babies are born with a natural desire to suck. When
Transcription
babies are born with a natural desire to suck. When
All babies are born with a natural desire to suck. When babies suck on fingers, toes, thumbs or pacifiers, it is called non-nutritive sucking. Non-nutritive sucking helps babies to calm and soothe themselves between feedings. Sucking on a pacifier during all sleep periods is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Are There Benefits to Non-Nutritive Sucking? What If I’m Breast Feeding My Baby? Will Sucking a Pacifier Affect My Baby’s Teeth? Babies can suck non-nutritively on an empty breast, their fingers or thumbs, or on a pacifier. Some babies suck their thumbs in the uterus before they are born. If your baby was born prematurely, non-nutritive sucking has shown many benefits including a shorter hospital stay and better success at breast feeding and bottle feeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also found that sucking a pacifier significantly reduces the risk of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that nursing babies begin using a pacifier once the baby is nursing successfully, around one month of age. Regardless if you are breast feeding or bottle feeding, pacifiers should be offered after or between feedings, when you are sure your baby is not hungry. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, there is no reason to worry about a sucking habit until the permanent teeth are ready to come in (around age 4-5). Many pediatricians and dentists prefer a baby suck on a pacifier because the parent can determine the appropriate age to remove it. It’s much harder to take away a baby’s thumb! Children’s Medical Ventures • www.childmed.com Customer Service: 800-345-6443 • Parent Line: 888-SOOTHIE Wee Thumbie® Wee Soothie® NICU Soothie® Soothie® WubbaNub™ Super Soothie® <30 weeks gestation 30-34 weeks gestation >34 weeks gestation babies without teeth babies without teeth babies with teeth For Hospital Use Only For Hospital and Home Use Parents may purchase Soothies at major retail outlets, by calling 888-SOOTHIE or at childmed.com ©2006 Respironics, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved. GYER KB 1/4/06 MCI 4100429 PN 1031719