# Pacifier

**Should we give our baby a pacifier?**

Whether your baby uses a pacifier (dummy) and when to introduce it, for example from birth, after feeding is established, or only for sleep.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: From birth; Once breastfeeding is established; Sleep only; Never. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: around the birth.

- Area: Feeding the baby
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: Around the birth
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/feeding-the-baby--pacifier

## Pacifier: what are the options?

1. **From birth**: You offer a pacifier from the first days.
2. **Once breastfeeding is established**: You wait a few weeks, until feeding is going well.
3. **Sleep only**: The pacifier is used only for falling asleep.
4. **Never**: You do not use a pacifier.

## Pacifier: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational.

AAP: offer at sleep time to reduce SIDS risk; wait until breastfeeding is established

Sources:

- [HealthyChildren.org](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/a-parents-guide-to-safe-sleep.aspx)

## What else is worth knowing?

Sucking soothes babies, and a pacifier can help them settle. Some parents wait until breastfeeding is established before offering one. Later, you will need a plan for giving it up.

## Questions to ask each other

- Do either of us feel strongly for or against, and why?
- When would we want to start, and when to stop?
- What would we try to soothe the baby without one?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=feeding-the-baby&topic=feeding-the-baby--pacifier