My daughter is nearly three and has never used a pacifier. Here is what is Dr. Sears says about pacifiers:
While perfecting his breastfeeding skills, a newborn should have nothing other than mother’s nipple in his mouth. Because babies suck on pacifiers as well as bottle nipples differently than on mother’s nipples, some newborns may develop nipple confusion when given a pacifier or bottle nipple at the same time they are learning to suck from mother’s breast. While it may seem that using bottles or a pacifier may give sore nipples a rest or comfort an insatiable sucker, it could cause more problems than it solves.
Pacifiers are helpful for babies who have intense sucking needs and when the rubber sub is used in addition to, not as a substitute for, human nurturing. If baby is finished nursing but needs more sucking and won’t accept finger sucking, a pacifier may keep the peace.
When possible, a person should always be at the other end of a comforting tool. Try not to fall into the habit of just plugging up the source of the cries. When baby cries, if you find yourself, by reflex, reaching for the pacifier instead of reaching for your baby, pull the plug. In a nutshell, if you have a baby who seems generally more comfortable with a pacifier, then use it, but don’t abuse it, and quickly try to lose it.
My motto is do what works for you. Don't let others tell you. I was told it wasn't good to have your baby sleep with you. (it worked for me and I didn't crush her). Then research found that children who sleep with there parents are more confident. I was told not to use a 'dummy'. (Daughter didn't like them anyway) Now even on this site people dispute. Lets face it what ever works to keep everyone in the family happy. Eventually the child will see that their friends no longer use them and they will stop. Peer group can be a good thing on occassion.
I've asked my son's pediatrician about the pacifier, and she couldn't tell me for sure whether it was good or bad for a child. My son was a heavy pacifier user until he was 16 months old. I wanted him to break the habit by 18 months ( the dentist said that it's bad for his teeth) and I was not looking forward to fight that battle. Fortunately, I didn't have to do anything because at 16 months, he decided that he didn't like the pacifier anymore. We went on a trip to Brazil, and took a couple of pacifiers with us. He was teething at the time, and ended up biting through the pacifiers. I couldn't find the brand that he was used to in Brazil, so I bought him another brand. Apparently he didn't like it, and ended up throwing the pacifier in the trash. Since then, he's never asked for it.
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