[Kelli]

. . . to use a pacifier (or binky as we used to call it), this seems to be it. "61 percent reduction in SIDS risk from pacifier use." This article was on the home page of MSN today.

Though they never succeeded, I remember people trying to make me feel bad because I had a "binky baby."

Kelli

http://articles.health.msn.com/id/10...site/100000000

Pacifier Use May Help Prevent SIDS

This and other recommendations included in new SIDS guidelines
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter


MONDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Letting your baby suck on a pacifier before bed may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
That's the conclusion of a review of studies done on pacifier use. And the evidence was compelling enough for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to include a recommendation about pacifier use in its updated SIDS guidelines.
"When we looked at the last time the baby was placed for sleep, there was a consistent protective effect for SIDS from pacifier use," said study author Dr. Fern Hauck, an associate professor of family medicine and public health sciences at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Va.
"There was a 61 percent reduction in SIDS risk [from pacifier use]," said Hauck.
Results of the study, along with the new guidelines, were to be presented Monday at the AAP's National Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.
Hauck and her colleagues reviewed seven studies that looked at the association between pacifier use and SIDS. They concluded that approximately one SIDS death could be prevented for every 2,733 babies who use a pacifier while they sleep.
That benefit, said Hauck, outweighs any potential risks of pacifier use, including dental problems, a slightly increased risk of ear infections and breast-feeding difficulties.
Hauck said she didn't know why pacifier use might protect against SIDS, but said there are several theories. One is that sucking on a pacifier brings the tongue forward and forces the airway to open more. Another is that when babies suck on a pacifier, they may be more easily aroused from sleep.
Dr. Dan Polk, vice chairman of the division of neonatology at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said this study's findings may be reassuring to parents who already give their infant a pacifier. But, he said, the findings only prove an association between pacifier use and a reduced incidence of SIDS, not necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship. These findings don't, he said, prove that pacifier use can actually reduce SIDS.
Whatever the reason for the apparent protective effect, the AAP is recommending offering infants a pacifier at bedtime and naptime for the first year of life. The pacifier doesn't need to be reinserted if it falls out during sleep. And don't coat the pacifier with any sweet substances to entice the baby to take it. Breast-fed infants should not be given a pacifier until breast-feeding is well-established, usually at one month, the academy said.
Along with endorsing pacifier use, other big changes in the AAP SIDS guidelines include recommending that babies sleep in the same room as the parents, though not in the same bed, and that parents don't put their babies to sleep on their sides.
"There's been a lot of new information on SIDS in the past five years, which is why the committee revised the SIDS guidelines," explained Dr. Rachel Moon, a pediatrician and SIDS researcher at Children's National Medical Center in Washington D.C.
Other key recommendations for preventing SIDS include:
• Place infants to sleep on their backs every time they go to sleep.
• Only use firm sleep surfaces and keep soft objects, such as pillows and heavy blankets, out of baby's crib.
• Give baby a smoke-free environment both before and after pregnancy.
• Don't share your bed with your baby, but if possible, keep the baby in a crib in your bedroom.
• Avoid overheating your baby. Babies shouldn't feel hot to the touch. Keep the room warm enough so a lightly clothed adult would be comfortable.
The AAP committee also said parents shouldn't use commercial products marketed as reducing the risk of SIDS or home monitors. There's no evidence such products provide any benefit.
Also, the committee recommended that babies be given plenty of tummy time when they're awake to avoid the development of a flat spot on the back of the head from always sleeping in the same position.
"Parents need to make sure that it's not just them following the guidelines, but everyone caring for the baby needs to be aware. The babysitter, the grandparents, everybody needs to know," said Moon.
"Since we don't know the cause of SIDS, the best we can do is try to control the markers," said Polk. "Just do the best you can, but that doesn't guarantee you've eliminated the risk of SIDS," he added.
The results of the new study, as well as the new guidelines, will also appear in the November issue of the journal Pediatrics.
More information
For more advice on preventing SIDS, visit the American SIDS Institute.
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[Linny]

Ahhhh yes, Kelli! I remember that.....and we still have a 'nuk' baby to this day. While I sometimes think she's too old; under the stress of this past summer......it's something we pretty much 'let go' of. (And it doesn't surprise me that it could have potential protection against SIDS...)
Like I've said before:

"I'd rather have a crooked-toothed well-adjusted child,
Than a perfect-toothed, neurotic one."

JMO....(as always)....

Sincerely,

Linny

[sugarbabysmommy]

Interesting. I wonder though, is it the pacifier it's self or is the baby who prefers the pacifier. I have to agree that I see no cause and effect, only an association.

