甄小美常常使用安抚奶嘴，婆婆又给我们寄来一大箱东西，其中有六个6个月以上宝宝使用的安抚奶嘴。我们写信请她买两个，可她说：“每个都那么漂亮，那么可爱，我就都买下来了！”

 

安抚奶嘴在国外的宝宝中非常普遍，但是在中国还算是比较新鲜，很多中国父母，尤其是爷爷奶奶辈，不能接受安抚奶嘴。我们带甄小美出去散步，还遇到过老人家当面指责我们。观念不同而已。

 

我仔细做了research，结果让我放心：

 

Pacifiers: Are they good for your baby?
安抚奶嘴：对你的宝宝好吗？

 

For many parents, pacifiers are must-have baby gear. Here are the pros and cons, plus pacifier do's and don'ts.

 

Babies are born wanting to suck. Some even suck their thumbs or fingers before they're born. Beyond nutrition, sucking is often an important method of self-soothing — a comforting, familiar and calming mechanism in a new world.

宝宝们天生需要吸吮。很多宝宝在胎儿阶段就在子宫里吸吮他们的大拇指了。除了营养以外，吸吮是宝宝们另一项非常重要的自我安抚的手段 – 是宝宝与生俱来的机制，可以让他们在这个全新世界里通过熟悉的方式让自己平静下来。

 

That's why many parents rank pacifiers as must haves, right up there with diaper wipes and baby monitors. But are pacifiers really OK for your baby? Although the answer to that question is often debated, the American Academy of Pediatrics gives pacifiers the green light throughout baby's first year.

…尽管关于安抚奶嘴的争论比较激烈，但是美国儿科学会已经对安抚奶嘴开了“绿灯”。

 

 

The pros 正面作用

 

For some babies, pacifiers are the key to contentment between feedings. Consider the advantages:

 

§A pacifier may soothe a fussy baby. 安抚奶嘴让焦躁的宝宝平静下来 Some babies are happiest when they're sucking on something.

 

§A pacifier offers temporary distraction. 安抚奶嘴能够暂时分散宝宝的注意力 When your baby's hungry, a pacifier may buy you a few minutes to find a comfortable spot to nurse or to prepare a bottle. A pacifier also may come in handy during shots, blood tests or other procedures.

 

§A pacifier may help your baby go to sleep. 安抚奶嘴有助于宝宝睡眠 If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick.

 

§Pacifiers may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 安抚奶嘴能够有效减少婴儿猝死 Researchers have found an association between pacifier use during sleep and a reduced risk of SIDS.

 

§Pacifiers are disposable. 安抚奶嘴是可丢弃的 When it's time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your baby prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it may be more difficult to break the habit.

 

 

The cons 负面作用

 

Of course, pacifiers have pitfalls as well. Consider the drawbacks:

 

§ Early pacifier use may interfere with breast-feeding. 太早使用安抚奶嘴可能影响哺乳Sucking on a breast is different from sucking on a pacifier or bottle. Some babies have trouble learning how to nurse properly if they're given a pacifier too soon. （甄小美从1个多月开始使用安抚奶嘴）

 

§Your baby may become dependent on the pacifier. 宝宝可能会对安抚奶嘴产生依赖 If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you may face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth.

 

§Pacifier use may increase the risk of middle ear infections. 安抚奶嘴有可能提高患中耳炎的几率 However, rates of middle ear infections are generally lowest from birth to age 6 months — when the risk of SIDS is the highest and your baby may be most interested in a pacifier. 但是0到6个月宝宝患中耳炎的几率是最低的，而这个年龄的宝宝婴儿猝死的几率却是最高。

 

§Prolonged pacifier use may lead to dental problems. 过长使用安抚奶嘴有可能导致牙齿问题 Normal pacifier use during the first few years of life doesn't cause long-term dental problems. If your child continues to use a pacifier persistently, however, his or her top front teeth may slant out or the upper and lower jaws may be misaligned.

 

 

Pacifier do's and don'ts

 

If you choose to offer your baby a pacifier, keep these tips in mind.

