title: Pacifier use: what makes mothers change their mind?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out the reasons for mothers to either use or not use a pacifier and to find out the mother's reasons for changing their mind.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the data of 174 mother-infant pairs by means of a semistructured questionnaire performed shortly after birth, and at the age of 7 weeks and 5 months, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main reason for mothers primarily refusing a pacifier was their concern about malformation of the teeth or jaw. Until the end of the fifth month, 31% of the mothers changed their mind about pacifier use. Mothers primarily refusing a pacifier introduced a pacifier due to the need of soothing the infant. Mothers, who initially intended to use a pacifier, changed their mind due to rejection by the infant. The prevalence of pacifier use at the age of 5 months was 78%. The majority of mothers (69%) introduced the pacifier during the first week of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About one third of mothers had changed their mind about pacifier use, either because of rejection by the infant or the need of settling. Breastfeeding mothers require more and better information concerning the appropriate time of pacifier onset.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Jasmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pansy
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zotter
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sauseng
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneuber
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerbl
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D041361:Pacifiers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*