The Air Force Safety Center is a Field Operating Agency with headquarters at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
The Finnish researchers are unsure why the use of a pacifier might lead to an ear infection, but theorized it may have something to do with the change in pressure equilibrium inside the ear caused by the sucking.
After that, using a pacifier is linked to increased ear infections, especially among 2- and 3-year-olds. But that's not a hard and fast rule. Many children use a pacifier well into their toddler and even preschool years, and they typically stop on their own between the ages of 2 and 4. For these kids, the pacifier may serve as a so-called transitional object: It relieves stress and helps them adjust to new or challenging situations, like starting daycare or taking a long car ride.