Weaning my son off his pacifier will not be fun. At 16 months old, he has become a determined little person in general, and I expect his reaction to this relinquishing to be no less strident than my taking away his favorite orange car.

I’ve half-heartedly started not giving it to him already (as opposed to removing it forcibly from him), and I think he manages OK without it, though he really appreciates it when sleep approaches. And with his recent teething and ear infections, I haven’t had the heart to deprive him of this source of comfort.

But a recently released review of studies on the risks and benefits of pacifiers has made me pause. It states, among other things, that children may actually get chronic ear infections because of pacifiers in some cases, due to the sucking which causes a reflux of secretions in the middle ear. After two separate ear infections that took almost two months each (and two different antibiotics) to get rid of, I’m wondering whether weaning my son off the pacifier may actually prevent future ear infections.

The review also noted that pacifiers may help relieve pain and prevent anxiety in infants from birth through six months who are undergoing minor medical procedures (such as venipuncture, immunizations, or heel sticks), and are associated with shorter hospital stays among infants who are born preterm. There’s also a strong association between pacifier use and a reduction in the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, though it should be avoided until breastfeeding habits are well established. As for concerns about teeth, the review shows that dental effects may occur after 24 months of pacifier use, but that the effects are more significant after age 4.

When the time comes to wean a child off the pacifier, the review recommends swaddling, rocking, soft music, singing or infant massage to soothe a younger infant. For older infants and toddlers, try distracting them with activities or a favorite toy.

For related information, see our pacifier safety tips, and check the CPSC's list of recalled children's products to make sure your child's pacifier has not been recalled.

--Artemis DiBenedetto, Web associate editor