and well-being of children and youth The Canadian Paediatric
Society gives permission to print single copies of this document
from our website. For permission to reprint or reproduce
multiple copies, please see our copyright policy. Pacifiers,
also known as soothers, dummies and artificial teats are as
rooted in history as they are in controversy. Pacifiers made of
clay, silver, pearl or coral, and sugar teats have been
described, some dating back to over thousands of years .
Pacifier use is still widespread in today’s culture, and a
recent Canadian trial reports up to 84% of infants use one at
least some of the time . Pacifiers have been implicated in early
weaning -, increased frequency of otitis media - and dental
problems ]17]. Other commonly held beliefs criticize pacifiers
for interfering with speech development and normal sleep habits.
However, there is a growing body of research on pacifiers and
their possible protective effect against sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS) -. Clear benefits are seen wit