What's best, a soother or a teether?

It’s always a decision that most parents are never quite sure what the right thing to do is. Many parents give their child a soother without any issue, yet some parents would never do such a thing. So what is the right thing to do? Why is it so bad giving your little one a soother if they are in incredible discomfort? What is an alternative to a soother to help comfort your baby?

Would you give your child a soother during teething?

If your little one is really struggling with the aches and pains of teething and nothing seems to soothe or calm them down, it’s so easy to just hand them a soother to calm them a little. That’s not a bad thing to do either, but like with everything there are pros and cons. For babies, being able to suck on either a soother, hand, foot, finger or anything they can really find is a natural instinct, often something you see them doing inside of the womb.  This provides babies with a form of security and comfort and it often has a calming and soothing effect.  Research has also found that it helps to make a baby feel good; it helps to stimulate the release of chemicals from the brain that decrease stress. Furthermore, there has also been a string connection between the use of a soother and the lower risk of SIDS. Although using a soother does not prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), it has been known that the use of a soother reduces the risk of this awful syndrome, yet it is now known why.  Soothers are also a great distraction for such events like injections or blood tests.

Philips Avent Free-Flow Soothers

So with all the positive reasons as to why a soother is a good thing to use, there are also many negative reasons why they are not so good for your baby. Firstly, a study showed that children who do use a soother’s have a 40% higher rate of ear infections compared to those who do not use one. Now, we all know how painful and irritating an ear infection can be, so imagine how your little baby is feeling. Research suggests that it may be due to the change in pressure between the middle ear and the upper throat. Further studies also show that children who stopped using a soother after 6 months old had more than a third fewer cases of ear infections. Other more known reasons as to why a soother is not so popular are due to the fact that your baby may become dependent on it and will not settle without one. In addition, if a soother is used for a long amount of time during the day, over a long period of time, there is a risk of tooth alignment issues later in life as well as delayed speech. Also, once your child reaches the toddler age, their mouth can begin to lock into an unnatural position, further helping to the dental issues. 

So, as you can see there are many reasons for and against using a soother. There is no right or wrong answer an only you as a parent can make the best decision. You just need to be aware that your baby may become attached and reliant on their soother, meaning that you need to be prepared for the day you try to wean them off it. There are also great products on the market that can help you and your little one through the difficult teething stage, these are known as teethers. They can be used either in place of a soother so that they are not constantly chomping away on their little delicate hands or even as you’re a beginning to wean your little one off soothers. Teether’s help to offer a your baby with a counter-pressure and relief to the aches and pains of teething. Your baby’s gums may become hot, uncomfortable so an easy to grip safe teether could be the perfect product to help calm and comfort your little one as they develop.

Teether's offer your baby with a counter-pressure & relief