Tips on Pacifiers
By now you have noticed that your baby sucks his fingers and hands a lot. Sucking brings pleasure to a baby. This is a strong need in babies who are about three months old. Being able to suck his own fingers and hands means he can make himself feel good all by himself. Sucking helps him feel happy and calm. Sometimes sucking fingers is a sign of hunger.
A baby often sucks his fingers or pacifier while he watches and learns about his world. As something grabs his attention, he may stop sucking for a moment to watch. He will then start to suck again.
Many parents buy pacifiers for their babies. You may have heard that pacifiers can harm a baby's mouth. You may have heard that pacifiers will keep a baby from developing correctly. A pacifier isn't necessary. But it's OK if your baby uses one.
Never tie or pin a pacifier to your baby's clothes. The ribbon or string could get wrapped around his neck. This could choke him. A pin in your baby's clothes can stick him.
Be sure to buy the kind of pacifier that cannot come apart. Be sure it can be washed in a dishwasher. Clean the pacifier often. You can clean it by boiling it in water or putting it in the dishwasher.
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