Are you planning to use a pacifier for your baby? Babies instinctively want to suckle and often use sucking to self-soothe. The American Academy of Pediatrics approves of pacifier use during the baby’s first year and offers the following dos and don’ts:

• Don’t offer a pacifier until a nursing routine is well established – around one month old.
• Do let your baby set the pace – don’t force the baby to use a pacifier if he or she doesn’t seem interested.
• Do use a one-piece pacifier. Two-piece pacifiers pose a choking hazard if they break.
• Do keep it clean. Wash the pacifier before its first use, and soak daily in equal parts white vinegar and water.
• Don’t “clean” the pacifier with your own mouth. Doing so just adds germs to the dirt.
• Do keep extras. After the baby finds a favorite pacifier, stock up on it.
• Do replace the pacifier when it shows signs of deterioration.
• Don’t use pacifier clips with long strings or straps that could get caught around the baby’s neck.
• Do try other methods to calm the baby – holding, rocking, feeding – before resorting to the pacifier.
• Don’t let the baby use the pacifier indefinitely; start weaning before age 2.

While many babies stop using a pacifier on their own, some need a little help and encouragement. Read How to get rid of the old pacifier for tips on helping your toddler give up the binky.