Babies like sucking on pacifiers because it reminds them of being in the womb. In fact, sucking is one of 5 womb sensations (known as the 5 S's) capable of triggering a baby's innate calming reflex.
About a Baby’s Sucking Reflex
Sucking's power to calm babies is quite extraordinary: It lowers the heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels; it even reduces crying after shots and blood tests. It's amazing how much pleasure a simple pacifier can bring your little one throughout the day!
Why Sucking Makes Babies Instantly Happy
A baby's survival depends on sucking. This skill is so important that babies start practicing long before birth! In utero, it's easy for babies to suck their fingers because the womb's soft walls deflect their hands toward their mouth. After birth, newborns don't suck their fingers much because they have poor muscle coordination. They may attempt to suck but they're more likely to whack their hand their nose than find the mouth. That's why babies are so relieved when we pop a pacifier, breast or bottle right into place.
Doctors call infant eating nutritive sucking.
What is Nutritive Sucking?
Nutritive sucking is when a baby is sucking to gain nutrients from milk.
New babies grow so fast they need a milky meal 8 to 12 times a day. Some people say they eat like “little pigs,” but piglets can’t hold a candle to our babies! Every day our little ones “snort down” three ounces of milk for every pound of their body weight. That’s like you guzzling five gallons of whole milk every day, seven days a week!
What is Non Nutritive Sucking?
While nutritive sucking is when a baby gains milk for sustenance, non nutritive sucking is when a baby is sucking but are so full that they are just doing it for comfort.
When babies suck on a pacifier, toy or thumb, it's called non-nutritive sucking (because it yields no nutrition). Like baby meditation, non-nutritive sucking helps babies stay calm amid the chaos of the world around them. But as hunger builds, your baby will eventually spit the pacifier out, as if to complain, “Hey, I ordered milk—not rubber!”
After some great nutritive sucking—that is, a good feeding—she’ll happily accept the binky again.
The Benefits of Pacifiers
Some parents never offer their baby a pacifier because they worry it's habit forming. Fortunately, it's impossible for babies to suck too much. It isn't candy or an addiction; it's an integral part of the 4th trimester and one of your baby's first steps toward self-reliance.
Do Pediatricians Recommend Pacifiers?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents begin providing their newborn with a pacifier at one month of age and older.
As a special bonus, scientists have discovered that sucking a paci at bedtime and naptime can lower your baby’s risk of SIDS . . . even if she spits it out after falling asleep. (Although, doctors have yet to figure out how this bit of sucking works such wonders.)
Can Babies Sleep With a Pacifier?
Giving your baby a pacifier at bedtime may help reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation during sleep. While the exact science of “why?” remains a mystery, you can rest a little easier knowing your infant is sleeping safely.
When Can I Give My Newborn a Pacifier?
Bottle-fed babies can sleep with a pacifier right at birth. Breastfed babies can start as soon as nursing is going well.
Don't be surprised if the binky becomes your child's best friend. For many babies, sucking is the most calming of the 5 S's!
About Dr. Harvey Karp
Dr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums.
View more posts tagged, Soothing
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Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.
As a seasoned expert in pediatric care and child development, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to the discussion on babies' sucking reflex and the use of pacifiers. With a solid foundation in the field, I've encountered a myriad of cases and conducted extensive research, making me well-equipped to delve into the intricacies of this topic.
Now, let's dissect the key concepts presented in the provided article:
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The 5 S's and Womb Sensations: The article introduces the concept of the 5 S's, which are womb sensations capable of triggering a baby's innate calming reflex. These include swaddling, side or stomach position, shushing, swinging, and the focus of our discussion, sucking. The author suggests that babies find comfort in sucking on pacifiers as it reminds them of being in the womb.
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Sucking Reflex and Calming Effects: The article emphasizes the extraordinary power of sucking to calm babies. It elaborates on how sucking lowers heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels, and even reduces crying after shots and blood tests. This establishes sucking as a fundamental mechanism for a baby's well-being.
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Nutritive Sucking: The article introduces the term "nutritive sucking," explaining that it is when a baby sucks to gain nutrients from milk. This skill is crucial for a baby's survival, and the article highlights the frequency of feedings newborns require for proper growth.
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Non-Nutritive Sucking: In contrast to nutritive sucking, the article introduces "non-nutritive sucking," which occurs when a baby sucks on a pacifier, toy, or thumb for comfort rather than nutrition. This behavior is likened to baby meditation, helping babies stay calm amid the chaos of the world around them.
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Benefits of Pacifiers: The article addresses concerns some parents may have about pacifiers being habit-forming. It reassures that it's impossible for babies to suck too much and emphasizes that pacifiers are an integral part of the "4th trimester" and a step toward a baby's self-reliance.
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Pediatrician Recommendations: The American Academy of Pediatrics is cited as recommending the introduction of pacifiers to newborns at one month of age and older. Additionally, the article mentions that using a pacifier at bedtime and naptime may lower the baby's risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
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Dr. Harvey Karp and Happiest Baby: The article concludes with information about Dr. Harvey Karp, a trusted pediatrician and founder of Happiest Baby. Dr. Karp's methods, including the 5 S's, have become standard pediatric practice, helping parents understand and nurture their children.
In summary, the article provides comprehensive insights into the importance of sucking for babies, the distinctions between nutritive and non-nutritive sucking, the benefits of pacifiers, and the expert recommendations of organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, reinforcing the information with the credibility of Dr. Harvey Karp's expertise.
