Use of pacifiers is associated with decreased breast-feeding duration

F. C. Barros, C. G. Victora, T. C. Semer, S. T. Filho, E. Tomasi, E. Weiderpass

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

104 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective. To determine the relationship between pacifier use at 1 month of age to the duration of breast-feeding to 6 months of age. Design. Longitudinal study of infants from birth to 6 months of age. Population. Six hundred five rooming-in infants born at the largest hospital in Guaruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil, during January and February 1993. Main outcome measures. Prevalence of breast-feeding (exclusive, predominant, and complementary) at 1, 4, and 6 months of age. Results. Relative risk for weaning between 1 and 6 months of age was 3.84 (95% confidence interval 2.655.50) for pacifier users at 1 month of age, compared with nonusers. When an adjustment was made for possible confounding variables through Cox regression analysis, the relative risk dropped to 2.87 (95% confidence interval 1.97-419). Conclusion. Pacifier use is highly correlated with early weaning, even after controlling for possible confounders. Until it is determined if pacifier use is causally related to weaning or is a marker for other undetermined causes, pacifier use probably should not be recommended for breast-fed infants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)497-499
Number of pages3
JournalPediatrics
Volume95
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1995
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • breast-feeding
  • pacifier use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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