I had mixed feelings about pacifiers during my pregnancy. I knew that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the use of pacifiers to reduce the risk of SIDS, but later learned that the study was done on bottle fed babies. Because I planned to breast feed, Lucas would be at a lower risk for SIDS with or without a pacifier, so I decided that we just wouldn't introduce one to him. However, during his stay at the NICU, they gave him a pacifier to soothe him when his mama wasn't there and also to help him learn how to suck and gain some strength. One of the NICU nurses made a good point that if a baby is going to suck on something, it's better if it's something you can eventually take away - you can't take away their thumb, but you can take away a pacifier! Though I had previously decided against the paci, I really didn't mind him having one when it came down to it. I suppose I had other things to worry about! Luckily, he hasn't really seemed too hung up on either the pacifier or his hands when it comes to soothing. Most of the time, a little TLC from mama works just fine. Still, there are moments when he seems to just need a little nuck time.
May 9, 2011
The nurse was so right! Can you believe I still catch Summer with her thumb in her mouth? Plus the braces I had to put on because of her thumb sucking? They had to put a thing on with her braces to block her thumb being able to get in. What a pain. Now with Audrina we did a pacifer and when Sarah got pregnant we told her that a fairy would come and take her nuks for other babies like Sarah's and we did it one night and never looked back. Audrina loved the idea of giving to other babies. :o)
Posted by: Aimee Eggen | May 25, 2011 at 09:49 AM