My distinction between pacifier and baby is this, my babe only liked the pacifier so long as there was an adult hand attached to it and babe loved "pop it in pop it out" games, or to suck on it for a minute at a time, never long periods. Babe thought they were great teethers and chewed on them rather than suck. Whereas I know other kids who the minute it's popped in that's that, it aint coming out. So is it the baby who sucks in a particular way that has the reduced risk, rather than the pacifier alone that has the protective effect?

I wonder if there was a certain amount of sucking time associated with the findings that's missing from the article. It's hard to imagine that the few times I put the pacifier in babe's mouth before bedtime and it was promptly ejected that so little pacy time reduced babe's risk of SIDS.

By the way, it may not be clear from my ponderings, but I'm not anti pacy, or anti any sort of lovey. What a waste of energy in my mind to be anti lovey.

[danhanan]

NOt only "all of the above".... which I didn't know, but also, sucking stumulates the release of a soothing hormone. The baby's version of the "runner's high". I attended a seminar given by a pediatric nurse who urges parents to avoid rushing or pressuring a child to give up their bottle, thumb or pacifier before they seem ready.
I tried to use a pacifier with all of my children and none of them were at all interested but there sure were times that it would have made life easier if they would have.

[Liepolds]

Now I finally have something to spat at my DH's family when they make rude comments about us giving Nathan a binky!!!

Thank-you Lord!!

Seriously, what a great article. Thanks for posting!!

Kim

[LisaCA]

I read this too. I think some speculate it may have something to do with the baby's position to suck on pacifier-hmmm. anyway, it was out of our hands. Dd demanded it in her own special way at the hospital, had bmom and all the nurses scrambling to find one, then she never stopped until we pulled the plug at age 12 months. I think they're fine until the teeth really start to grow, then it can be problematic. I figure if dd can let go, and lets just say she was "reluctant" than any baby can.

at the park this weekend we saw a 4 year old with a binky-ick.

[redhedded]

I read it too. I have a three year old thumbsucker, at night only. I want my babe to give it up when ready; she is not. We don't talk about it much and have never pressured her. She is super mature and can rationalize and explain her need to continue. Moving from a bottle to a cup was a breeze; potty training was quick. She is reading now but is not giving up that thumb. It will be a challenge; it has already begun to affect her teeth and her palate.

[redhedded]

Now I finally have something to spat at my DH's family when they make rude comments about us giving Nathan a binky!!!

Thank-you Lord!!

Kim, that cracked me up.

[Sleeplvr]

I have a binky baby. I was thinking about posting to get some suggestions on how to get rid of it. I think we currently have 6, 7 or 8 between the house, diaper bag and daycare. DD pitches a fit if she doesn't have it when she gets sleepy. I don't have a problem with her using it when she gets sleepy, I just don't want her using all day. She seems to be increasing the amount of time during the day that she uses it. DH wants her to go cold turkey. My nerves couldn't take that and I don't want to traumatize her.

One thing that is particularly irritating is that if she spits it out during the night, she wakes up and screams until we put it back in her mouth. This sometimes happens several times during the night.

[LisaCA]

sounds like dd. she was attached. got the shakes when she had some stressful time and couldn't get the pacifier in fast enough. woke up several times a night with the pacifier out. We put them on short straps (found at target), had many diff colored straps and pacifiers to match outfits (only a tad obsessive), and carried many with us just in case. it was fine once she was old enough to put it back in her mouth. She learned to look for the strap. if you don't use a strap, put a few all around the crib and she'll find them. We did dd's pacifier cold turkey-I was amazed at how well it worked. only one rough nite then poof. I would have bet any amount of money that she would have completely lost it forever without binky. you never know. We kept in for dd until she was a year old.

I have to say that we received many critical comments about the binky, even though dd was rather well-adjusted and I had no plans to keep it in her mouth past a year or so. I think it gave everyone something to comment on. I mean, kids have this innate desire to suck, so what's the big deal? As long as she doesn't have it strapped to her wedding dress as she walks down the aisle (which I had my money on btw), I think it's okay. seriously, the four year old was a tad disturbing, since he seemed developmentally fine, just needed the binky (and his parents gave it to him). As long as her teeth aren't damaged, it's okay in my book. and since dd's teeth didn't start to come in until she was 10 months old, we had little to worry about.

[joskimo]

we have binky baby #2 and yup, get guff from other people about it. I agree w/ Sleeplvr, baby Hannah notices that the binkly fell out in the middle of the night, she lets me know about it!

oh, and BTW, I use the same excuse for family bed, it's supposed to decrease SIDS because NO ONE sleeps as soundly.