Pacifier Non-nutritive Sucking in Infancy and Early Childhood

Abstract

Objectives To comprehensively review all relevant literature related to pacifier non-nutritive sucking for full term healthy infants and young children. Questions What is the evidence of adverse and/or positive outcomes of pacifier non-nutritive sucking in infancy and early childhood in relation to each of the following subtopics? • Infant calming and stress relief • Breast feeding • Sudden infant death syndrome • Dentition and oral health • General oro-pharyngeal and gastrointestinal infections Criteria for considering studies for this review Types of participants Healthy term infants and healthy young children up to the age of five years. Types of interventions Interventions of interest are those related to pacifier non-nutritive sucking in all settings, home or health care. This review will take into account type of pacifiers, additives, timing and duration, and age of child. Types of outcome measures Outcome measures will include, but not be confined to, research related to: • Effectiveness to promote infant calming and stress reduction. • Duration of breastfeeding, length of exclusive breast feeding, breast feeding problems such as cracked nipples and poor sucking technique. • Possible protective strategy to reduce SIDS in infancy, thus reducing infant mortality. • Increased incidence of dental caries, and abnormal dentition and oro-facial development. • Increased incidence of oro-pharyngeal and gastrointestinal infections.