Sterilizing Pacifiers Linked To Increased Allergy Risk | BabyGaga
A new study has found that sterilizing may be linked to an increased risk of allergies. Pacifiers can be the holy grail for some parents. Once they find one that their baby takes to, they stock up on as many as they can find. They always want to make sure that they have spares in the diaper bag, the car, and in mom’s purse, just in case. They also tend to because they know that they go in the baby’s mouth and they want to make sure that they are not carrying any dangerous bacteria that could pose a risk to their baby’s and wellbeing.
According to and , sterilizing pacifiers could increase the risk of a baby developing food allergies. This was proved by a study that was done, and it says that these babies would exhibit signs of a food allergy by the time they were one year old.
Food allergies can be very serious, and life-threatening, and most parents would like to avoid them if at all possible or at least lower the risk their child will develop them. The Barwon Infant Study was the one that showed a link, and they looked at more than 700 participants to reach their conclusion.
They looked at the cleaning methods and use of pacifiers at six months old. Then they examined those who had a confirmed case of food allergy by their first birthday. They found that babies whose pacifiers were sterilized with an antiseptic solution were more likely to be diagnosed with a food allergy by the time they were one. The concern may be how parents are sterilizing the pacifier, and if they are sterilizing them too much.
Victoria Soriana, one of the research investigators stated that this study warrants more information and research into how good bacteria found in both the baby’s mouth as well as the gut could help prevent the development of allergies.
This study is just another confirmation that are essential for healthy development.
The study also found that there was no increased risk of food allergies among those whose pacifiers were;
•Just cleaned with tap water
•Boiling water
•Not washed at all
•Put in their parent’s mouth first
It appears to just be present when using an antiseptic solution, which could possibly be ridding the pacifier of good bacteria along with the bad.
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