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Using pacifiers: what are breastfeeding mothers doing?

Colin W Binns1, Jane A Scott

  • 1School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. C.Binns@curtin.edu.au

Breastfeeding Review : Professional Publication of the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia
|September 14, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Pacifier use in breastfed infants, particularly by two weeks postpartum, was linked to a shorter breastfeeding duration. Introducing pacifiers later may support longer breastfeeding journeys.

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Area of Science:

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Lactation Science
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Pacifier use is common among breastfed infants.
  • Previous research suggested confounding factors influenced the relationship between pacifier use and breastfeeding duration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the impact of pacifier use on the duration of breastfeeding in Australian women.
  • To investigate the association between early pacifier introduction and continued breastfeeding.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal cohort study of 556 mothers in Perth, Western Australia.
  • Infant feeding practices were assessed through interviews at multiple postpartum intervals (2-24 weeks).
  • Statistical analysis adjusted for breastfeeding problems to isolate the effect of pacifier use.

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Main Results:

  • By six weeks postpartum, 78% of breastfed infants used a pacifier.
  • Pacifier users had slightly fewer daily feeds compared to non-users.
  • Early pacifier use (at two weeks) was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of breastfeeding to six months (OR 0.40).

Conclusions:

  • Pacifier use at two weeks of age reduces the likelihood of breastfeeding to six months.
  • Reduced daily feeding frequency may decrease breast stimulation, potentially impacting breastfeeding duration.
  • Mothers considering pacifier use should delay introduction and use them infrequently.