Pacifier use and morbidity in the first six months of life

Objective. To assess the prevalence of pacifier use and whether this habit adversely affects the health of B-month-old infants. Design. Data collected via self-completion questionnaires from mothers form ing part of the prospective, population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Pr egnancy and Childhood. Methods. The mothers of 10 950 infants gave information on their child's us e of a pacifier at 4 weeks and 6 months of age and the presence of specific health symptoms. Adjusted logistic regression was performed to identify an y associations between pacifier use and ill health. Results. Two thirds of the sample had been given a pacifier at some point, with 42% being reported as having one at both ages. Younger, lower educated mothers, mothers who smoked, those living in council and overcrowded accom modation, and those reporting financial difficulties were significantly mor e likely to give their infant a pacifier. Pacifier use was associated signi ficantly with a higher risk of symptoms such as wheezing, earache, vomiting , fever, diarrhea, and colic as well as with the general practitioner being called to the home and hospital admission. Conclusions. Although significant differences exist in the risk of experien cing several health symptoms between infants who do and infants who do not use a pacifier, stronger and more detailed evidence is required before reco mmendations can be made to discourage the use of pacifiers based purely on reducing occurrences of these symptoms.