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Pacifier and digit sucking in infants. Ill: Physiological effects
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Pacifier and digit sucking in infants. Ill: Physiological effects

K S Pollard, P J Fleming, Jeanine Young, P S Blair and A Sawczenko
Proceedings of the 6th SIDS International Conference, p.88
SIDS International Conference, 6th (Auckland, New Zealand, 08-Feb-2000–11-Feb-2000)
2000
url
http://www.ispid.org/fileadmin/user_upload/textfiles/SIDSI2000_handbook1Feb.pdfView
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Abstract

Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine sudden infant death syndrome
Pacifier use is associated with a decreased risk of SIDS [1], and is widely believed to suppress digit sucking in infants, but little is known of the relative prevalence and physiological effects of these two forms of non-nutritive sucking (NNS) during early infancy. Methods. Overnight polygraphic recordings of sleep state, respiration, ECG, oxygen saturation and infrared video were made of 10 mother infant pairs (5 routine bedsharers, 5 room-sharers) on two consecutive nights, at monthly intervals from 2 to 5 months of age in a sleep laboratory. Each month, mother baby pairs were randomized to 1 night bed-sharing then 1 room-sharing, or vice versa. 'Episodes' of pacifier, own digit and mother's digit sucking (>1 minute) wereidentified and compared with 2 statematched control periods, before and after each such episode [2]. Results: Full recordings, on 74 nights (749 hours), showed 329 episodes of NNS on 54 nights. During episodes, median oxygen saturation was higher (p=0.0037), desaturations were fewer (p=0.030), and interquartile range of respiratory rate was greater (p=0.0007). Median respiratory rate was slightly, but not significantly, lower. Median and interquartile range of heart rate were not significantly different during episodes. The effect of sucking upon median oxygen saturation depended on the type of sucking involved, with mothers' digit sucking being associated with the greatest increase in median oxygen saturation. Mean durations of infant movements and noises were reduced during sucking episodes, particularly during mothers' digit sucking. Conclusion: Pacifier use is associated with improved oxygenation, but the same effect is seen with digit sucking. Loss of digit sucking may compromise pacifier-using infants on nights without the pacifier.

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