How often does your baby use a dummy?

[Heatherbell1978]

We've just started using a dummy on our 3 week old; although we weren't massively keen, it's really helped soothe our DS1 who would be latched to me 24/7 if he could. We're mainly using it just to settle him to sleep when he's restless (and we know he doesn't need fed) but I feel like I've used it a lot in the last 24 hours (we had a bad night) and I'm worried about us becoming too reliant on it.

What's your thoughts/experiences using a dummy and how often does your LO use it?

[TheGirlAtTheRockShow]

We started using a dummy a few weeks ago. DH offers it more than I do, but try to keep it to when she doesnt want to feed to sleep. She's never fed for comfort (forceful let down means she doesn't find it comforting!)
I intend to keep for only sleeping and phase out soon. At the moment if it falls out she doesn't wake and I want to keep it that way!

[Daftsocks]

I worried about using a dummy with my newborn as I didn't want to stop him cluster feeding in case it affected my milk supply. I don't use it when he wakes in the night unless he wakes kess than an hour after feeding with wind when I use it to comfort him back to sleep. I use it more in the daytime to get him to nap, but don't offer it if he's not tired/due for a nap.

[Picklesauage]

Our DD was given one in special care and continued to use it for some time.
At your stage I really wouldn't worry 3 weeks is very young, use as much as necessary, they are still very little and have very no self soothing options other than suck or cry.

As our DD got older we only used it at sleep times, times of sickness and occasionally for that awful last hour before bed.

By 6 months she never had it apart from sleep.

We got rid of it at nap times at 2 years and nights 2 years 4 months.

I whole-heartily support the use of dummies for those babies who like it and it helps.
Our HV said it's not a problem for speech as long as they don't ever speak with it in this mouth as this is what causes communication problems.
Dentist said try to get rid of by 18months, but so long as it isn't a constant by 3 is ok.

Sorry there is more there than asked for, but there is so much judgement and guilt (undue IMO) I felt them need to share it all!

[Writerwannabe83]

I introduced a dummy at about 5 weeks. I really didn't want to and was quite upset about it but DS had horrendous colic and I was at breaking point. We only ever used it at bedtime and only if DS was screaming and it worked like a dream!!!

When DS hit 10 weeks old he started refusing to have it, wouldn't suck on it, got angry if we tried to give it to him so we just stopped and he hasn't took one since (he's almost 6 months now).

[KatyN]

My son was also given one when he was in special care. It helped him learn to suck. The nurses were really pro it.

As a baby he had it whenever he slept or got stressed out. He's now 2.7 and still uses it to sleep. It hasn't effected his talking at all. We keep discussing phasing it out but are in no hurry.

The only time I hated it as when it would fall out in the night and he couldn't put it back in. That lasted a few weeks. I would defo use one again.

K

[Lovelise]

I wonder why there is such a stigma about using dummies? It does make me wonder why it has got such a bad reputation.

If your baby is soothed by sucking a dummy and stops them getting into a state, then use it (in my opinion).

I use one with my LO. If she doesn't want it then she spits it out but it just sends her off when she's tired.

Someone told me that sucking helps fuse the plates in their head (she was told by a specialist and rushed out the next day to buy a dummy).

[badfurday]

We started using one on day 2. I was gutted but it really soothed her and made all of us a lot happier. She is now 5 months and generally has it to soothe her to sleep and after about half an hour she'll spit it out. I've also found it handy for teething gel. I'll pop a blob on her dummy and she'll suck it and she is relieved of her teething pain.
I'm not worried about it now, you don't see adults with dummies, she'll grow out of it when she is ready.

[hartmel]

DS is 12 month old and only needs one for sleeping/nap time and when he is teething or being sick. Soothes him..

Lately I noticed in the evening he sucks on it until he falls asleep and spits it out then and won't need it all night..

When I try to give it to him during the day! He refuses to take it..

[Subhuman]

Never used one and never needed one. Was offered one by DM while she babysat and DS wanted nothing to do with it. Sucked his thumb instead as there is no chance of that getting spat out and lost but he's 95% free of that now too. Just occasionally slips it in during the night then gets upset when he realises in the morning.

[lollystick]

Alot of the stigma is that children learn to talk with a dummy in their mouth so it causes some speech problems or delay as well as bucked or crooked teeth.

We're using a dummy with our little boy, 2 weeks 4 days now - used for sleep and soothing when he screams during nappy change! As others say, as long as you don't overuse it and limit as & when it is being used as well as monitor dependency then IMO I think it's fine.

[lightgreenglass]

DS - 12 months - uses his when going to sleep, spits it out when asleep or ill, I take it off him once he's awake but he does love his dummy when I bring it out for nap or bed. We use it for less than 45 mins a day I would say. I will phase it out when he's older but for the moment it's a life saver at getting him off to sleep and when he's poorly.

[icklekid]

10 week old started using from 5 weeks and was so much happier with it. We'd had 2 full weeks of colic and needed something! He was always a sucky baby and loves it. Mainly used for sleep but also when unsettled in the day. He started to self sooth not long after we gave it to him