Pacifier or thumb?

Babies have a natural instinct to suck. It serves an important purpose: sucking at the breast stimulates milk production. The need to suck can have other reasons too. For most babies, it has a calming and comforting effect. That is because your baby links sucking a thumb or pacifier to the breast, which feels familiar and safe.

A pacifier is more hygienic than a thumb

A pacifier is generally more hygienic than a thumb. A thumb comes into contact with a lot of bacteria, much less so a pacifier. A pacifier is also easier to clean, because you can boil and sterilise it.

A pacifier may help reduce the risk of SIDS

Besides hygiene, a pacifier has other advantages. Several studies suggest that using a pacifier during sleep may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies who suck a pacifier are less likely to roll onto their tummy, and the airway stays clearer because the tongue is pushed forward while sucking.

A pacifier is easier to give up

In general, giving up a pacifier is easier than stopping thumb sucking. You can put a pacifier away to control how often it is used. That is much harder with a thumb.

A pacifier is kinder to the teeth

Compared with thumb sucking, a pacifier is kinder to the teeth. A pacifier is softer and puts less pressure on the mouth, so the palate and jaw muscles can develop better. Without realising it, your child also trains the mouth muscles with the pacifier, which is important for speech development.

In short: a pacifier is more hygienic, may help reduce the risk of SIDS, is easier to give up and is kinder to the teeth. Read more about the advantages of a pacifier.

Want all the pros and cons in one place? Read are pacifiers good for your baby?