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Letters to the editor • J. Pediatr. (Rio J.) 95 (5) • Sep-Oct 2019 • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2019.06.002   copy

Routine pacifier use in infants: pros and cons☆ ☆ Please cite this article as: Eidelman AI. Routine pacifier use in infants: pros and cons. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2019;95:622.

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

My Editorial "Routine pacifier use in infants: pros and cons," recently published in the March/April 2019 issue of Jornal de Pediatria,11 Eidelman AI. Routine pacifier use in infants: pros and cons. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2019;95:121-3. highlighted the conflicting recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as opposed to the 10 Steps for Successful Breastfeeding advocated by the World Health Organization/United Nations Children Fund (WHO/UNICEF) regarding pacifier use. As noted, the AAP recommends routine use of pacifiers at sleep time once breastfeeding is established (usually by 3-4 weeks of age)22 Moon RY. Task force on sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS and other sleep related infant deaths: evidence base for 2016 updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatrics. 2016;138, pii: e20162940. as opposed to the WHO/UNICEF categorical step 9 of the 10 Steps guideline, which stated: "Give no artificial teats or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants."33 Saadwh R, Akre J. Ten steps to successful breastfeeding: a summary of the rationale and scientific evidence. Birth. 1996;23:154-60.

It is important to note that, since my writing of the Editorial, the WHO/UNICEF 10 Steps program has been revised; step 9 now states "Counsel mothers on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats and pacifier".44 Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. 10 steps to successful breastfeeding. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding-ten-steps.html [cited 29.05.19].
https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_b...

While not endorsing the routine use of pacifiers, this still somewhat unbalanced statement clearly retrenches from the previous categorical ban and is more consistent with the consensus (as noted in my Editorial) that the benefits of routine use of pacifiers in reducing the risk of SIDS and in enhancing a calming effect on infant behavior outweigh- any theoretical unproven risks.

  • ☆
    Please cite this article as: Eidelman AI. Routine pacifier use in infants: pros and cons. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2019;95:622.

References

  • 1
    Eidelman AI. Routine pacifier use in infants: pros and cons. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2019;95:121-3.
  • 2
    Moon RY. Task force on sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS and other sleep related infant deaths: evidence base for 2016 updated recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. Pediatrics. 2016;138, pii: e20162940.
  • 3
    Saadwh R, Akre J. Ten steps to successful breastfeeding: a summary of the rationale and scientific evidence. Birth. 1996;23:154-60.
  • 4
    Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. 10 steps to successful breastfeeding. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding-ten-steps.html [cited 29.05.19].
    » https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding-ten-steps.html

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    28 Oct 2019
  • Date of issue
    Sep-Oct 2019
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