The other thing is, we successfully used pacifiers after breastfeeding was well established...from about 1 month until about 9 months. It wasn't until 9 months that the ear infections started (we too have thin and horizontal Eustachian tubes in our family, too), after he'd already given up the pacifier.
(Also, sucking on a finger isn't any better -- except that the suckee is less likely to tolerate it for as long as a pacifier would. If you keep the pacifier clean, it is unlikely to be much of a germ vector.)
Also also, of course, lots of folks claim that the antibodies in breast milk help protect babies from getting sick. YMMV.
Here's a good article that might help...and remember, sometimes, babies don't necessarily want to eat, they just want to suck. Cuz they don't know how to surf the internet yet. Or, well, do ANYTHING else.
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The other thing is, we successfully used pacifiers after breastfeeding was well established...from about 1 month until about 9 months. It wasn't until 9 months that the ear infections started (we too have thin and horizontal Eustachian tubes in our family, too), after he'd already given up the pacifier.
(Also, sucking on a finger isn't any better -- except that the suckee is less likely to tolerate it for as long as a pacifier would. If you keep the pacifier clean, it is unlikely to be much of a germ vector.)
Also also, of course, lots of folks claim that the antibodies in breast milk help protect babies from getting sick. YMMV.
Here's a good article that might help...and remember, sometimes, babies don't necessarily want to eat, they just want to suck. Cuz they don't know how to surf the internet yet. Or, well, do ANYTHING else.
http://www.drgreene.com/21_608.html