A pacifier is a plastic or rubber device for a baby to chew or
suck on. Babies often need to suck for satisfaction rather than
for food. Most babies don't need as much sucking time by about 6
months of age. It's pretty easy to take the pacifier away from
your baby at that age, before your baby gets too accustomed to
using it for comfort. You can give your baby a blanket or toy
for comfort instead. Pacifiers can be a source of injury if they
are not used as intended or if the wrong size is given to a
child. A child can choke on a pacifier that's too small for his
or her mouth. A pacifier can be dangerous to a child if it is
attached to a string that may get tangled around the baby's
neck. And an unsteady toddler who walks or runs with a pacifier
in his or her mouth is at risk for mouth and face injuries.
Long-term use of a pacifier may cause permanent teeth to come in
crooked or to get out of alignment as your child gets older.
January 10, 2013 Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics & John Pope, MD -
Pediatrics How thi