Pacifier

An artificial nipple, usually made of plastic, upon which an infant can suck to gain some solace and quiet down.

A pacifier is called by other names in other countries including a 'dummy' in the U.K.

Pacifiers have been claimed to cause early weaning.

However, a study (JAMA, July 18, 2001) was done of women who were planned to breastfeed for at least 3 months.

All of the women were told how to soothe a crying or fussy child, but one group of women was told to avoid giving their baby a pacifier.

Advising women not to give their baby a pacifier had no effect.

The rate of early weaning was the same in both groups.

The use of a pacifier does not cause early weaning.