Samantha doesn't use a pacifier. All in all, I guess that is a good thing. It just irks me when I am out in public and I see 2 year olds (or older) walking around with pacifiers. To me, it is just as bad as seeing a 10 year old walking around with a blankie. Pacifiers have their purpose. They are used to soothe infants. Some newborns have a greater sucking need and pacifiers satisfy this need. They also say that pacifiers during nap and bedtime reduce the risk of SIDS during the first 6 months. However, after about 6 months, pacifiers should be weaned.
Joshua used a pacifier. The pacifier served its purpose for us. (Um, I mean for him). If he was cranky, whether at home or in public, the pacifier acted as a great "mute button". All we needed to do was give him the pacifier, and he would calm down. If I was at the grocery store and he started chirping "eh eh eh", in goes the pacifier. Immediate calm. If we were eating at a restaurant, and we started hearing "eh eh eh". In goes the pacifier, and once again, an immediate calm. When we went on trips, the pacifier was great on the airplane to help his ears from popping. You could probably equate the pacifier to a drug. Instant calm and happiness once this rubbery thing was placed in Josh's mouth. Therefore, everyone dreads time for weaning. Maybe that is why you see preschoolers walking around with pacifiers. They just can't give up the "drug" and their parents turn the other way. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying this is bad parenting or equal to a parent spanking their kid or smoking around them, but there is a time when a pacifier becomes inappropriate. I weaned Joshua off the pacifer at around 6 months. I was just extremely lucky as he didn't really put up a fuss when I took it away.
Now back to Samantha. They say to wait about 3 weeks before introducing the pacifier so that you can make sure breastfeeding is well established. They also say that you may have to try a few different types of pacifers to see what kind your baby likes. At 3 weeks, I introduced the pacifier. No luck. She gagged when I tried to give it to her. I tried type #2 and then type #3. No luck. I was about to give up when a few of my friends suggested I try the "Soothies" pacifier. No luck. After $20 and 4 different types of pacifiers, I gave up. Every once in awhile, I will try again with the pacifiers collecting dust here, but still no luck. I remember what a life saver the pacifier was at times with Joshua and now I won't have that. I remember thinking, "if Joshua gets fussy, all I need to do is give him a pacifer and he will calm down". I can't do that now. So, if I take her to a restaurant and she fusses, I am screwed. (I actually did go to a restaurant with Samantha and "the girls" on Friday night. One of my friends has a newborn too who is a week older than Samantha. Her daughter, Emma, was an angel. You didn't even hear a peep out of her. Samantha, well, let's just say that the table next to us knew that we had a 6 week old baby with us. Samantha finally behaved when the meal came. However, it was a pretty stressful meal, and a pacifier would have been nice).
I guess that I should look on the bright side. I am not going to have to wean Samantha.
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