Baby Will Not Take Pacifier? 5 Brilliant and Encouraging Tips for Success

A pacifier is a rubber or a nipple that a baby can suck on. For most babies sucking comes naturally, they can suck on their thumb or fingers but some prefer sucking on a pacifier. Pacifiers can be a form of security or comfort for babies and can be of very huge assistance to both mom and dad so you might wonder why a baby will not take pacifier.

Pacifiers are most helpful for children around 6 months or younger than 6 months. But it can be tricky. Some babies can happily suck on their pacifiers all night long, meanwhile, for some babies it can be irritating and so they might likely spit it out back at you.  If your baby won’t take pacifier or suddenly stops taking it can be very frustrating for both parents. Especially when your baby is the kind who can hardly have a hard time learning to self-soothe.

However, one of the major reasons your baby suddenly stopped taking a pacifier or won’t even take one at all is because most of the time they would prefer sucking on a breast, the pacifier you are giving to them may just be the wrong size or shape, or may be given in a wrong time like when the baby is upset. 

So, if your baby rejects or resists the pacifier, try giving it when he/she feels calm and happy, and be certain that the size or style is ok and comfortable.

Baby Will Not Take Pacifier

One reason why a baby will not take pacifier may be different from another. For instance, some babies may have trouble latching onto a pacifier correctly to soothe their mouths. 

Some other babies may just prefer the pacifier some days over others, or might only want to take the pacifier so they can be able to fall asleep.

Thus, parents need to pay close attention to this, ‘why their baby will not take pacifier’. They may not be able to tell you straight about how they are feeling but they can express it, so they may be telling you something crucial through their cries or rejection of the pacifier or binky.

Another thing to note as a parent is that it is not necessarily compulsory for all babies to have a pacifier. Giving a pacifier to your baby is completely by choice or optional. So, if your baby will not take pacifier or stopped having a pacifier you shouldn’t force them to. 

With time babies will eventually outgrow the pacifiers, so there’s no need to force them to have them as forcing them to continually use them may contribute to them having dental issues, especially after a certain age. 

There’s a lot more to learn about babies’ pacifiers, and this article will teach you more and help you better understand why baby will not take pacifier.

Why Baby Will Not Take Pacifier and When Should I Introduce It?

Truth is, there is no conclusive evidence as to when a pacifier can be introduced to babies. However, there is evidence that shows that giving a pacifier to your baby has little impact on breastfeeding in healthy babies.  As a result of this, some professionals (AAP) recommend that parents should hold on, to introducing the pacifier to their babies until after breastfeeding is well established.

What this simply means is that until your milk supply is sufficient and consistent and your baby has mastered an effective latch, which is usually around I month of age, you shouldn’t introduce a pacifier yet. 

But for babies who are not breastfeeding and are feeding directly from the breast, pacifiers can be introduced as soon as you’d want to. 

Important Things To Note on Why Baby Will Not Take Pacifier?

As earlier said, don’t force your baby into having a pacifier, because it might have some side effects on your baby’s health.

Below are a list of top things to consider when using a pacifier for your child:

• The number one thing to always remember is to not force your baby to use the pacifier.

• Try checking your baby’s diaper to change or observing if your baby is hungry before giving the pacifier.

• Two-piece pacifiers can break and become choking hazards. Instead, buy one-piece pacifiers.

• Do not tie a ribbon to your child, to the pacifier, or a bed, it is risky and capable of strangling your baby.

• If your baby’s pacifier falls out at night and your baby doesn’t notice, don’t put it back into his/her mouth.

• Do not try to put anything like honey or sugar on the pacifier because you want to encourage your child to use it.

• Try Choosing a pacifier that has a shield that is wider than your child’s mouth. Make sure the shield has a hole in it.

• Use other methods first like rocking, singing, or holding, before offering the pacifier to your child. Pacifiers should be your last option. 

• You should go for silicone pacifiers. Buy clear silicone pacifiers instead of yellow rubber ones. The yellow rubber gets sticky and deteriorates after a while, which may begin to release tiny amounts of an unhealthy chemical residue.

• Research has shown that 80% of pacifiers had a little film of yeast or bacteria growing on them. So, always wash with soap and water, at least daily.

• Do not use a bottle nipple as a pacifier.

• Occasionally, check your baby’s pacifier to make sure the rubber hasn’t changed color or torn.

• Do not keep pacifiers past their expiration date.

When Is It OK to Stop My Baby From Using A Pacifier?

