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Gastroesophageal reflux is a common problem in infancy, and many treatment strategies have been developed in attempts to minimize the frequency and severity of episodes. Since the use of pacifiers is also common in infancy, Orenstein designed this study to examine the effect of sucking a pacifier on reflux.
Forty-eight infants under six months old were enrolled in a crossover study; half were studied prone, the other half seated. All infants underwent monitoring with an esophageal pH probe during a control period and a pacifier period. Sucking on a pacifier significantly increased the frequency of reflux while the infants were prone (the recommended position) but decreased the frequency while they were seated. There was no demonstrable diffe…