According to most of the world's parents pacifiers have single-handedly destroyed children's teeth. Renowned brands like Avent pacifiers and Gerber pacifiers have taken

steps to bring down these complaints. But, why do parents complain in the first place? These pacifier produced overbites are a particular thorn in the side since the end up costing thousands of dollars in dental surgery and braces years down the road. Not only that, parents also face the day the toddler pacifier goes away with dread.

But does the pacifier really deserve its bum rap? The infant pacifier is recommended by the American Association of Parents as a preventative tool against sudden infant death syndrome. So maybe they're not so bad after all. Yet, there's still some work that should go into selecting an infant pacifier.

Choosing a Pacifier

Some babies don't like pacifiers and won't take one, thus it's cheaper not to invest in a lot of pacifiers before the baby's born. Use only one-piece pacifiers. Be sure to use real pacifiers, not the generic ones like bottle nipples. Check if the nipple is firmly attached to base of the pacifier. Babies are curious and may pull on the nipples wi th a tug of their hand. Note that liquid pacifiers may indeed look smooth but are considered to be harmful if the baby bites on it.

Now, let us move on to the dreaded deal with tooth troubles. There's actually a remedy for such problems with an orthodontic pacifier. These pacifiers are rounded at the top and flat at the bottom to prevent orthodontic problems later in life. For best results, limit the amount of baby/pacifier quality time.

Rounded pacifiers, on the other hand, are more traditional and the baby simply may be more traditional. There are also a wide array of options between silicone and latex pacifier. The silicone pacifier boasts of many advantages. For starters, the silicone pacifier is harder for the baby to bite through, is easily cleaned and doesn't retain odor.

Pacifier Safety

Just like with any other child care product, infant pacifiers and toddler pacifiers should be used with safety in mind. Don't tie pacifier to the baby. It might look adorable and keep the pacifier from getting lost, but there are many ways that a string around the baby's neck can cause a tragedy. Only purchase pacifiers that are 1.5 inches across, otherwise you're buying a choking hazard. Stay abreast of pacifier recalls also. Since your baby is constantly preoccupied with pacifiers, he might get affected by rashes. So, make sure that you look for pacifiers that vent holes in the shield. Pacifiers are of different colors and styles. Since some babies need night time entertainment, look for glow in the dark pacifiers. How do you clean the pacifier? Dishwasher, of course. And pacifiers may also be boiled.

What if your baby keeps losing pacifiers? Keep pacifiers handy wherever you take the baby. Do you take the baby along while traveling? Then, keep the pacifier in a car. Is your baby getting restless in the nursery? Then, keep pacifiers in the nursery. Or better still, you could place your baby's favorite style in the diaper bag and take it wherever you go.

Continue to: The Best Infant Pacifier to Choose and Use

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