Pacifiers: If you should use them & which ones are the best!

Should you or shouldn't you use pacifiers with your baby? If you should, which kinds are best? I've got those answers for you!

The common misconception with pacifiers is that they cause crooked teeth and/or interfer with breast-feeding. According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), pacifiers do no interfer with breast-feeding or cause crooked teeth. However, they do suggest you wait until your newborn is 1 month old before giving them a pacifier to make sure that breast-feeding is firmly established.

The AAP actually recommends pacifiers at bedtime and naptime for the first year of your child's life. According to studies done, pacifiers actually reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). (Note: It is suggested to stop all pacifier use after the age of 2.)

We used a pacifier for Brody at naptime and bedtime and during the day to soothe him until he was a year old. When Brody turned one, we cut the pacifier time to only when he was sleeping. Whenever he would wake up, we told him that paci had to go "night, night" and we had to leave it in the bed. Surprisingly, he was just fine with that and transitioned well.

It is also important to note that not all babies will use a pacifier. Some love them and some want nothing to do with them. It all depends on your child and their preferences. However, if you can get them to take a pacifier over thumb-sucking it is recommended. Thumb-sucking causes your child's top jaw to go forward and bottom jaw to go backwards. This can cause jaw malformation over time. Their thumb can also contain harmful germs.

So, since pacifiers are recommended, which ones are the best? There are so many out there. We have a WubbaNub and Brody loves it! It is a pacifier attached to an animal of some sort. There are all kinds of animals you can get with them. It is great because he is old enough to find it in his bed while he is sleeping if it falls out and put it back in his mouth. It saves us a trip to his room! Being from Texas, naturally we have a Longhorn WubbaNub!

 

 

When we were at the hospital, we got a Soothie pacifier. Brody loved this brand and used it for a long time.

 

 

Brody also really liked Gumdrop pacifiers. He always used either the Soothie or the Gumdrop. He did not like "traditional" pacifiers at all.

 

I think these pacifiers are the best. I like the shape that represents a nipple (it helps them stick with breast-feeding easier) and the holes on the sides for breathing. I do recommend getting a few different types of pacifiers and see which one works best for your baby. They may have a few they like or they may have only one brand they like. Each baby is different. I do recommend using one for at least the first year of life. My main motivation for this is to help prevent SIDS.

Good luck paci searching!

Until next time, 

Choosing a Preschool

First, I am glad to be back blogging for you! I took a little time off this summer to spend some time with my son! I highly recommend you take time with your kids when you can. Just worry about spending time with them and nothing else! It is glorious!

With school starting back, many parents are contemplating sending their children to preschool. Sending your little one to preschool can be scary. They are so young and won't be with you! Since both my husband and I have jobs, we had to find one for my son when we moved to Arkansas. Here are some things to look for when choosing a preschool for your little one.

1. Ask around about different preschools. Sometimes the best information is from people who have experienced the preschool themselves. Get a feel for different preschools and the pros and cons of each. A good reputation shows you a lot about a school!

2. Find out the teacher to student ratio. You want this to be low. You don't want to have a teacher who has to keep track of 12 two year olds by themselves. It isn't good for the teacher or the children. My son has 10 children in his class with three teachers. It is wonderful. The children are able to connect with a teacher and the class is able to stay in control.

3. Look into the cost of the preschool. Preschools vary in price from low to extremely high. Make sure that the cost of the preschool fits into your budget and doesn't cause you financial instability.

 4. Distance from your home. This is important because you will have to take your child to school in the morning before work or while others are going to work if you do not work yourself. Traffic can be heavy in the mornings and after work so look at the routes you would take and factor in how long it will take you. This will affect your morning routine, what time you have to get up, leave the house, etc. This is important!

 

5. Find out if the school is accredited. You want a school that is driven to meet educational standards and actually meets them! You also want to make sure they have a valid and current license to run a preschool.

 

6. Find out the schools philosophy on discipline, rules, and philosophy on education. These are all very important since your child will be affected by these. Make sure the schools has a positive and inviting atmosphere to learning and exploring. This includes their philosophy on playing and activities as well! Kids need to learn but also have fun at school!

 

7. Take a visit to the school and meet the teachers and principal/coordinator of the school. Make sure you are comfortable with them and the location at which your child will be. Make sure the facility is clean and well kept. Then take your child to the school and see how they react in the environment. It is good for them to get comfortable with the school before the first time you leave them there. Especially if they have never been to preschool before. It can be scary for little ones!

 

 

8. Ask about the policies of the school. Things you may ask about are illness policies, absence policies, when money is due each month, how does the school deal with social and emotional issues, etc.

 

9. Ask and see what the parent involvement is. If you are wanting to be very involved in your child's preschool experience, this is an important question!

 

10. Pray about it and really talk to those your trust most about it. Really put thought into it before you choose one. Do not be afraid to ask questions at the school and questions to those who are already experiencing preschool with their children. Your child's happiness is your number one priority and seeking to find the perfect preschool is totally acceptable.

 

Good luck! I hope you find the perfect preschool for you and your child!

Until next time,