The Best Binky on the Block

There are a lot of binkies out there to choose from. At most hospitals they give out Soothies brand pacifiers (those big blue ones). I have no objection to those pacifiers, but due to the sheer tininess of my baby's mouth, they didn't work so well for her and she often gagged on them. (And they aren't the cutest and are look HUGE in tiny little newborn mouths.)

At the hospital I was out they actually gave out vanilla scented ones and although my baby couldn't use them, I took lots home just to put around the house for the aroma. Mmmm! They also gave out Nuk brand ones that were pretty small and worked much better for her but even with her tiny mouth, they still left big indentations on the sides that looked uncomfortable.

When my friend came to visit me after having the baby she brought me a Playtes Ortho-Pro pacifier and said it was the only kind her little girl would take. It worked wonders. The nipple was small enough for her to really suck on. For the longest time it was the only kind she could really latch onto. Therefore I highly recommend Playtex brand Ortho-Pro pacifiers, especially if it is difficult to get your baby to latch onto a binkie.

Here are a few other reasons I love the Ortho-Pro:

• It's supposed to be better on their teeth
• Clinically shown to not interfere with natural teeth alignment and gum development
• Superior, patented, ultra-thin, wavy stem easily fits between baby’s gums, minimizing pressure on incoming teeth
• Unique, contoured nipple allows tongue to rest in a natural position without putting pressure on baby’s front teeth
• I love that you can buy it with a binkie cover. No matter what brand binkie you buy, be sure to look for one with a cover so you can keep it in the diaper bag and not worry about germs. Also, the Ortho-Pro cover works double duty as a sanitizer if you put a little water in it and microwave it with the binkie!
• Snap ‘n Clean™ sterilizer cover keeps dirt out and kills 99.9% of bacteria in just 2 minutes in the microwave
• My baby loves to hold onto the handle herself and she also likes to chew on the handle sometimes, especially now that she's teething.
• Moveable handle for easy insertion and removal
• Teething nubs on handle massages sore gums
• It's cute! And you can buy the ones with the clear nipple--which for some reason seem cleaner and don't gross me out so bad.
• Available in a variety of colors
• Available in silicone
• Other benefits:
• Vented shield allows baby’s skin to breathe to help prevent skin irritation
• BPA-free and Phthalate-free
• Available in Newborn and Older Baby sizes

WHY USE A PACIFIER?

Well, I'll be honest, my baby uses it as more of a teething toy these days than anything else, but it still entertains her. However, when you have a fussy baby, it is really convenient and nice to be able to just put a pacifier in their mouth and have them quiet right down. Also, babies are born with the need to suck. I don't remember the exact number but my pediatrician said that babies are born with the need to suck 12-19 hours a day. Well, they really cannot eat THAT much, and when you're nursing you really don't want to be used as a human pacifier (can I say OUCH?!). And last but certainly not least, did you know that pacifiers are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)?