Medical experts believe that when babies use pacifiers while dealing with a stuffy nose, it causes a damaging pressure in the tube between the nose and the ear, increasing the risk of ear infection.
Actually, the pacifier thrusts the tongue downward thus favoring the passage of air between the tongue and the palate around the pacifier. In conclusion, in many normal infants, the pacifier, by serving as an oral airway, may often enhance the ability to sustain more adequate oral breathing.
If your child is sick, replace all their pacifiers. “Pacifiers can become a reservoir, so if your infant becomes ill, throw away all pacifiers and start with new ones.” Also, if a pacifier falls on the floor, don't pick it up and put it back in the baby's mouth, Glass says.
AAFP/AAP joint guidelines recommend reducing or stopping pacifier use in the second six months of life to reduce the risk of otitis media. ICSI recommends avoiding pacifier use after 10 months of age. ADA and AAPD recommend actively discouraging pacifier use after four years of age.
Should I Remove a Pacifier After My Baby is Asleep? No, you don't have to remove your baby's pacifier after he or she is asleep. Even if the pacifier falls out while they are sleeping – which is quite common! – there is no need for you to reinsert it.
There's no need to remove your baby's pacifier while they're sleeping. In fact, doing that might wake them up, and we all know the old rule about never waking a sleeping baby. If the pacifier comes out at night and your little one is sleep sleeping soundly, don't feel like you have to put it back in.
Medical experts believe that when babies use pacifiers while dealing with a stuffy nose, it causes a damaging pressure in the tube between the nose and the ear, increasing the risk of ear infection.
The potential negative effects of dummy use
Excessive sucking when a baby suffers from nasal congestion can force mucus into the Eustachian tube, which can result in ear infections.
Prolonged pacifier use can change the shape of the roof of the mouth, making it narrower which can make it difficult for your child to breathe through their nose. This promotes “mouth breathing” which can contribute to sleep problems, ADHD, receded jaw, and future TMJ and headache issues.
For premature babies in the intensive care unit, pacifiers can shorten hospital stays and help tube-fed babies learn to use a bottle. Pacifiers reduce the risk for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Practice recommend reducing or stopping pacifiers early, since there is research that pacifier use beyond 12 months of age has the potential to increase the risk of ear infections in some children.
Children and infants have narrower nasal passageways than adults, making them more susceptible to nighttime congestion caused by inflammation or excess mucus. Very young children and especially infants, who mostly breathe through their nose, cannot blow their noses as adults can for temporary relief.
Baby nasal congestion or baby “stuffy nose” is typically caused by anything that inflames the nasal tissues - usually a cold, influenza, sinusitis, or allergies. Overall, baby congestion is just extremely annoying and nothing to worry about, but it can really affect sleep and eating habits.
Most babies do not eat well when they are having trouble breathing. Use a small bulb and saline drops to help clear the air passages. Put 1 drop of warm water or saline (about 1 teaspoon salt in 2 cups of water) into each nostril, one nostril at a time. Gently remove the mucus with the bulb about a minute later.
If the congestion interferes with a baby's ability to feed or sleep, or if their baby is older than 3 months and has a fever, they should talk with their baby's pediatrician. A healthcare provider will be able to diagnose the issue and provide additional care if symptoms do not improve.
If your baby has a cold with no complications, it should resolve within 10 to 14 days. Most colds are simply a nuisance. But it's important to take your baby's signs and symptoms seriously. If symptoms don't improve or if they worsen, it's time to talk to your doctor.
The best default position for your baby to be in when they have a cold is upright. This helps for congestion to clear and for breathing to become easier. And, most importantly, it helps them get that vital rest they need so much.
Breast milk.
It doesn't get more natural—or easier—than this. “A drop or two in the nose can help loosen congestion,” Altmann says. “Let baby sniff it up, then give him tummy time; when he lifts his head, it'll drain out.” You can also drain by holding your congested baby upright.
While bottle-fed babies can sleep with a pacifier from birth, breastfed infants should only sleep with a pacifier once they are at least 3 to 4 weeks old and have settled into a breastfeeding routine with no latching issues.
Babies like sucking on pacifiers because it reminds them of being in the womb. In fact, sucking is one of 5 womb sensations (known as the 5 S's) capable of triggering a baby's innate calming reflex.
Wash pacifiers with soap and water daily, or run them through the dishwasher a couple times a week. Dispose of any pacifiers that look worn or have obvious cracks. Keep many duplicate clean pacifiers on hand so they can be easily switched out.