The Hidden Dangers of Pacifier Germs

Sure, your child may love their binky, but what does that mean for their health? Is it safe to give a pacifier to your child after it has been on the floor? How about if its a few months old? You never really know how many germs are on a pacifier and what could happen if those germs get into your baby’s system.

Health Risks

There have been some surprising findings when it comes to the pacifier. In a recent study, researchers took 40 different species of bacteria from ten used pacifiers. There were four different strains of staphylococcus aureus, which is one of the common causes for skin and respiratory diseases.

 Bacteria found on some common pacifiers have been shown to link to cardiovascular disease, allergies, asthma, metabolic syndrome, and autoimmune disease. Not to mention, they can grow a nasty slimy coating called biofilm. This can change the bacteria in your toddlers’ mouth and it can also increase the risk for developing gastrointestinal issues, colic, or even ear infections, which we all know are a nightmare to go through for both parents and babies.

Keeping A Pacifier Safe

Now, we all know that giving up the pacifier is easier said than done for your child, especially if they are like mine used to be. My son would hoard his binkies under his nursery chair because he didn’t want us to find them, We thought he was throwing them all away, but when we would throw one away, he would always come back with a different one. The best thing to do to keep the pacifier safe from more bacteria than what it might already to have, is to invest in a holder for it.

The Nissi & Jireh 4-in-1 pacifier holder is ideal for keeping your child’s bink safe while you’re out and about. The pouch of these awesome plush animals feature an area for the binky to be stored while they are sucking on their other one. If they lose that one or it falls on the ground, throw it away and give them the hidden one. The plush animal is also great for visual stimulation and it can also be used as a teether.

Helping Them Give Up The Pacifier

Using a pacifier to calm a child isn’t recommended by a lot of pediatricians.However, experts aren’t really too concerned about the germs being carried and they believe that a pacifier can lower the risk for sids. If you aren’t quite ready or they aren’t ready to give up the pacifier, makes sure to soak their pacifier daily in a denture cleaning agent. You should also replace them every two-weeks. You can slowly get rid of one and then the other to help wean them off of it.