Contents
*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Sucking is an inborn basic and very important reflex that all children have from the moment of birth and even in the womb in late pregnancy. In the process of suckling, children receive not only food, but also the comfort they need. The need for suckling is satisfied by attachment to the mother’s breast. But what to do if for some reason a woman cannot breastfeed her baby? This is where the pacifier comes to the rescue. Disputes about the expediency of its application have not subsided for decades. But if the parents decide that it is better not to give the baby a pacifier, the baby satisfies his desire by sucking on his thumb.
The term nipple implies two concepts:
An object through which a baby receives food and drink from a bottle. The nipple is attached to the bottle at one end, has a special hole at the other end through which the liquid mixture flows out of the container.
An item that is given to the child between meals, it is designed to calm the baby, provide him with a feeling of comfort and security, and simplify the process of falling asleep. Such a nipple is called a pacifier or pacifier. It also reduces the chance of sudden infant death or SIDS while an infant sleeps.
Consider what are the criteria for choosing a pacifier for a baby from birth to 18-24 months.
Pacifier size and baby’s age
The size of the pacifier should be appropriate for the age of the baby. Of course, the size of the maternal nipple does not change as the child grows, but it is better to increase the size of the pacifier over time. Each more or less large manufacturer of children’s products must indicate on the packaging for what age the nipple is intended. It is important to pay attention to such markings, since a pacifier that is too large can be uncomfortable to suck on, and too small requires a lot of effort from the baby. And it may turn out to be ineffective – on the contrary, irritate the baby.
What are the nipples depending on the size and age of the baby:
Size A or marking 0+ is a pacifier for babies from birth to 3 or 6 months.
Size B – nipple for children aged 6 months and over.
Size C is a pacifier for babies aged 1,5 years and older.
Also, if we are talking about sizes, it is important to take into account the diameter of the passage hole that the nipple used to feed the baby has. The older the baby, the larger this hole (or the number of small holes) should be, since the child sucks more actively, a weak stream of food entering the mouth can irritate and tire him, forcing him to spend more effort on getting food. The indicator of the flow of food and its pressure is usually indicated by numbers from 0 to 5:
0 is the nipple with the smallest hole. It is suitable for newborns under the age of 6 months, including debilitated and premature babies. Such a product can be used with mixed feeding, since the child needs to make as much effort when sucking on the nipple to get food from the bottle as when sucking milk from the mother’s breast. Accordingly, the risk of complete rejection of the breast is reduced.
1 – slow flow. This product is recommended for babies aged 6-12 months.
3 – fast flow. The pacifier is suitable for babies over one year old, but only for liquid products, not for porridge.
4 – the wide opening of the nipple allows you to feed the baby with porridge and other thick foods until he gets used to the spoon.
5 – the width or number of holes can be adjusted by changing the flow of food from medium to slow and vice versa.
Material of manufacture
Recently, three main materials have been used to make pacifiers and nipples. Very cheap products are made from special rubber. But the quality of this material is very low. It quickly deforms and crumbles, does not tolerate frequent washing and sterilization. A child who already has teeth may bite off a piece of the pacifier and even choke on it. In addition, such nipples have a completely irregular shape that does not match the shape of a woman’s nipple, which can cause bite deformity. Therefore, such rubber nipples (sometimes called “daisies” or “berries”) are best used only in extreme cases, as a temporary and cheap replacement for the main product if it is lost or deteriorated.
There are also two more materials for making nipples and pacifiers, each of them is good in its own way:
Silicone – transparent material, colorless and odorless, hypoallergenic, resistant to thermal and mechanical stress, can be sterilized, practically “indestructible”. One feature of silicone is that it is slightly harsh and the baby may not like it. Silicone nipples, even orthopedic nipples, can negatively affect bite formation during the period of tooth formation.
Latex – yellow natural material, flexible, soft, elastic, has a characteristic aftertaste, and a subtle smell, silky to the touch, as if covered with a greasy film. This is an ideal option for weakened babies, newborns, including premature babies, as it does not require much effort in the sucking process. A feature of latex is that the material does not tolerate thermal exposure, it darkens with prolonged use. Latex pacifiers and nipples will need to be changed more often than silicone ones.
Product shape
The shape of any nipple or pacifier can be round (like a “chamomile” or “berry”), symmetrical or anatomically correct, that is, orthodontic. Consider the features of these forms:
Round tip – the pacifier or pacifier can be placed in the baby’s mouth with either side. This form is practically no longer used, but some manufacturers (for example, Kievgum) continue to produce such inexpensive products. The main drawback of such products is that they gradually violate the natural anatomy of the facial bones. The jaws may begin to move relative to each other, the teeth grow incorrectly, facial features are distorted. As a result, having saved on a nipple, especially if the child sucks it regularly, in 6-7 years you will be forced to spend more than tens of thousands of rubles on treating a child with an orthodontist.
