BABY
How to Get Your Baby to Take a Pacifier
Play a little game of reverse psychology!
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
PARENT PICKS
Bestsellers
BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Bestsellers
Pacifiers can be a tricky thing. Some babies adore their binkies from the get-go, happily sucking all night long. Meanwhile, others spit them right back out at you! If you’re struggling to get your lovebug to take the pacifier—and you’d like them to—I can help! And if you want to try offering a binky at bedtime but are unsure when or how to do it—I can help you, too! Here’s everything you need to know for pacifier success.
There’s evidence that pacifier use has little impact on breastfeeding in healthy, full-term babies…but there’s no conclusive evidence on when a pacifier should be introduced. Because of that, experts recommend waiting to introduce the pacifier until breastfeeding is well established. That means, hold off until your milk supply is sufficient and consistent and your baby has mastered an effective latch. For infants who aren’t fed directly at the breast, you can introduce a paci as soon as you’d like.
Babies are born wanting to suck! After all, your little one needs to suck in order to get nutrients. Beyond that, sucking has the power to calm babies by lowering their heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. Research shows that sucking can even reduce crying after shots. All of the above is part of the reason that Sucking is an essential element of the 5 S’s for soothing babies. Like all of the 5 S’s, sucking activates Baby’s innate calming reflex, which is nature’s “off switch” for crying and “on switch” for sleep. The cherry on top? The AAP recommends offering a pacifier at naptime and bedtime to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
First, shop for a pacifier designed for your baby’s age. (All binkies should be labeled with age ranges.) There are a variety of nipples to choose from, so you may have to try a few different kinds until you land on one that your bub loves. You might want to add a couple of different types to your baby registry.
Once you’ve selected a binky, simply put it in your baby’s mouth at sleepytime. Often, they’ll happily take it. If your little one resists taking the pacifier, try offering it when they’re relaxed, toward the end of a feed. If that fails, I have a simple trick to get just about any baby to take a pacifier.
If your little one shuns the paci, don’t worry! Instead, try a little reverse psychology. That means, rather than pushing the pacifier in your baby’s mouth every time they spit it out, pull on the binky a bit every time your baby gives it a little suck! So, toward the end of a feed, when your baby is relaxed and their sucking has slowed—slide the paci between your baby’s lips. (It’s like a classic “bait-and-switch!”) When the pacifier is snugly in your bub’s mouth, wait for your baby to suck on it…then pull it back just a smidge, like testing if a fish is on the line. I bet your baby will respond by sucking harder! Repeat this exercise a few times a day and within, say, three days, your baby will likely take the pacifier easily. (This technique works best before a baby turns 6 weeks old.)
This bit of reverse psychology is based on our natural feeling that “what’s in my mouth belongs to me.” Eventually, trying to remove the pacifier will be like prying a toy from a 2-year-old: The harder you pull, the more they’ll resist!
Sucking on a pacifier is great for babies…as long as you follow some safety rules, like these:
There’s no rush! Binkies can be a great emotional support, sleep-helper, and stress-reducer for little ones up to 1 to 3 years. Plus, pacifiers can be super useful in times of transition or stress, like when your kiddo is sick, starting daycare, or traveling to a new place. That said, as your bub approaches 18 months old, it’s a good idea to start limiting their pacifier use to nighttime sleep or other stressful situations.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
