There are parents who swear by the pacifier (binky/dummy) claiming it is the best baby soother, yet there are mothers who couldn't run away from it faster. Why?
You see, babies can get confused if they are introduced to the pacifier too early to that they may reject the breast or bottle, which really, is the nightmare for mothers.
We discuss more about when is the right time to introduce baby to pacifiers as well as address the general FAQs about them below, but for now, let's see what is the best pacifier for breastfed babies.
Top 5 Best Pacifiers For Breastfed Babies
Although we say the following are pacifiers for breastfed babies, they are actually suitable for all babies so choose away and buy the best pacifiers for your little one!
Being the pacifier that is distributed in almost all hospitals nationwide to new mommies, the Philips AVENT Soothie Pacifier is one of the best pacifiers for breastfeeding newborn babies, well actually, all babies!
Comes in a pack of 2, this pacifier is made using hospital-grade silicone and is sized and shaped for baby's mouth.
We especially like the one-piece construction which makes it easy to keep clean with no germs hiding in between cracks.
BPA and latex free, these pacifiers are soft and comfortable for newborns and they are highly durable too.
Used by medical professionals to calm newborns, this is one pacifier for breastfed newborn that you can trust for your little one. Highly recommend!
Another pacifier that is widely distributed in hospitals, NICU and well-baby units nationwide, the WubbaNub Infant Pacifier is one of the best pacifier for newborn that we'd recommend.
Not surprising, considering the WubbaNub is actually a soft toy attached at the end of a Soothie pacifier - yes, the Philips Soothie medical grade, non-latex pacifier we reviewed above.
By having a soft toy attached at the end (which is also a patented design of the brand), baby can reach and hold on to it easily.
It also makes it easier for you to spot it in a packed diaper bag, and the size of it makes it almost impossible to lose or be forgotten.
Besides the shape of a giraffe, it is also available in many other forms of animals, such as elephant, monkey, baby penguin, lion (another hugely popular design) and so on.
All of them are the best pacifiers for breastfed newborns as they are recommended for 6 months and below, or babies without teeth. Oh, and they are hand and machine washable too!
Developed by leading paediatric dentists and developmental psychologists, the MAM Glow in the Dark Night Orthodontic Pacifier is the best infant pacifier for babies from birth to up to 6 months.
As it is an orthodontic pacifier, it features a symmetrical orthodontic nipple that is ideal for baby's jaw and teeth development.
The silky texture of the silicone SkinSoft nipple mimics that of mom's so it is easily accepted by baby.
What we like about this pacifier (aside from its glow in the dark feature which allows it to be easily located in a dark nursery) is that it has an anti-slip texture that helps the nipple stay comfortably in baby's mouth.
Together with the curved shield, this is a pacifier that will sit comfortably on baby's face.
The MAM Glow in the Dark Night Orthodontic Pacifie is the best orthodontic pacifier that is suitable even for sensitive skin as the textured surface and multiple small openings on the pacifier shield allow air to circulate and thereby let baby's skin to breathe.
If you do not need the glow-in-the-dark feature, there are many other different colours and patterns (they are all orthodontic) that you can choose from to suit your little one.
The First Years GumDrop Newborn Pacifier is the best pacifier for breastfeeding, thanks to its one-piece silicone design that stays clear of baby's button nose.
This is the pacifier which do not confuse baby with the breast and parents find it seamless to transit baby between the breast, bottle and pacifier. Comes in a pack of two, these are the pacifiers for breastfed infants that hospitals strongly recommend.
Free from all harmful substances (BPA, latex and phthalate), the First Years GumDrop Newborn Pacifier is super affordable. Definitely the best gumdrop pacifier for breastfed babies that we'd highly recommend!
You know we can't resist throwing in a cute, funny one! This Funny Baby Pacifier Cute Kissable Moustache from Babystache is one of the best pacifier (also most popular) that works best for babies 12-36 months.
Yes, this is among the best pacifiers for toddlers that you can rely on if it takes longer for your little one to wean off the binky.
Don't think this is one that compromise on quality just because it looks quirky - it is one of the best binkies that many parents rave about.
Made with high-grade silicone, there is no detectable taste or odor and best of all, it has a natural orthodontic shape that helps with baby's oral development. Its shield comes with holes so there's better air flow, which makes it ideal for sensitive skin.
The nipple is made strong and is resistant to being sticky and this is a pacifier that is dishwasher-safe. A clear, reusable storage case is provided so if you're still wondering what is the best pacifier that suits your quirky taste, look no further!
When Should You Introduce The Pacifier?
We have talked about the best baby pacifiers in the market. The next question is, when is a good time to introduce them to baby?
The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that the pacifier be offered to infants one month and older at the onset of sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Yes, studies have found that there is a direct link of pacifiers reducing the risks of SIDS so it is actually a recommended item, despite some of the cons which we will discuss further below.
However, if you are breastfeeding, we recommend waiting for 4 weeks or so before introducing the pacifier to your baby so that there is sufficient time for your little one to get used to your breasts. This is to prevent them from getting confused between the two.
By four weeks, babies generally get the hang of latching and feeding already. Pair with any of the above-reviewed best paci for breastfed baby is used, there shouldn't be any confusion or rejection problem arising so breastfeeding mothers, there's no need to shun away from it!
Are Pacifiers Bad For Babies?
Now, onto perhaps the biggest and most burning question most of you will ask - is pacifier good for babies?
Yes, generally, pacifiers are good and beneficial to babies.
Aside from reducing the risks of SIDS (which we think is a reason legit enough there's no need for any further convincing), other benefits of the pacifier include analgesic effect and shorter hospital stays for preterm infants.
This is why the pacifier is called a pacifier because well, it pacifies and gives pain relief to newborns and beyond.
Nonetheless, concerns surrounding the use of pacifiers need to be acknowledged, too. There are two main complications associated with pacifiers - middle ear infection (otitis media) and dental malocclusion, aside from the aforementioned breastfeeding confusion.
Otitis media - An infection of the air-filled space behind the ear drum (the middle ear);
Dental malocclusion - The misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws closes.
Parents are more familiar with the latter as misaligned teeth is perhaps the most common or heard of disadvantage associated with pacifiers.
We cannot dismiss the possibility of these problems, but the thing is, adverse dental effects are only highly likely if pacifiers are used past the age of two years old, which is pretty much when baby should be wean off the binky anyway.
If used between the newborn stage and 2 years of age, experts have found that the advantages outweigh that of disadvantages so pacifiers are generally an encouraged item to be used. J
ust make sure that you don't push it beyond the age of two, at most three and if choose the top rated pacifiers for breastfed babies recommended above, you can stop worrying about questioning: are pacifiers good for babies.
