Dummies - can someone help?

[usernoidea]

My son is 6 weeks old and becoming a regular thumb sucker.....many people are suggesting I use a dummy but I've always been really against them.....can any parents give advice please? Xx

[gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn]

Not sure what advice you're asking for? It's your choice and you've said you're against dummies so don't give one... I however would much prefer my child to develop a habit that I could easily break once older hence choosing to give a dummy and discourage thumb sucking.

[ElspethFlashman]

You can't throw a thumb in the bin at 2......

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

You'll probably find that he prefers his thumb now and won't take a dummy but you could try. You can buy dummies that are orthodontically friendly if you're worried about it affecting his teeth? You can always reserve the dummy just for sleeps and wean him off it, I don't see the problem with dummies.

To be honest, if your son can self soothe with a dummy or his thumb it's a good thing. He won't still be sucking either when he's older, he will grow out of it!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Easier to get rid of a dummy

You can't throw away a thumb

What exactly is it you have against dummies? Just bin it when you don't want to use one any more

[PotatoBread]

I was the same (DD is now 16 weeks) and was always anti-dummy though can't really explain why. HV advised as soon as baby starts sucking thumb to give a dummy - you can wean off a dummy but can't throw thumb in the bin. Plus dummy at times was the only thing that would stop DD from crying - I overcame my dummy snobbery if it helped her. Still haven't decided at what stage I'll try and wean her off it yet though.

[SpeckledyBanana]

Mine didn't have dummies but were BF on demand. They were offered at about 6 weeks but they refused them (which I understand is pretty common). If I had formula fed, I would have introduced one at birth.

Are you concerned about the interaction with feeding?

[Kel1234]

I've always been against dummies and was determined to make sure any children of mine would never have one (like myself and my siblings never). He's now 13 and a half months and has never had one. He sucked his thumb for comfort when he was younger, but stopped by himself when he got a bit older. He's always self settled and slept through from 3 months.
Personally I hate the "you can remove a dummy but not a thumb" line. There's ways and means to stop thumb sucking as well. I'd prefer a thumb to a piece of plastic in a baby's mouth any day. Sorry I think they look horrible.

[3luckystars]

Why are you "against" dummies?

[ElphabaTheGreen]

You can't throw a thumb in the bin but you can put on horrible-tasting non-toxic nail varnish or do what I did to stop my own thumb sucking which was to wrap my thumb in plasters for a few nights (I did this of my own volition when I was about five). It's just as effective.

You never have to hunt down a thumb for a baby in the middle of the night, or panic because you haven't left the house with one. I'd stick with the thumb.

[Soubriquet]

There is nothing wrong with a dummy

I really hate the snobbish that comes with a dummy

It's a soother and helps so many babies. They add extra protection against SIDS and babies with reflux need something to suck

[SpeckledyBanana]

OK, here's my non-feeding related list:

For - might help at sleep times, can be bribed to give them to Father Christmas in exchange for a present when necessary.

Against - something else to sterilise/ drop/ forget, judgy types in supermarkets.

Thumbs can't be thrown in bins, but you can crawl around with a dummy in your mouth, so I don't really get the thumb hatred TBH.

[PotatoBread]

Thumbs are orthodontic designed though?

[DollyBarton]

The dummy is the greatest invention in the world.

[Ca55andraMortmain]

Tbh I agree that they don't look especially nice, but that's a small price to pay for the comfort they give the baby. I didn't want to give DD a dummy but eventually did on advice from the HV that it might help her reflux. She's just turned 1 and still uses it for naps and at night but she doesn't have it during the day otherwise. I understand why you're reluctant but I would offer the dummy. If your baby is a thumb sucker there's a good chance he'll refuse a dummy anyway.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Do people judge you for giving a baby a dummy?
I understand the dislike of toddlers walking about with a dummy permanently attached to their face, but surely it's fine for a small baby?

It never crossed my mind that I would be disproved of for giving my baby a dummy.

[Rolocookies]

ILost I had comments about DS using a dummy since birth. People will always find something.

[19Hannah]

There's nothing wrong with dummies for babies, that's what they're made for. It's when there's three year olds running round with dummies it looks a bit

[SpeckledyBanana]

I got judged for not using them, ironically. You can't win OP, do what seems right for you and your baby.

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Well it's a petty criticism isn't it, Rolo? Some babies are just 'sucky babies' that will find comfort in a dummy or thumb. I'd much rather see a content baby with something in its mouth than a red faced crying one. I think whatever works for you and your baby is fine.

OP don't worry what other people think. They are not the ones pacing about with a grizzly baby at 3 in the morning!

[usernoidea]

Thank you all for replying
The only reason I wasn't keen on a dummy was simply that I thought breaking the cycle of using one was supposed to be a total nightmare
No other reason at all
I was a thumb sucker from baby until early teens and needed braces as a result so was keen to do anything to prevent that from happening!

[ChocolateForAll]

All three of mine have been dummy fiends and i'd love to know how many times I've put dummies in babies' mouths during the night in the past seven years. I think a thumb is far easier than that! Would've loved mine to be thumb suckers as they self soothe far quicker and more easily/without needing someone to shove their dummy back in multiple times a night!

[NickyEds]

When I went to school there were 15 year olds who still unconsciously sucked their thumbs. I've known several thumb suckers with damaged teeth. Both of mine have dummies, they accept that they're for sleep time and don't have them any other time but I think my dd in particular would suck her thumb all of the time if that was her comfort thing. We don't panic about forgetting them because, well I don't forget nappies or wipes etc and I'm no more likely to forget dummies, and even if I did, they're sold everywhere!

[LittleBearPad]

My DD gave up her dummy without blinking when she was 3. At that point she only had it at night.

A close friend still sucks her thumb. She's in her forties.

[3luckystars]

Oh right! That makes sense. But its easy to get rid of them, in just a few days. you just prick holes in the dummy and the good goes out if them.
Its like smoking a silk cut blue, or "sucking a nip through an Aran jumper" no enjoyment.

[MammyCon]

I've worked in dentistry for over 20 years... dummy wins over thumb every time.
My 16month still has hers when needed. If I see her hands in mouth... dummy goes straight in. I just remove it again once she's had a chew on it or settled.