Table 4 Reasons for first giving (or trying to give) infant a pacifier (N = 530)
From: Predictors of and reasons for pacifier use in first-time mothers: an observational study
Reasons for first giving (or trying to give) infant a pacifier | Percentage of cases* |
|---|---|
Prompted responses | Â |
   To soothe baby when upset/irritable, or for other reasons | 78.3 |
   To help put baby to sleep | 57.4 |
   To keep baby comforted and quiet | 40.4 |
   Because it is natural for babies to suck | 21.9 |
   To prevent baby from sucking thumb | 20.9 |
   To help stretch the time between feeds | 12.6 |
   To soothe baby when teething | 9.4 |
   To help in taking baby off the breast after a feed | 6.8 |
   As a distraction | 6.2 |
   Because it reduces baby's risk of SIDS | 4.7 |
   Because it is normal to use a pacifier | 1.9 |
   To help wean baby from breast to bottle | 0.9 |
   Don't know the reason | 0.4 |
Unprompted (other ) responses | Â |
   To treat/reduce baby's reflux/vomiting/colic/wind/hiccups | 4.3 |
   To reduce 'non-nutritive' sucking on breast | 3.4 |
   To assist in / improve attachment / breastfeeding | 1.7 |
   Other reasons/not specified | 1.4 |
   To reduce the effect of pressure changes during flights | 0.8 |