There are several reasons why pacifiers are used, but Villa Bimbi always looks at the reason behind a child’s behavior and uses the pacifier to meet the natural sucking needs of a little one so that he can fall asleep in a relaxed state of being.

Babies have two types of sucking reflexes. One sucking reflex for food intake, otherwise our babies would not be able to survive. The second sucking reflex is for relaxation. This often results in our little ones falling asleep at the breast or while drinking from the bottle.

Research has shown that sucking gives a satisfied feeling, so that your little one can relax. All this has to do with the hormone Cholecystokinin (CKK). As soon as this hormone is released, your little one will feel sleepy and will be able to fall asleep more easily.

Pacifier and Reflux or Colic

The pacifier can provide relief from Reflux and colic. In addition to the CKK hormone having a calming effect, your little one also produces more saliva. Because the saliva production is increased, your little one will have to swallow more often and will therefore reduce the acid that comes up during Reflux.

Can I use a pacifier while breastfeeding?

If you have just started breastfeeding, it is not wise to use a pacifier. However, as soon as the production of breastfeeding has started properly, it is possible to introduce the pacifier to your little one.

Prevent nipple confusion

The name says it all, your little one will receive confusing signals. If you are breastfeeding and start using the pacifier too soon, this so-called nipple confusion can arise. It can also arise when you offer the teat when your little one is hungry and needs to be fed.

Your little one will then become frustrated because the pacifier does not give him what he needs at that moment. It may also be that your little one will refuse the breast or the bottle, as soon as this suction confusion has arisen.

What you can do:

• Make sure to wait at least a month before offering the pacifier if you are breastfeeding.
• Offer the pacifier after feeding to reduce the symptoms of Reflux, but never shortly before feeding
• Offer the pacifier before sleeping so that your little one can relax and get sleepy

How do I start using the pacifier?

In order to introduce the pacifier appropriately, it is first of all important that you adhere to the above points. In addition, it is helpful to use the pacifier to help your little one relax before going to sleep. If you want to use the pacifier before going to sleep, you can do this in two different ways:

1. Offer the pacifier during the wind down ritual (if you want to know what that is, read our blog: Hoe help ik mijn baby ontspannen voor het slapen ). This so that your little one can relax before you put him to bed. Pay attention; always put your little one awake to bed! As soon as you put your little one on the bed, take the pacifier away so that the pacifier does not become a sleep association, but is only used to help your little one relax.
2. You can also choose to let your little one keep the pacifier during his nap. Just make sure you never attach the pacifier to his clothes or the bed. This can lead to dangerous situations. Up to 7 months it is difficult for most little ones to independently find the teat and bring it to their mouth. So they need the help of their parent. After 7 months you can start practicing independently find and replace the pacifier.

In both situations, it is important that you always use multiple sleep associations. As mentioned, use a wind down ritual so that your little one can develop, but also make sure that the sleeping environment is tailored to the needs of your little one. Do you want to know how to create the perfect sleeping environment? Then read our blog: Waar slaapt mijn baby het beste.

Which pacifier fits my little one best?

The steps you will take in choosing the right pacifier for your little one are as follow:

1. Age

Make sure the pacifier size is appropriate for your little one’s age. The size of the pacifier is adapted to the age, but also the hardness of the pacifier. So it is important that this matches.

2. Allergic reactions / sensitive skin

Your little one may have a sensitive skin and some pacifiers can cause irritation. You can pay attention to the amount of air holes incorporated into the pacifier to avoid skin irritation. In addition, you can pay attention to the type of material from which the pacifier is made. So adjust it to the preferences of your little one.

3. Dental of Natural

There are different shapes of pacifiers you can choose. The two basic shapes are: the Natural and the Dental. The Natural has a natural round shape, which is derived from the shape of a nipple. Babies who are breastfed may then also accept this teat more easily. The Dental has one flattened side. This stimulates the jaw and tongue muscles, which can have a positive effect on speech development.

4. Brand

Finally, there are many different brands of pacifiers. Villa Bimbi advises to always buy a pacifier from an approved brand. Baby products are first strictly inspected before they can be sold. This is because it is of course necessary to know for sure whether the products are safe. The pacifiers that Villa Bimbi recommends are:

Philips Avent Ultra Air

Difrax Glow in the Dark

Philips Avent voor de allerkleinste

Philips Avent Fopspeen knuffel

How do I keep the pacifier clean?

It is important to clean the pacifier properly. This contains a lot of bacteria. We often get the question; can we also clean the pacifier by putting it in our own mouth? No! Your own mouth is also full of bacteria, increasing the chance that both your little one and you will ingest unwanted bacteria.

You can boil the pacifier every day to keep the pacifier clean. You can also sterilize the pacifier with a sterilizing egg or a microwave sterilizer. It is good to remember that if you use the pacifier every day, you also clean it every day.

In addition, it is nice to purchase several pacifiers, so that you always have one on hand.

When do I need to buy a new pacifier?

In the Netherlands we tend to use a pacifier for a long time. However, it is recommended to renew the pacifier every six weeks. If your little one sucks hard or bites the pacifier, damage can occur. This can cause pieces to come loose and create dangerous situations. Always check before use that you do not see any cracks on the teat. You can do this by pulling on the end of the pacifier so that it stretches. If you see cracks, do not use the pacifier anymore.