Types of pacifiers for children

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The nipple is a device of a certain shape, acting as a substitute for mother's breast. It helps to satisfy the sucking reflex and helps in feeding the baby. It may not be the best option, but nipples are still widely used by modern parents around the world.

Types of nipples

Since the introduction of the pacifier as we know it now, manufacturers have tried to make it look more natural. Modern pacifiers are able to completely imitate the female nipple. In their manufacture, different materials are used, they are given the desired shape to make the sucking process more comfortable and safe. This allows parents to choose the right pacifier for their baby.

First of all, all nipples are divided into pacifiers and those used for bottles. Modern breast substitutes are available for children of all ages. Alsothey differ in the material from which they are made and in the form.

Depending on the material used in the manufacture, there are such types of nipples as silicone and latex. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Depending on the shape, nipples are orthodontic and anatomical (physiological). The latter are produced in the form of a double-sided and round pacifier ("cherry"). In addition, each manufacturer, in order to attract a buyer, tries to give his own definition of physiology, and therefore this group can be expanded indefinitely. On sale you can find night, soothing, moving nipples, baby pacifiers that act as a thermometer for administering medications and inhalations. To buy or not to buy such modern devices? It depends on the willingness of the parents to experiment and their financial viability.

Which is better: silicone or latex?

Before choosing a nipple you like, you should carefully study the properties of the material from which it is made. But regardless of this, any pacifier must comply with established safety standards, do not contain toxic and other hazardous substances.

If we take into account the material used in production, the following types of pacifiers for children are distinguished:

• latex;
• silicone.

Latex pacifiers are light yellow in color and are made of rubber, which is an environmentally friendly and natural raw material. Such nipples are difficult to tear, theysoft and elastic. Their disadvantages include a specific, slightly unpleasant taste and smell that the baby may not like. In addition, rubber pacifiers become less elastic over time and stick together inside, so you will have to change them quite often.

Silicone nipples are made from artificial raw materials. They are transparent, do not have an unpleasant taste and smell, and retain their properties for a long time. Such pacifiers can be boiled, which will not affect their appearance in any way. But at the same time, they are easily torn and chewed by babies, so they are more suitable for babies.

It is important that the selected nipple is made of high quality silicone and does not harm the he alth of the baby.

Orthodontic and anatomic teat

Few parents, when choosing a pacifier, guess the preferences of their child the first time. Often you have to offer several options until you can find the right pacifier that meets the needs of the baby and meets the recommendations of specialists.

The opinion of dentists is unequivocal - it is better to choose an orthodontic nipple. It occupies the correct position in the baby's mouth and thereby prevents the formation of an incorrect bite, the appearance of a gap between the teeth.

However, this pacifier has a specific flattened shape, different from the female nipple. That is why babies often dislike her.

Pediatricians, although they agree with dentists, still recommend buying pacifiersanatomical shape. But different manufacturers see the female nipple differently. Therefore, there are such types of physiologically shaped nipples as bilateral, always occupying the correct position in the mouth, teardrop-shaped and round (“cherry”).

Criteria for choosing a pacifier for a baby

To make it easier for parents to choose a pacifier, the main criteria have been prepared:

• The pacifier must be appropriate for the child's age. Too soft nipples are not suitable for children who have already erupted teeth, because babies easily chew them.
• The base of the nipple should have holes so that saliva does not accumulate under it and the skin breathes, and the notch for the nose does not impede breathing.
• It is better to give preference to pacifiers of well-known companies. They offer a variety of baby pacifiers to meet all safety requirements.
• Latex pacifiers have a short lifespan. They are recommended to be changed every 4-6 weeks.
• Before you give a pacifier to your baby, you should make sure that it is not damaged, has a smooth surface without bumps.
• Even the most expensive pacifier should be boiled for 2-3 minutes before use.

How to choose a bottle teat

Choosing a bottle nipple is somewhat different from buying a pacifier. In the same way, they are made of silicone or latex, mostly have a physiological shape that mimics the mother's breasts, and are selected according to the age of the child.

Depending on the size, the following types of bottle nipples are distinguished:

• 0-6months;
• 6-18 months;
• 18-36 months.

Also, bottle nipples have a different number of holes, from one to three. Which is better to choose depends on what kind of food they are supposed to be used for. For milk or water, one hole in the nipple is suitable, and for porridge, two or three holes.

Modern manufacturers pay special attention to the he alth and safety of their little customers. Often, babies, mostly under the age of three months, swallow air during feeding, which causes intestinal colic. In order to prevent this unpleasant phenomenon, nipples with an anti-colic effect are produced. And so that the child can suck the bottle continuously and not choke on food, nipples with an air valve inside are created. Its mechanism of action is based on the fact that when the baby starts to suck, the valve opens, and when it stops, it closes.

Dummy pacifier: harm or benefit?

The main benefit of using a pacifier is that the baby calms down and satisfies the sucking reflex. But not all children need this, especially if the mother is nearby and can always offer breasts. Therefore, the benefits of a pacifier are rather obvious for parents, who can stay in silence for a while and go about their business. But prolonged sucking can negatively affect the he alth of the baby.

Despite the fact that manufacturers offer a wide variety of pacifiers, the harm from their use is obvious:

• Whensucking on a pacifier swallows air. As a result, the child develops intestinal colic.
• When using a pacifier for a long time, the baby gets tired of sucking, and when it comes time for feeding, he refuses to take the breast.
• Soothers contribute to the formation of malocclusion in children and lead to deformation of the teeth.
• It is difficult to achieve hygienic cleanliness when using a pacifier. Often, despite all preventive measures, this is a source of vital activity for harmful microorganisms.
• Prolonged pacifier sucking causes pacifier addiction and further difficulties in weaning.

When to wean a baby off a pacifier?

Often, parents have the question of when to give a pacifier and when to wean a child from it. In the first case, the answer will be ambiguous. The sucking reflex in a child is most strongly developed before the age of three months. But you need to look at the child. If he is restless, tries to suck on a diaper or nearby objects, then a pacifier is needed. Some babies are so demanding that parents, having tried all existing types of nipples, cannot find a suitable one. In this case, you should not insist, but rather try to look for alternative ways to calm the child.

As for weaning from the pacifier, the best option is to gradually remove the pacifier after six months. And then by the first birthday of the baby, he will be able to do without it, while he will not have time to cause significant harm to his emerging teeth. ATotherwise, by the age of one and a half, the child will have developed a strong dependence on the pacifier and the weaning process will drag on for a long time.