Bottles & Pacifiers: an industry of false advertising

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"Orthodontic" Pacifiers

The orthodontic nipple/pacifier was designed by two German orthodontists in the mid 1900's with the concept based on the natural shape of a mother’s nipple, later becoming widely known as Nuk. However, knowing what we know now about ideal craniofacial development, proper latching, and the importance of the function and placement of the tongue - we now know this is not the ideal shape for a pacifier. 

In fact, the typical “orthodontic” shape is very similar to the “lipstick” shape of a breast-feeding mother’s nipple after baby unlatches that indicates an improper latch.

Why It's Best to Avoid Pacifiers

When a child sucks on a pacifier (or thumb or bottle) their cheeks and lips are pulled in. This forces the upper gums inward. The tongue pushes the pacifier into the roof of the mouth and pushes against the nasal airways. The sides of the tongue are forced outward against the lower gums, pushing them apart. None of this is beneficial for optimal tongue placement, jaw development, or palate expansion - which can lead to a myriad of issues like open bites and cross bites, narrow high palates, crowded teeth, open-mouth breathing, sleep-breathing disorders and Its subsequent co-morbidities like ADHD, allergies, eczema, cardiovascular issues, and more. 

If You're Going to Use a Pacifier

• Choose cylindrical shaped

• Should pacify the child for a brief period, not occupy the mouth

• Should not be used every time baby cries

• Should not be given in the crib all night

• Should not have free range access

• If baby spits it out, don’t keep putting it back in

• Wean by 4-6 months 

Kimberly White, CCC-SLP, COM

How to Wean the Pacifier

There’s no one size fits all method to weaning the pacifier, but here are a few options that have worked for some that I polled.

• Use tools to help redirect the behavior, like the MyoMunchee or teething/chewing/soothing toys

• Start by only allowing the pacifier in the bed. If child is older, can make it creative by giving the pacifier it’s own pillow or blanket so it can “sleep” while the child is awake

• Friday Baby Weaning Kit (if child is use to an orthodontic paci)

• Cold turkey

• Poke holes for few a few days, then slowly cut down

• Poke small holes and over time make the holes bigger

• Rub with Sucker Buster 

Buzzwords in the Bottle Industry

The following is not at all a debate about formula vs breast milk, but rather a breakdown of the factual differences in feeding patterns that are developed with each.

Breastfed babies are more likely (but not always!) to have an optimal craniofacial development pattern compared to babies who are bottle-fed. Dr Brian Palmer says, “when baby is latched efficiently, the breast is drawn deeply in the baby’s mouth. This deep latch supports and maintains the normal wide and flatter shape of the palate (the roof of the mouth)." Bottle fed babies use their buccinator & lip muscles to feed, compared to breastfed babies who primarily use their tongue.

Laurel Arnold, RDH, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist

There are bottles designed to mimic the function of breast-feeding better than others. Unfortunately, most of the bottles who’s primary marketing is “mimicking the breast” don’t actually do so in function. But once you know what to look for, it’s quite easy to sort through the “buzzwords,” and what will actually promote the proper function.