Many parents will eventually face the decision of whether or not to use a soother or pacifier. There are certainly times when they will help calm a baby. Babies have a natural desire, sometimes even a need, to suck and can find it very calming and comforting. Some babies just need to satisfy their sucking instinct and a soother may be just the thing for tired or sore nursing moms.

When a soother may be helpful

-baby still wants to suck after being nursed or fed

-when it is desirable to have a calm or quiet baby such as in church or theater

-when extra saliva will help relieve acid reflux or indigestion

-when you prefer your baby not suck their thumb (easier to remove a soother than a thumb)

When the soother is better avoided

-during the first several weeks of nursing while baby is learning how to nurse

-if it is starting to interfere with proper development of baby teeth and or jaw

-if the soother is preventing the child from developing verbal communication skills

-the child is only able to calm themselves with a soother

Soother safety

-never tie or attach a soother to your baby, it can be a strangulation hazard

-always inspect the soother for tears, holes or other damage that can harm your baby

-periodically give the nipple a good tug to check that it is still firmly attached

-buy the size designed for the age of your baby

-never sweeten the soother with honey or other sweet "treat" it can lead to early tooth decay and promote poor eating habits

At around the age of 1 year many babies will lose their interest in using a soother. If you want to wean your baby off of their soother there are a few things you can do to make it a smooth and less stressful transition. Make sure that life is stable and there are no big changes going on such as moving, a new sibling, mom going back to work or illness in the family. Try to limit where the soother is acceptable. "We only use the soother in the car" or “You can take the soother to bed when you have your nap". Make sure you use other methods to comfort and sooth your child; hugs can be a great way to help calm a baby, or even a massage can help sooth them. Sometimes just going outside for a walk or playing in the yard is just the change of scene your baby needs.