Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

Both the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine do
not permit the use of pacifiers (dummies or soothers ) in their protocols (Saadeh and
Casanovas 2009; WHO/UNICEF 2009; Philipp 2010)
NOTES
1. There is one Cochrane Protocol, but no review has been completed (Sharifah,
Angolkar et al. 2008).
2. Kronborg offers the following critique of the 4 RCTs in the O’Connor SLR
(Kronborg and Vaeth 2009)
The four studies presented in the review contribute with valuable information, but each study
has limitations, implying that the evidence of no causal effect can be questioned. Briefly, in
the study by Schubiger et al the actual use of a pacifier in each group is insufficiently
described. In the study by Howard et al early use of a pacifier showed a negative influence on
breastfeeding duration. In the study by Kramer et al the primary exposure was educational
counselling of the mother and not use of a pacifier, and the study by Collins et al concerned
preterm infants (28–