Pacifier Facts and Tips from a Speech Pathologist

Pacifiers can be incredibly helpful during a baby’s first months. They soothe, comfort, and sometimes feel like the only thing that works during late night fussiness. As children grow, though, pacifier habits can start to affect speech development, oral motor skills, and even dental health. Knowing when and how to use a pacifier can make a big difference for your child’s long term communication skills.

Why Pacifier Use Matters

Pacifiers offer early benefits such as calming distressed babies and reducing the risk of SIDS. That said, prolonged use can lead to challenges as children get older. Long term pacifier use is linked to middle ear infections, dental changes, and reduced babbling, which is an important building block for early language growth.

This doesn’t mean you need to toss the pacifier overnight. Instead, it helps to understand when use is appropriate and when it may start getting in the way of your child’s learning.

Tips for Healthy Pacifier Habits

The general recommendation is to keep pacifier use limited to sleep times whenever possible. This allows children to self soothe at night without relying on the pacifier during busy and social parts of the day when they should be exploring sounds and using their mouths for early communication. It also suggests aiming to stop pacifier use by around one year of age.

One of the most important takeaways for speech development is avoiding talking or babbling with a pacifier in the mouth. When a child has something blocking their oral movements, they cannot practice the tongue, lip, and jaw motions that build clear speech. Keeping the mouth free during play, mealtime, and social interaction supports stronger communication skills down the road.

When You Are Ready to Wean

Every family is different, and there is no one right way to stop pacifier use. 

There are simple ideas to stop pacifier use including comforting or distracting your child before offering the pacifier, praising moments when they choose not to use it, and picking an approach that fits your family’s routine. Some families prefer a gradual plan while others choose a firm stop date. Both can work as long as you stay consistent.

Final Thoughts

Pacifiers are not “bad,” and many children start life with one. What matters most is being thoughtful about how long and how often your child uses it. Keeping the pacifier out of your child’s mouth during waking hours supports better speech and language development, healthier oral motor skills, and more opportunities for your child to practice the sounds that lead to words.

If you have concerns about your child’s speech or feeding development, your care team at Tumble N Dots is always here to guide you.