New research suggests a link between parental sucking on a pacifier and a lower allergic response among young children.
If the thought of sucking your baby's pacifier to clean it and then popping it in your baby's mouth grosses you out, think again. New research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting suggests a link between parental sucking on a pacifier and a lower allergic response among young children.
128 mothers of infants were interviewed, multiple times over a period of 18 months and asked how they cleaned their child's pacifier,as part of this study, conducted by Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.
The researchers found the children of mothers who sucked on the pacifier had lower IgE levels. IgE is a type of antibody related to allergic responses in the body. Although there are exceptions, higher IgE levels indicate a higher risk of having allergies and allergic asthma.
Of the 128 mothers completing multiple interviews, 58 percent reported current pacifier use by their child. Of those who had a child using a pacifier, 41 percent reported cleaning by sterilization, 72 percent reported hand washing the pacifier, and 12 percent reported parental pacifier sucking.
They found that parental pacifier sucking was linked to suppressed IgE levels beginning around 10 months, and continued through 18 months. Although further research is needed, the researchers believe the effect may be due to the transfer of health-promoting microbes from the parent's mouth. It is unclear whether the lower IgE production seen among these children continues into later years.
It was previously understood that exposure to certain microorganisms early in life stimulates development of the immune system and may protect against allergic diseases later.
Parental pacifier sucking may be an example of a way parents may transfer healthy microorganisms to their young children. This study indicates an association between parents who suck on their child's pacifier and children with lower IgE levels but does not necessarily mean that pacifier sucking causes lower IgE.