Parent to Parent: Pacifier problems

They're designed to soothe and calm babies, but if not used the right way, pacifiers can be a problem.

Maureen O'Brien, Ph.D, Destination Parenting
"Anything the child is using as a tool to rely on instead of their own behavior can be a trap."

But really it's about proper use, identifying the right time to wean off the pacifier.

Mom Melissa uses a pacifier to get her son Nolan to sleep.

Melissa Ferriman, Nolan's mom
"He really just uses it for a couple of minutes, just you know settling down in his crib. And then, he actually spits it out afterwards."

But Melissa knows there are possible dangers down the road.

Melissa Ferriman, Nolan's mom
"I've heard of some children using it for a really long, past a year or two"

Doctors say that's where the problems pop up.

Maureen O'Brien, Ph.D, Destination Parenting
"If your child is three or four and has their pacifier in their mouth 24 hours a day are they going to have a delay in speech? Sure, because they're not getting the chance to talk."

There's really no data that the teeth will come in wrong or that there will be a speech problem as long as the child doesn't have it in their mouth past the age of three.

So the best advice to parents, limit your child's use and try to stop at an early age.

That way you can avoid any pacifier problems.

Melissa Ferriman, Nolan's mom
"He's already using it less, I would say in the next six months he's stop using it altogether"

Byron Barnett, 7News.

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