Sunday, February 17, 2008

Oh the Binkie

Okay, so why did I not know that pacifiers create a love/hate relationship !? When we met our daughter, she was a finger-sucker, literally sucking her fingers day and night. It was very adorable, and used for self-soothing during stressful times (no doubt), but we had two problems - when the fingers fell out, she'd wake and cry AND we were worried that fingers in the mouth all day might mean further developmental delays. So we switched to a pacifier, and she and it became fast friends...inseparable...except...

Well, guess what?! Paci's fall out of the mouth TOO, like every hour y'all...and hence, the baby cries. And in our case, we become slaves to the pacifier. And by some mystery, baby also forgets to use the fingers as her sucking "back up". How could 3 weeks with a binkie totally erase the memory of 6 months of fingersucking? I don't know, but it did! And to solidify the relationship even more between she and it, it's also become her teething pal. She chomps on it like some bored teenager smacking a wad of chewing gum.

So...here we are...joining the binkie-users club. So I worry about BPA (unsafe material in plastics) in the pacifiers. Luckily, I found this info at Safe Mama.

BPA-Free Pacifiers

Playtex “Binky” (one piece silicone pacifier)

Gerber Silicone NUKs (All Gerber pacis are free of polycarbonate plastic)

The First Years Soothies Silicone Paci’s

Vice Versa Binky w/ Case

Natural Rubber Natursutten Paci

BPA-Free Teethers

Sassy Jelly Fish Teethers

Sassy Coolin’ Teether

Sassy Chilly Dilly Daisy

Luv n’ Care Icy Bite Teether

Nuby Jiggle Giggle Teethers (cow and butterfly)

Nuby Nibbler

Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys on a Ring

Nuby Bug-A-Loop Teether

Je Je Vibrating Teether (rubber)

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether

Vulli Chan Pie Gnon Teethers

Comfort + Joy Teether (coming soon)

Leapfrog Gentle Vibes teether

Sassy Buzz n’ Bites teether

**Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. There may be other makers of BPA-Free teethers and pacis.

5 comments:

isurfsumner said...

We are dealing with the falling out of the paci every hour during the night too - so we are right there with you sister!!! :) - Im going to try some of these other brands - but believe it or not - he has his favorite brand and style and usually that is all he will take - let's hope he will - the plastics scare me too! I am not sure if the soothing is worth it all - ha ha!!!

Andrea said...

My girls used the paci, but my boy sucks his thumb.
I have to say I prefer the thumb. It's always handy, it's natural, and he can self-soothe that way. (Plus, he's so darn cute when he sucks it!)
It might take some work, but I'm sure you can get her back to sucking her fingers. (If you want her to, of course. :)
Now, talk to me in a few years when I try to wean him off his thumb! ;)

Allie, Katie and Harper's Mom said...

Allie just goes to town on her
left thumb and she has since the
day we received her. I think it's
cute!!! Thanks for allowing me
to follow the other blog!!!

Take Care,

Sindy

Ani said...

We have a favorite paci, and only THAT kind will do. Fortunately, he knows how to find them in his crib if they fall out at night... Try leaving several binkies in the crib, she may surprise you :)

Anonymous said...

You should try out Paci-Plushies: lightweight plush toys that attach to Baby's pacifier that help Baby find her pacifier by herself at night.

www.PaciPlushies.com