tub baths).

5) Motion

How were fussy children raised just a generation ago, when those wind-up swings weren’t yet invented? Lots of car rides, apparently. Swings can be used by babies younger than a month old, either in a cradle or a seat. Especially for the cradle, be sure the baby is not rolling back and forth with every swing. For the seat, verify to see the head is held upright and cradled by a rolled towel or special support pillow. And use the safety belt.

Be informed that babies who like quiet, soft lights and lullabies may not like motion as a calming technique. For others, only bouncing and rhythm is effective.

6) Warmth

Try feeding a bottle of warm water, placing the baby tummy-down on a hot water bottle filled with warm water and covered with a towel or baby blanket, or giving the baby a warm bath, if baby is old enough for a tub bath. (Never use an electric heating pad.) Of course, if it’s 90 degrees and humid, opt for a cool sponge bath instead.

I hope that you found all of this interesting and helpful. The internet is full of helpful tips and tricks and I appreciate you coming and visiting.

This is just one of the many informative and insightful articles that you can read here. Browse through the many topics available in the website and enrich your mind with some valuable knowledge for the care of your baby.

Here are 16 basic safety precautions which every new parent must know:

1. Do not put baby to bed with a bottle. Babies can choke or acquire ear infections, tooth decay and other dental troubles from having something in their mouths overnight.

2. For neck support, and because a newborn cannot sit up, roll a towel or get a support pillow that goes around the newborn’s head. You’ll use this in the car seat, stroller and wind-up swing. As newborns cannot sit up yet, many umbrella strollers - the easy folding, simple-looking, portable one-seat strollers do not give newborns the support they need, or are not sufficiently padded. Hence the support pillow.

3. Ensure your stroller has seat belts and crotch straps and that you use them. Strollers should have a wide base to prevent tipping and brakes that work.

4. Do not have aspirin around for children. It’s been linked with Reye’s Syndrome, which can be fatal. Never give a newborn something the pediatrician has not recommended, anyway.

5. Do not use (or minimize) baby powder or talcum on a newborn because it can be inhaled into the baby’s lungs.

6. Never tie a pacifier or any other objects on a string around a baby’s neck. Don’t use homemade pacifiers. Check pacifiers and nipples frequently to ensure the nipple-part can’t be sucked off and swallowed, and see that it has no holes or tears. The guard or shield around the nipple of the pacifier should be larger than the baby’s mouth and should have ventilation holes so the baby could breathe if it did get in there, anyhow.

7. Keep toys on strings, drapery cords, laundry bags or other objects with strings off the baby cot and away from newborns to prevent strangulation. Mobiles on cribs should be securely fastened and not have long strings. Remove them before the child can reach them.

8. The slats of the crib should be no wider than 2 3/8 inches apart. Be sure to check, especially if using an antique, hand-me-down or secondhand crib. Mattresses should fit tightly up against the sides and there should be no corner posts.

9. Install a smoke detector in the baby’s room or nursery.

10. If you have a playpen or portable crib with mesh sides, never use it with a side left down. Newborns could roll into the mesh pocket and suffocate. Better yet, don’t use mesh-sided playpens.

11. Never, not even once, take your baby in the car without him or her being strapped in the car seat, and the car seat properly belted in the car according to manufacturer’s directions. And never use a carrier device or sling-type seat as a car seat, unless it is specifically designed for this purpose. A low impact crash may not hurt an adult, but can prove fatal to an unsecured newborn.

12. Baby changing tops should have safety straps and/or railings to prevent the baby from falling off.

13. Do not use honey in any food or on the pacifier for babies not yet a year old. It can cause infant botulism.

14. Remove unnecessary objects from the crib, bassinet or playpen when baby sleeps to prevent suffocation. That means no pillows, stuffed animals or floppy toys. Don’t lay babies face-down on super-soft pads, pillows or bean bag chairs into which they can sink. Don’t cover the crib mattress in anything like a plastic garbage bag, dry cleaning bag or light plastic sheet. All these can block a newborn’s breathing in the event that the baby end up with its face down.

15. Crib or play gyms should be used only until the child is old enough to pull up and push up on hands and knees. Remove the gym when the baby is sleeping. You may wish to use this only on the floor, with baby lying on a soft blanket.

16. Keep small toys away from small babies. Toys go automatically into mouths and choking can, and does, result. Newborns can’t yet put toys in their mouths, but older siblings can. Be especially careful of older toys with parts that can be pulled off, like teddy bear eyes, or parts that can break into small pieces.

Now you know the safety tips and how you can use those information to care for your baby. We’re glad we were able to help you in this, and answer the questions that you have been wanting to know. This article has helped hundreds like you, and we hope you share it with someone who may also need this information.