If you’re a new mom, chances are you’ve wondered which soothing method is better: pacifier or thumb. Both have pros and cons, and today we are taking a look to see which is better in both the short and long game.
I grew up with two younger brothers; one is two years younger than me, and the other is five years younger than me. One of them used the pacifier and the other sucked his thumb, so I’m somewhat familiar with both. When we had Little Man, I knew we had to decide if we wanted to use the pacifier or thumb.
Pacifier or thumb: pros of each
Both pacifier and thumb have pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the pros first.
Pacifier
Reduces risk of SIDS
First and foremost, the American Academy of Pediatrics lists offering your baby a pacifier when sleeping as one way to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Other practices include avoiding bed-sharing, and practicing good crib safety.
Can be taken away for weaning
Second, this is one thing that interested me the most when deciding on pacifier or thumb for Little Man. When my parents weaned my pacifier-using brother, he made the decision to throw it in the trash himself. And that was it; it was gone for good. Now, we all paid for it later that night when he went to bed (lots of crying and screaming), but that was the end of the binky.
Easy to wash
Finally, the great thing about pacifiers is you can wash them quickly and easily if they get dirty or fall on the ground. For those days at the park, you can keep a baby-safe wipe or spray to clean your baby’s paci if it falls in the dirt. Super easy!
Thumb
Baby can self-soothe
This is one of the big-ticket items for me in the pacifier or thumb debate. Once your baby finds and learns to use that thumb, he can self-soothe and put himself back to sleep very easily.
Never have to worry about forgetting it
Another great pro for the thumb side. Any parent who has accidentally left the pacifier at home knows the special level of hell that’s reached as a result of that fatal mistake. Your baby’s thumb is always there when she needs some soothing from the sucking reflex.
Pacifier or thumb: cons of each
There are also cons to both the pacifier and thumb. Here are a few:
Pacifier
Potentially expensive
First, not all pacifiers are created equal, and many babies are picky about which brand and type they take. If you decide to introduce the pacifier, you may have to buy a few different types to see which one your baby prefers.
Nipple confusion
Second, if introduced too early, the pacifier may cause nipple confusion for the breastfed baby. Most pediatricians and lactation specialists recommend waiting until your baby is at least four weeks old and breastfeeding is well-established before introducing a pacifier.
Difficulties with sleep training
Next, while your baby can use his thumb to self-soothe himself, the pacifier baby has a harder time going back to sleep if the pacifier falls out. So if you are trying to keep your baby on a schedule with sleep-training, be prepared to reinsert that pacifier no less than five hundred times a day/night.
Can get lost
Finally, if your baby is super reliant on the pacifier for soothing, the last thing you want is to lose that sucker (pun intended). But it happens. Sometimes the paci falls out in the stroller or car seat, and sometimes baby throws it intentionally. And then, my friend, you are in trouble until you buy a new one (see the section above about pacifiers being expensive).
Thumb
Harder to break the habit
First, as I said above, one of my brothers used the pacifier, and the other sucked his thumb. The thumb brother sucked his thumb for a lot longer than the other used his pacifier. And it was a lot harder for my parents to help him break the habit. Since his thumb was always accessible, he could suck it whenever he wanted, and they couldn’t throw it away when he got too old.
Shrively, gross thumb
Second, and this is from personal experience, the thumb gets super weird from sucking. You know how your fingers get wrinkly from being in the bath too long? Yup, that’s how the thumb gets when it’s sucked all the time. And in the winter, it gets dry and cracked. Ew.
Dirty
Finally, the thumb gets really dirty really fast when baby starts crawling and touching things. If it’s already moist from being in baby’s mouth, you know that dirt is sticking right to it.
Note on dental issues related to both the pacifier and thumb:
Neither the pacifier or thumb is better for your child’s teeth; both can cause problems with prolonged use. The good news is that neither will cause much damage as long as the use doesn’t continue past 2-4 years of age (per AAP).
The winner (for us): pacifier!
After weighing the pros and cons for pacifier or thumb, we decided to introduce the pacifier. It seemed like the best option for us, and when Little Man showed signs of trying to suck his thumb, we tried a few different brands before we found the Mam pacifiers. We like them because they are very lightweight and have nice-sized vent holes.
Pacifier tips
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children website gives some great tips on pacifier use:
- Don’t force your baby to take it if he doesn’t want it.
- Don’t use a pacifier to delay meals (only give it to your baby if you’re sure she’s not hungry).
- Never tie the pacifier to the crib or your baby’s hand as this can cause serious injury or death.
What if my baby refuses the pacifier?
If your baby doesn’t take to the pacifier, that’s perfectly fine! Some babies just don’t like them and prefer the thumb. We were lucky when Little Man accepted his binky instead of going for his thumb, but that’s not always the case for every baby.
If your baby prefers the thumb, just do your best to keep it as clean as possible. You may have to work harder to wean her off it, but it’s not the end of the world and it can be done. My brother was really stubborn, and my parents tried forever to get him to stop. I think they finally resorted to rubbing it with vinegar so it tasted bad when he sucked it (hey, it was a different day and age, and it worked!).
Well, there you have it, mama. In the question of whether the pacifier or thumb is better, the pacifier was the clear winner for us because it helps reduce the risk of SIDS, is easier to clean, and is easier to wean from when the time comes. But it’s not the end of the world if your baby prefers his thumb. In the end, you just want a healthy, happy, and well-rested baby.
Which does your baby use: pacifier or thumb? Let us know in the comments!
