February 26, 1999 - Pacifiers Linked to Decline in Duration of Breast-feeding Study Does Not Support Belief That Pacifier Use Leads to Nipple Confusion
CINCINNATI -- Women who give their infants pacifiers breast-feed less frequently and quit breastfeeding sooner than women who do not give their infants pacifiers, according to a study co-authored by a physician at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati.
"Mothers who choose to use a pacifier tend to breast-feed their infants less frequently, more often consider breast-feeding to be inconvenient, and complain of inadequate milk supplies," says Bruce Lanphear, MD, MPH, a physician in Cincinnati Children's General and Community Pediatrics Division.
The researchers studied 265 breast-feeding mothers and their babies. Sixty-eight percent introduced a pacifier before six weeks. The study found that the duration of breast-feeding for infants with pacifiers was about a month shorter than for those without pacifiers, according to Dr. Lanphear.
"Our speculation is that pacifier use leads to a progressive cycle of less frequent breast-feeding, inadequate breast-milk production, and ultimately shortened breast-feeding duration. We recommend that mothers receive more education about the importance of frequent breast-feedings in maintaining milk supplies and about the many health benefits of breast-feeding.", says Lanphear. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers breast-feed their babies for at least the first year of life.
Interestingly, the study fails to support the common belief that pacifier use leads to "nipple confusion," which causes the infant to learn improper suckling techniques.
The study is published in the March edition of Pediatrics electronic pages.
Contact Information
Jim Feuer,
jfeuer@chmcc.org
