A too-large pacifier can crowd the mouth, causing a domino effect of health issues in your child. Yet, reasonable pacifier use is healthy and soothing for baby. What should a mom choose?
To read the background of this post see this post on Big Pacifiers, Big Problems.
Letting your child develop a healthy mouth and a healthy suck doesn’t mean giving up pacifiers and sippy cups. It simply means choosing the right ones.
In general, stick with the newborn size pacifiers–don’t move up to larger ones as the child grows. The smaller the pacifier, the more the mouth works to keep it in place. Nipple shape is also important. The right type of pacifiers will have the label “orthodontic,” “anatomical,” or “symmetrical.”
The same goes with the bottle–stick with the newborn size. Children with a healthy suck do not need more holes in their nipple, and often, they end up gulping too fast and taking in too much air.
When it comes to sippy cups, choose one with a narrow straw and clip the top so only a little bit goes into the child’s mouth. This forces him to use more oral pressure to suck.
See more information in each product description below.
They sell the bibs pacifier with the round nipple in a silicon (I think) material, it’s clear instead of that latex color- this one does not grow at all with time.
My child has the same ones since a year ago.
If one sticks with the smaller size 0-3 is that okay too? Will that cause a narrow palette?
I would get rid of the round nipples. Use their symmetrical or anatomical options.
Hi thanks for this informative article!!
What about Dr browns happy pacci?
My 15 month old has been sucking her thumb when going to sleep.. I decided to try to reintroduce the pacci cuz its easier to stop later on than thumb. Now she is mostly using the pacci by sleep time and I almost finished with her thumb. Is Dr. Brown’s pacci ok?
Can you clarify? I specifically chose the bibs “round “ pacifiers because those are claimed to promote the most similar suck to breastfeeding?
Thank you for this article! I’ve been the annoying older sister telling this to everyone for years. They didn’t always appreciate the advice but as a therapist i knew that the bibs pacifier was awful. Why not include the classic nuk though? That was the original orthodontic pacifier and I always found that the babies loved them. I kept my babies in the smallest size until they were done with them no matter how old they were!
I came here to say the exact same thing!! Used nuk orthodontic size 0-6 months for all my kids and always encourage my clients to do the same. BH my kids are speak clearly and have never had any tongue thrusters in our house
*all speak clearly
Yes! The newborn Nuk is a great option as well.
Please check with your doctor/therapist regarding bottle flow. I’ve had two babies who needed specific size nipples at different stages due to swallowing challenges. A blanket statement that the smallest flow is better is not always true, and for one of my babies would have caused real challenges. I love BCP and appreciate the information shared, but blanket statements from professionals are not always one size fits all.
Thank you for clarifying! The article recommends increasing flow as needed. The point was that it is not necessary to follow the ‘ages’ listed on the bottle packaging. Most healthy babies can drink easily from a smaller hole. Though feeding time is quicker with a fast flow nipple, the fluid flows easily into the baby’s mouth, barely requiring the use of the oral musculature.
So after speaking to board certified lactation consultants, SLP, and a pediatric dentist they actually all unanimously agree actually that the Bibs nuk and mam pacifiers actually do NOT promote a natural suck or latch.
As a speech-language specializing in feeding for nearly 20 years, I am concerned about this article. Speech-language pathologists belong to a governing body called the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) that sets the guidelines for practice. The American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (2020) Volume 29, issue 4, pages 1811-1820, advises against using straws or the like to assist with speech or feeding. The research does not support this. Babies should drink with whatever bottle they are comfortable using and suck on whatever pacifier they are comfortable with. The evidence does not support this outdated practice. Feeding should not be made difficult for newborns or toddlers. We should strive to promote a comfortable feeding experience.
Chaya Rosmarin
Dentist that are not bound to ASHA also agree with this article
Dentist which are not bound by Asha guidelines agree with this article and from your perspective maybe for health regarding food it’s not true but for the pallet and dental problems and speech issues this article should not be concerning to you If you are a speech therapist, you would actually see how much harm these pacifiers do to the mouth
Thank you Chaya for pointing out that article. It is a favorite of mine! The researchers discuss how non-speech oral motor exercises are not proven effective in the treatment of cleft palate and standard articulation therapy. I absolutely agree with their findings! In this case, we are discussing the treatment of orofacial myofunctional disorders. On the topic of treatment of OMDs ASHA states: Therapeutic intervention can involve the selection of appropriate oral tools such as straws, lip or bite blocks, appropriate food items, etc. needed for eating and drinking.
I’m not a speech therapist or professional in any sense, but I’m wondering how babies can use the same size nipple for bottles. The smallest size has the slowest flow and if they have to work they get upset. I even found that sometimes my babies would get too tired from working too hard to suck when they were young but not yet eating solids. Is that how it should be?
I would greatly appreciate an article on how to stop thumb sucking.
Thank you.
Me too!
I’ve been telling everyone for years not to use the bibs round pacifier! It destroyed my son’s mouth! And every dentist and speech therapist I have spoken agreed with me!
It caused his entire upper palette and gum line to round out in such a shape that he couldn’t close his mouth all the way and he had major drooling and speech issues!!
The Dr Brown Happy Paci is also round and even bigger than the Bib and unfortunately my son is now having speech delays and has a terribly high palate:( I wish I knew this info earlier. And I was using the Dr Brown bottle for my other son who was nursing great until two months when he straight out started refusing nursing and screamed every time I tried… the nipple confused him, Avoid Dr Brown at all costs!
Feel so validated that I stuck to Nuk for all my babies while everyone’s using the Bibs!! The shape is much more natural
You neglected to mention that babies with high palettes need a large pacifier. Per pediatrician and ent.
what about when baby only wanted the round paci no matter how many others I tried offering. By me taking a paci is a must. Now she only wants the round one and I can’t get her to switch
I beg to differ! My oldest son who is now 14 exclusively used nuk orthodontic paceys he had a slight tongue thrust and also had to have a palate expander, my other kids had mostly used nuk as well, some the mam shape, I did not find it made a difference with the nursing, each kids was individual in terms of bite and palate, and nursing
My kid likes MAM SYMMETRICAL PACIFIERS. He’s so into it.
MAM SYMMETRICAL PACIFIERS are my first choice!
https://slopeonline.online/
Phillips Avent, the ones they give in hospital aren’t good?
How about the green pacifiers they give in the hospital?
+1, according to the article it is probably not good because it’s round and not asymmetrical. So then why are they using it in the hospital?
Our feeding therapist when my son was a newborn and had a high palate recommended the Ninni Co pacifier. Any idea if this is too big a pacifier? He’s 20 months old and now I’m nervous that I should get him used to a different pacifier. Thank you!