Mankind’s Greatest Invention
September 9, 2002 – 12:47 pmI know what you’re thinking, “What does that have to do with parenting?” You’re probably under the mistaken assumption that the greatest invention is the personal computer or the microwave oven, the television or the radio; you might even think it’s the telephone or wireless technology – digital communication is key to today’s society; some of you may point out the automobile or the printing press. The thing is, you’re all wrong. I don’t think any parent will disagree with me when I say the greatest invention of man is the pacifier.
When Liam was only a couple days old I remember Jen telling me she wasn’t going to give him a pacifier. “Only in emergencies,” she said. It’s funny what can be classified as an emergency. Not that I blame her. Heck no. If the baby is crying and you can’t comfort him and you need to get something done around the house and the only way to quiet him is to plop a rubber fake nipple in his mouth, I’m all for it. I firmly believe that any time a baby is crying or screaming while I’m driving a car is a perfect time to declare an emergency.
One thing I’ll tell you I don’t agree with is when I see kids who are 3 or 4 years old running around with pacifiers in their mouths. I think if a kid is old enough to ask you for the pacifier he’s probably too old to have it. By that time there have to be other means of getting the child to quiet down….don’t there?
3 Responses to “Mankind’s Greatest Invention”
Boy, I agree. When a baby is crying, and nothing else helps, bring that fooler on!
By shirley gravvat on Sep 9, 2002
I agree that they can be a lifesaver. Yet each time I see a kid over 2 walking around with one hanging out of their mouths — I am thankful that my first 3 kids hated them from day one…(they always seemed to want the real thing). That being said, my new baby loves his so far — I will have to remember to throw them all out when he gets about a year old….Hence risk having another battle like I am had trying to wean my 4 year old from her “sippy” cups. (“sippy cups” are the invention I thought were big lifesavers — when your kids are to old for a bottle and you don’t want to many messes.)
By Dusty (Dad's Cave) on Sep 9, 2002
It’s me John, again. That was a funny entry. I totally agree. The pacifier really helped me (and my son) during the car rides home, until they fell out of his mouth and I didn’t know if I should pull off on the side of a busy road or keep going.
I told my wife before we had our baby that I want the baby to have a pacifier rather then sucking it’s thumb because it’s easier to get rid of a pacifier then it is to get rid of his thumb. That was holding true until the grandparents were giving him pacifiers whenever they had him for the day.
By John R. on Jul 23, 2003