Question
A 19-day-old baby is very fond of eating, even when their belly is full, they still want to eat, and they will cry if they don’t. Later, the parents bought a soothing pacifier, and the baby stopped crying after suckling on it. However, the baby has not yet been a month old. Is it appropriate to use a soothing pacifier in this way?
Answer
Using soothing pacifiers can indeed help calm the baby’s emotions, but excessive reliance may affect oral development and the difficulty of weaning later on. It is recommended to gradually reduce the use before the baby turns two years old and completely stop using it by the age of four. Soothing pacifiers can provide a sense of security for the baby when necessary, but long-term dependence may lead to oral problems and difficulties in weaning.