A common question parents have is whether a newborn can sleep with a pacifier. While there are many differing opinions on if or when to introduce or take away a pacifier, it’s perfectly safe for a newborn to sleep with a pacifier. In fact, it has many benefits!
In this article we’ll walk through what healthcare providers and pediatric sleep consultants recommend when it comes to should newborns sleep with pacifiers, the pros and cons of pacifier use, and how to introduce a pacifier safely and prevent creating sleep habits later on.
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Can Newborns Sleep with a Pacifier?
Yes, newborns can sleep with a pacifier. When baby sleep safety guidelines are followed, pacifiers for newborns are a great way to help soothe your little one and get them the rest they need. Especially as they adjust to their new world.
The answer to should you remove the pacifier when baby is sleeping is no. A newborn can sleep with a pacifier but if it falls out, you do not need to put it back if they are still asleep.
Never force a pacifier on a newborn that resists it.
When to Introduce a Pacifier to a Newborn?
When to introduce a pacifier to a newborn can differ depending on what your personal wants as a parent, your healthcare provider’s recommendation, or how you’re feeding your newborn.
Many parents find that a pacifier can support their newborn’s sleep and comfort within days of birth.
However the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that when to introduce a pacifier to a newborn depends on if you’re breastfeeding. For breastfeeding or chestfeeding parents, it recommends offering a pacifier and naps and bedtime only after breastfeeding is well established, usually around 3 or 4 weeks after birth. This is to allow you to start recognizing hunger cues, for the milk supply to regulate, and so your newborn gets used to feeding and starts latching well.
Despite this, research in healthy babies up to 4-months found that when a pacifier was used from birth or right after breastfeeding started did not affect how often or for how long they breastfed. This isn’t usually the case for babies drinking from a bottle.
If you’re still wondering when newborns can sleep with a pacifier in their mouth, speak to your healthcare provider or a lactation consultant for their recommendation. If your baby was premature, also speak to your provider for personalized guidance.
Benefits for Having a Newborn Sleep With a Pacifier
There are many benefits to having a newborn sleep with a pacifier.
- Reduce the Risks of SIDS: Experts believe that pacifier use in newborns is tied to lowering the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but the research is still pending.
- Comfort and Soothing: Sucking promotes feelings of safety and helps newborns self-soothe. They are a known way to soothe a crying baby.
- Promotes Sleep: A pacifier can help relax a newborn to help them fall asleep.
- Pain Relief: Pacifiers can help with minor pain relief or decrease stress.
- Reduce Thumb Sucking: Pacifiers can reduce a infant’s development of a finger sucking habit.
Are There Any Risks for a Newborn to Sleep with a Pacifier All Night?
There are limited risks for a newborn to sleep with a pacifier all night, as long as they are also sleeping in a safe sleep environment, on their back, with nothing else in the crib.
Newborns are too young to develop a habit or reliance on a pacifier, so you don’t need to worry about the risk of them becoming dependent on it or them affecting sleep. This typically happens after the 4th trimester when they begin to recognize patterns and when they develop object permanence.
It is also safe for a newborn to sleep with a pacifier when it comes to dental concerns. Pediatric dentists don’t start recommending stopping a pacifier until toddlerhood. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends eliminating the pacifier before a toddler turns 3.
Potential risks of introducing a pacifier to a newborn may include:
- Germs if they are not properly cleaned or sterilized
- Interference with breastfeeding if feeding patterns or milk supply isn’t established
- Some parents and experts worry about preventing confusion between the nipple and the pacifier
- If pacifier use continue into babyhood, potentially could develop a sleep association
How to Choose the Right Newborn Pacifier for Sleep
A newborn can sleep with a pacifier at night and during naps if it is:
- Labeled appropriate for newborns
- BPA-free and made with safe ingredients
- Constructed as one piece
- Includes holes in the shield for breathing
- Easy to clean
Do not offer a pacifier for sleep that:
- Has clips on it
- Comes with strings or cods
- Has stuffed animal attachments
- Is broken or worn down
- Made of more than one piece
Read the instructions on when to replace a pacifier. Always make sure there are no holes or signs of wear.
Final Thoughts
A newborn can sleep with a pacifier safely. Like with many parenting decisions, it’s up to you whether or not you choose to use a pacifier. Speak to your healthcare provider to address any of your questions or concerns.
As your newborn gets older, their relationship with a pacifier may change. But during the newborn stage, you can let a newborn sleep with a pacifier. For questions on when pacifiers when your baby is older, read our article on all you need to know about pacifiers and when to take the binkie away.
If you’re hoping to start building healthy sleep habits early, and prevent future sleep challenges caused by things like reliance on pacifiers, download the Smart Sleep Coach by PampersTM app. You can also take this free 3-minute sleep assessment to better understand your baby’s current sleep patterns and needs.
Newborn sleep can be all over the place and changes fast, but a pacifier is a safe, effective way to help soothe and calm them to sleep – which in the early days where sleep is all over the place could mean a little more rest for you, too!