 

§Wait until breast-feeding is well established. 哺乳稳定后再使用安抚奶嘴Be patient. It may take a few weeks or more to settle into a regular nursing routine. If you're breast-feeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting to introduce a pacifier until your baby is 1 month old.

 

§Let your baby set the pace. 让宝宝来决定 If your baby's not interested in the pacifier, try again later — or skip it entirely. Don't force the issue. 如果宝宝不喜欢安抚奶嘴，可以过一段时间再试试，（甄小美不喜欢我们第一次买的大拇指形状的安抚奶嘴，但是马上喜欢上了后来买的圆柱形的安抚奶嘴）

 

§Choose the one-piece, dishwasher-safe variety. 选择全体密封性、可洗涤的安抚奶嘴 Pacifiers made of two pieces pose a choking hazard if they break. The shape and firmness is up to you — or your baby.

 

§ Buy extras 准备多余的安抚奶嘴以替换. Once you've settled on a favorite pacifier, keep a few identical backups on hand. Many babies refuse a substitute pacifier.

 

§Keep it clean 保持安抚奶嘴清洁. Before you use a new pacifier, wash it with soap and water. To keep fungus at bay, soak your baby's pacifier in equal parts white vinegar and water for a few minutes a day. Allow the pacifier to air dry thoroughly before returning it to your baby. Resist the temptation to "rinse" the pacifier in your own mouth. You'll only spread more germs to your baby. 每日用用等量白醋和水浸泡安抚奶嘴几分钟，然后让安抚奶嘴自然晾干。不要用自己的嘴“洗”安抚奶嘴。（除了每隔几天把安抚奶嘴煮一煮，如果在外面掉在地上，我们就是用自己的嘴“洗”，没办法）

 

§Watch for signs of deterioration 不要用损坏的安抚奶嘴. Replace pacifiers often. A worn or cracked nipple can tear off and pose a choking hazard.

 

§Use caution with pacifier clips 使用安全的安抚奶嘴链/绳. Never use a string or strap long enough to get caught around your baby's neck.

 

§Let sleeping babies lie 如果安抚奶嘴从睡着的宝宝嘴里掉出来，不要再放回去. If the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth while he or she is sleeping, don't pop it back in.

 

§Try other ways to calm your baby 尝试用别的办法安慰宝宝. Don't use a pacifier as a first line of defense. Sometimes a change of position or a rocking session may be all that's needed. If your baby is hungry, offer the breast or a bottle.

 

§Know when to pull the plug 知道什么时候停止. Most kids stop using pacifiers on their own between ages 2 and 4. If you're concerned about your child's pacifier use, consult his or her doctor for suggestions. 绝大部分宝宝在2岁到4岁之间会自行停止使用安抚奶嘴

 

 

The bottom line 底线

The decision to use a pacifier — or not — is up to you. Let go of any guilt or pressure as you learn what works best for your baby 到底用不用安抚奶嘴 – 完全取决于你自己。

 

 

一个法国朋友告诉我，法国一些爸爸妈妈到宝宝三岁生日那天会告诉他/她：安抚奶嘴仙女今天晚上要来把你的安抚奶嘴收回去了，因为从今天开始，你就是个大孩子了，不需要安抚奶嘴了。

 

***

甄小美快2岁时，停止使用安抚奶嘴。我们把她的安抚奶嘴“扔”进了大海里，“送”给了海里的鱼宝宝们。她很明白自己是大孩子，不再需要安抚奶嘴，会说“binki, fish！”

因为她的饮食很健康，而且养成了刷牙的习惯，所以牙齿非常好。三岁多带她去第一次看牙医，做牙齿检查，牙医称赞她的牙齿：“这么小的孩子，牙齿这么好，现在比较少见。”。

安抚奶嘴的主要功能是满足孩子的“口唇抚慰”-- 这是哺乳动物的天性。有些孩子虽然不用安抚奶嘴，但会通过其他方式，比如吸吮手指、咬棉布、指甲等，获得同样的安抚。有些父母把安抚奶嘴当作“万能安抚物”，结果让孩子形成严重依赖。

毕竟，孩子最大最好的安抚，来自妈妈。