Parents must note that offering a pacifier to a child older than 4 is not recommended anywhere. However, you should consider stopping your child from using a pacifier when your baby is 6 months to 1 year old. 

Because at this time children haven’t developed an emotional attachment to their pacifier yet. But unless your pediatrician recommends stopping, don’t worry if your baby at 7- or 9-month-old still loves the pacifier!

Remember, sucking is wonderfully calming and will help your baby deal with all the crazy, unpredictable new things they encounter every day as they develop. 

Try not to rush your baby into stopping the pacifier but be very ready to fight with them to stop it after 9 months as it might be difficult for them to stop using the pacifier.

Additionally, most children are usually emotionally ready to stop the pacifier on their own, especially at the age of 2-4 years, so you might have nothing to be worried about.

Advantages Of Using A Pacifiers

Naturally, babies are born wanting to suck, and that is because they need to suck to get nutrients. Moreso, one of the advantages of giving a pacifier to your child is that sucking alone has the power to calm babies by lowering their heart rate, blood pressure, and stress level.

Some studies recommend that it is better to offer a pacifier to your child at bedtime or at naptime to reduce the risk of sudden baby death syndrome. 

Also, sucking can even reduce crying and activates the baby’s innate calming reflex, which is nature’s “on switch” for sleep and “off switch” for crying. It’s amazing how much pleasure and happiness just a pacifier can bring your baby throughout the day.

Because of the worry of babies forming the habit of always being with a pacifier, some parents try as much as they can to not offer a pacifier to their baby. 

The Good News is that babies can’t suck too much or even make it a habit, because it is an integral part of the 4th trimester and one of your babies’ first steps toward self-reliance.

Most pediatricians recommend pacifiers, and they recommend that parents begin providing their newborns with a pacifier when they are about a month old.

Some other benefits of a pacifier:

• Pacifiers can make your baby’s teething discomfort and pain less severe. If the pacifier is clean and well refrigerated it can cool and soothe achy gums during the baby’s teething.

• A pacifier can serve as a distraction for most babies, especially during uncomfortable and stressful situations 

Tips On How To Get Your Baby To Accept A Pacifier

1. All pacifiers should be labeled with different age grades. So, the first thing you can do is to shop for a pacifier that is designed specially for your baby’s age. However, there are lots of options to pick from when it comes to nipples, so you should try a few different kinds until you can get the one best suitable for your baby or the one your baby loves.

2. After you have selected and picked the best one for your baby’s mouth and age, then you can now put it into your baby’s mouth, especially during naptime or sleep time. Most babies will happily take it.

3. But if your baby rejects the pacifier, you should try giving it to them when they are calmer and more relaxed, immediately after feeding them.

4. You can also try a little reversed method if they still reject it. You can slide the pacifier between your baby’s lips. When the pacifier is comfortable in your baby’s mouth, wait for your baby to suck on it, then you pull it back just a little, your baby should respond by sucking on it even harder.

5. Repeat this exercise a few times a day and within, say, three days, your baby will most likely take the pacifier easily. Please note that this technique works better before your baby is or becomes 6 weeks old.

Things To Look Out For When Getting A Pacifier

Choosing a good pacifier for your baby can be difficult because pacifiers are as different as babies are, from each other. However, it is important that you choose what works for your baby, and below is a list of things to look out for when choosing or deciding on which pacifier to get your baby.

• Check for the quality of the material

• Check for the durability

• Check for the convenience

• Check if it is easy to clean

• Check the design and how cute it is

• Check for the price range

• Check for the availability

• Ask for recommendations and tips from those who have or are currently using the pacifier

As earlier said, pacifiers come in different shapes and sizes. These are also what you can look out for when getting a pacifier:

The Materials

The most common materials for a pacifier the natural rubber latex and silicone. Although latex pacifiers are softer and more flexible, they often deteriorate faster and aren’t dishwasher safe. But most times, silicone pacifiers are preferable because they are more durable, they last longer, they don’t retain bad smells and they are dishwasher safe.

The size

you should look for the pacifier size that will appropriately work for your baby. pacifiers all come in different sizes.

The construction

Some pacifiers can be overly complicated, so it is better to avoid them. If your baby’s pacifier has a shield, measure at least 1 and a half inches across so that it won’t entirely fit into the baby’s mouth, and make sure the pacifier has ventilation holes.

The shape

The different pacifier shapes are majorly designed to allow the baby’s tongue to move more freely and encourage natural jaw movement. But note that the best pacifier for your baby is the one that she will use.