Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...

Development of the Oral Microbiota

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...

Parental Care

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.

Attachment

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Delivering safe sleep and breastfeeding education to pregnant and new mothers through private Facebook groups: study protocol for a 4-armed randomized controlled trial.

BMC pediatrics·2026

Same author

Differences in heart DNA methylation between sudden infant death syndrome and other sudden deaths.

Clinical epigenetics·2026

Same author

Get Social Media and Risk-Reduction Training (GET SMART) to improve infant safe sleep practices through a mobile text message-delivered video safe sleep intervention for new parents: study protocol for a type 3 hybrid implementation-effectiveness cluster randomized trial in 20 US birth hospitals.

BMC pediatrics·2026

Same author

Strategies for Improving Breastfeeding Rates: Perspectives of Public Health Staff.

Pediatrics open science·2025

Same author

Maternal-Reported Sleep Health for Kindergarteners During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Children's health care : journal of the Association for the Care of Children's Health·2025

Same author

Maternal perspectives on COVID-19 kindergarten learning impacts: a qualitative study of families with low income.

Discover education·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Pacifiers and breastfeeding: a systematic review.

Nina R O'Connor¹, Kawai O Tanabe, Mir S Siadaty

¹Department of Family Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0729, USA.

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine

|April 8, 2009

Summary

Pacifier use does not negatively impact breastfeeding duration or exclusivity. Observational studies suggesting a link likely reflect other factors, not pacifier use itself.

More Related Videos

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

Area of Science:

Pediatrics
Neonatal Care
Lactation Studies

Background:

Pacifier use is common in infants.
The relationship between pacifier use and breastfeeding success remains a topic of debate.
Existing evidence requires synthesis to inform clinical practice and parental guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review and summarize current scientific evidence on the association between infant pacifier use and breastfeeding outcomes.
To evaluate the quality of evidence from randomized controlled trials and observational studies.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive literature search of multiple databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, POPLINE) from 1950 to 2006.
Inclusion of 29 studies: 4 randomized controlled trials, 20 cohort studies, and 5 cross-sectional studies.
Data abstraction and quality assessment by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

Randomized controlled trials found no significant difference in breastfeeding outcomes across various pacifier interventions.
Most observational studies indicated an association between pacifier use and shorter breastfeeding duration.
The highest level of evidence does not support a direct adverse relationship.

Conclusions:

The association observed in observational studies may be confounded by factors like breastfeeding difficulties or maternal intent to wean.
Current evidence does not support a negative impact of pacifier use on breastfeeding duration or exclusivity.
Further research, both quantitative and qualitative, is recommended to fully elucidate the complex relationship.