“This one is a 14K gold and diamond studded pacifier worth $17,000 that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s daughter Shiloh Nouvel was presented by a website called Itsmybinky.com.”  — From ilovemybaby.org

Lately, I’ve been pondering whether we should give Baby Champuru a pacifier.  Maybe not the $17,000 diamond-studded one you see above, but a more humble one perhaps.

So far, we’ve managed to survive without succumbing to the temptation of putting a plug in her mouth even in the throes of early morning ear-piercing tantrums.  I will admit that it is tempting, though.  In those moments, you will do nearly anything to calm the heart-wrenching screams of your fussy newborn. Sometimes, she’ll find her own fingers and put them in her mouth, immediately quelling her cries as she sucks away contentedly on her own hand.  A few times, as an experiment, I’ve nudged her hand toward her mouth as she’s having a fit and she’ll immediately take to it, giving me a minute or two of quiet sanity.  This gives me the impression that a pacifier would have a similar calming effect.

However, I am somewhat leery about starting a potential habit that may be difficult to break later.  I’m also hesitant to give her a pacifier because of the potential for nipple confusion.  She’s doing so well with the breastfeeding that I would hate to complicate things.

We have an appointment with the pediatrician next week, so I’ll ask him what he thinks.  Moms, what do YOU think?