To ask for opinions on soothers??

[Teachtolive]

Posting here mostly for traffic but also I'm aware that this can be an oddly controversial topic. Dc2 is almost 6 months and ebf but we're beginning weaning onto solids and also formula. At times baby becomes inconsolable. Only the breast will do, which is particularly difficult when driving! If I'm trying to wean is a soother going to help or hinder?

Dc1 had a soother for a short period of time but gave it up of their own accord before they turned 1. My main resistance to giving dc2 one is that it becomes another thing to wean them off, another thing to wash and steriliser, another thing that can get lost. Am I over thinking this altogether? Tell me your opinions on why you would/wouldn't go for a soother.

Gawd give one. The dummy fairy will come in a year or so. No worries.

Give it a go but a 6mo that's been ebf until now may not take a dummy now.

Here's my experience:

DC1 had a dummy from day 3. He was fed expressed milk for 8 weeks but essentially from a bottle. Had a dummy until he was 3.5 (night time and illness only from about 18m). His speech and teeth are absolutely fine. No issues with weaning him in the end and after 13 months you don't have to be too overzealous about sterilising?

DC2: exclusively breast fed for 6 months and wouldn't entertain a dummy. We tried. She was a difficult baby. She continued to feed until she was 2y 8m and never, ever tool a dummy - despite using me as a human dummy!!!

DC3: has a rare genetic condition and spent first few weeks in neonatal. She is tube fed (11 weeks now) and a dummy has always been part of her SLT regime. We've been using a dummy to encourage her to suck more / to associate the tube feeds with sucking etc. It's been an invaluable tool. DC doesn't like it though.

Neonatal was very pro dummies for most babies, even those who were successfully breastfeeding.

• to clarify poor feeding is part of DC3's condition.

DD, didn't have a dummy, she was our first & we were living with my parents when she was born & I kind of listened to my mum, who said dd doesn't need a dummy as we (me & my siblings) never had one (although my older brother swears blind we did & remembers seeing them around the house!) However, there were so so many times I wish she did have a dummy! So when I found I was pregnant with our 2nd baby, I'd made the decision that he/she would definitely have one & he did! No regrets, I think he was getting on for about 18, 19 months when we took it off him during the day, which if I remember rightly, was pretty much easyily done (playing lots so taking his mind if it) & then about 3, 4 months later taking it off him at night. He's nearly 9 nine & no problems with teeth & speech.

I don't see any harm, if your baby is soothed by a dummy, let them use one, like pp said, dummy fairy will come soon enough.

I've always been very happy that mine had them. As very sucky babies it made my life easier, as I couldn't take the norks off.

Daughter had one at bedtime for years, son only had one for a few months at around 10 months while his teeth came in and his latch adjusted.

Baby currently has one to sleep sometimes.

Mine both had dummies, took them away one night when they were about 2.

In my experience i would say give a soother and take it away in another 6 months.

If you want to give your child a dummy then just go for it. Although I've seen friends children not take a dummy late on because they didn't have one from the beginning. So you might struggle but worth a try if you think it will help.

My DS had one from a few days old. I took it away when he was about 5 months old. I'd been up and down every half hour to put it back in his mouth during the night for three nights in a row and had completely lost the will to live. I was exhausted. The first two days without it were a struggle but after that it was like he never had one in the first place.

Thank you all for the responses. All very pro-soother too which is interesting, I was expecting more of a mixed bag.

Crunchymum very interesting about your dc3. Hope she's getting better all the time :)

babyplaymat "As I couldn't take the norks off" yeah sometimes I wish I could! I'd throw them at DH and tell him to feed her!!

Ok so overall consensus seems to be give it a shot and positive. Thank you all :)