The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) recently added new fuel to the ongoing pacifier controversy. The report states:

"Research now indicates an association between pacifier use and a reduced risk of SIDS, which is why the revised statement recommends the use of pacifiers at nap time and bedtime throughout the first year of life."

Jennifer Key, a mother of two from Montevallo, Ala., isn't sure the new report will make her give her 15-week-old son the pacifier any more than she already does. "As a parent, I have gotten to the point where I do what I can to prevent SIDS, but there is just so much you can do before it becomes obsessive," says Key. "I let my boys guide me. My first one hated the pacifier and my second one can take it or leave it. I wouldn't force something on them that they hated or that wasn't important to them."

Dr. DeKun Li, a research scientist with Kaiser Permanente's Northern California Region, is on the verge of publishing a paper on pacifiers and SIDS. His study finds pacifier use during sleep reduces the risk of SIDS by as much as 90 percent.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.