The symmetrical shape of the tip, as if elongated oval. Such a pacifier is also placed in the baby’s mouth on either side and can negatively affect the bite. Using such a pacifier or pacifier (as well as “chamomile”), the mother risks that the child will refuse the breast.
Orthodontic, anatomically correct teat tip shape. It completely duplicates the female nipple when it is compressed by the baby’s jaws while in the baby’s mouth. Such a product can be placed in the child’s mouth with only one side, but it has many advantages over analogues of other forms. Firstly, the risk of rejection of the breast is reduced, it is difficult for the child to distinguish the nipple from the nipple. Secondly, the risk of malocclusion is reduced if the size of the pacifier is selected according to the age of the baby. Well, the comfort from sucking such a product in a child is higher, since this form is most suitable for a child.
Obviously, it is better to give preference to a nipple or pacifier with an anatomical tip shape. Such products, as a rule, are of very high quality, they do not have to be changed too often, spending a lot of money.
Design features
There are several designs of dummy, the features of which are important to consider when choosing:
A construction consisting of several parts – a plastic base, a silicone, rubber or latex tip and a retainer that connects both parts together. The disadvantage of this design is obvious – the dummy can fall apart, bacteria can accumulate and multiply in the gaps between the parts. Such a product is more difficult to clean and sterilize.
One piece construction. That is, the nipple is completely molded from silicone or latex – and the base, and the tip, and the handle. This is the best option in terms of hygiene, since there are no gaps where pathogenic microorganisms can multiply.
If we are talking about the design features of the pacifier, it does not hurt to pay attention to the presence or absence of a handle, an “ear”. Such an element helps to get the pacifier out of the baby’s mouth without touching the lips with your hands. It also serves to ensure that the product can be attached to a plastic chain and fixed on the baby’s clothes, as a result of which it will not fall to the floor, become dirty or lost.
Another interesting design detail of many models of pacifiers is the notch for the nose. It can be one-sided or two-sided, in the latter case it will be convenient for the child to suck the nipple in any position. It is also desirable that there are holes on the base of the pacifier adjacent to the skin of the face. They prevent too tight fit of the material to the skin, the accumulation of saliva and the formation of irritation of the skin.
Lastly, plastic-based nipples often have a glow-in-the-dark surface. Since small babies often spit out pacifiers at night, and then cannot find them and cry, this option is considered very useful among parents. During the day, the material absorbs light, and at night, in pitch darkness, it emits it. So you do not have to look for a pacifier for a long time to quickly calm the awakened baby.
Special assignment
The nipples used in a set with feeding bottles have one, quite specific purpose – feeding the baby. But pacifiers can perform additional functions:
Thermometer. There are products with built-in body temperature sensors. Young parents know how difficult it is to measure the temperature of a newborn or even a two-year-old. A temperature-sensitive sensor built into the nipple will allow you to receive the necessary information at any time without causing any discomfort to the baby and without frightening him with an unknown procedure.
Inhaler. Such a pacifier is an excellent option for painless and comfortable treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases in newborns and children up to 2-3 years old. The baby simultaneously receives the necessary calm, satisfies the sucking reflex and receives the necessary therapy by inhaling therapeutic fumes.
Dispenser for medicines. If you have experienced the problem of not being able to get your baby to drink liquid medicine, a pacifier dispenser will help you. On the one hand, it has a container for syrup and a piston that pushes the medicine, and on the other, a nipple with a hole through which the syrup or liquid enters the baby’s mouth.
Availability of additional accessories
When choosing a pacifier or pacifier, it will not be superfluous to pay attention to the accessories that come with the kit. They can be very useful and save you money. What accessories can be in a baby pacifier pack:
Storage container. Protects the teat from dirt or damage. If the container is equipped with a handle, you can attach it to the crib and stroller, insuring the pacifier from accidental loss at home or on a walk.
Protective cap. A very useful accessory that comes with almost all modern pacifiers. Protects silicone or latex tip from dust, dirt and accidental contact with different surfaces.
Chain holder for a pacifier. Safely attached to baby’s clothing (uses a plastic clip), this useful accessory prevents the nipple from getting lost, falling or getting dirty.
Company manufacturer
Parents who do not want to spend a lot of time sorting out all the advantages and disadvantages, features of different nipples for babies, can focus on the manufacturer. Companies such as Avent, Nuc, Chicco, Nuby, Pigeon produce high quality products for children of all ages, from birth. Nipples and pacifiers of these brands are the standard of modern high-quality and safe, effective and relatively inexpensive products used by parents and their babies around the world.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.