by BabyMagic » Tue May 14, 2013 2:43 pm
p.s. although the dummy habit can be hard to break after 6 months, if it hasn't been removed earlier, current best medical practice in the UK and USA, has found that there is a solid link between use of a pacifier (dummy) after the age of 4 weeks, until 6 moths of age, and the lowering of SIDS risk. It's all about stimulation awareness, feedback, neuro-respiratory response etc. etc.
So if a mum/dad/carer wants to use a dummy, or a baby can find their thumb, I personally never discourage it. In a risk-benefit ration, before the age of 6 months, the benefit definitely outweighs any annoying (to the adult) need to break the habit later on (which in a 6mo is pretty short term anyway). It's all about empowering parental choice and providing the information to enable this.
p.s. although the dummy habit can be hard to break after 6 months, if it hasn't been removed earlier, current best medical practice in the UK and USA, has found that there is a solid link between use of a pacifier (dummy) after the age of 4 weeks, until 6 moths of age, and the lowering of SIDS risk. It's all about stimulation awareness, feedback, neuro-respiratory response etc. etc.
So if a mum/dad/carer wants to use a dummy, or a baby can find their thumb, I personally never discourage it. In a risk-benefit ration, before the age of 6 months, the benefit definitely outweighs any annoying (to the adult) need to break the habit later on (which in a 6mo is pretty short term anyway). It's all about empowering parental choice and providing the information to enable this.