Rexann resorted to giving the infant a pacifier. Rexann resorted to giving the infant a pacifier. Despite the sleepless nights, the pacifier was a lifesaver. But most experts say that for infants who have a stronger than usual urge to suck and don't really take to fingers or thumbs, pacifiers are fine if used properly. But if they won't and they have a lot of difficulty regulating themselves, then listen, let's do what works.
Pacifiers can save lives, seriously.
Christine Sellai of Takoma Park, Md., agrees. She says the temporary fix kept them from going bonkers. The fact is, sucking is instinctive and necessary to healthy development, particularly in the first few months. I suggest restraint for the first three to four weeks. But dental studies show that those worries are unfounded as long as the habit is abandoned before adult teeth start coming in, at about age 5.