Dummy for a two day old

[Newmum94]

Is it safe for a newborn (currently two days old) to have a dummy? He would not settle unless latched and got really worked up any time put down until soother was introduced.

I understand the advice about established breastfeeding but we are combination feeding. I just want to know if it is safe to give a newborn a dummy.

Apparently they reduce the risk of SIDS

I wouldn’t advise it as newborns cluster feed and need lots of nutrition. Be prepared to spend hours latched with your baby for several weeks. I also combi fed but it was only the pre bed feed that was bottle ans it was because I knew I’d be back at work before fully weaned and I wanted my dd to take a bottle from nursery staff.
A dummy was only used during weaning.

Yanbu I gave both my suck breastfed babies dummies from birth otherwise I would have never out them down.

I used the old fashioned cherry style but I think tommie tipee do ones that look like a boob

Yes it is safe. Babies instinctively want to suckle, but not need milk and a dummy can solve that.

You have to pay a little more attention to latch and offer breast often but I wouldn't have continued breast feeding if it wasn't for using dummies from birth

Nothing wrong with a dummy. Gives mum a bit of peace

Tommee Tippee orthodontic ones are good and coke in different sizes depending on age.

Perfectly safe, and shouldn't affect breast feeding if you feed often and offer milk before settling them with a dummy.

If you want to breastfeed (I note you say you are mixed feeding) giving the dummy now will inhibit breastfeeding as baby is latching constantly for a reason - to stimulate your milk supply. Nothing wrong in switching entirely to formula, but it’s best to be aware that giving a dummy at this stage makes that switch entirely to formula much more likely.

Thank you for the speedy responses. I’m really fretting about it being unsafe from so young but thank you. Any more perspectives are welcomed

I gave ds one as soon as we walked in the house when bringing him home, I got the Avent ones that matched the bottles I had bought. I knew he needed one as he had screamed all the way home except for when he had sucked my finger.

It’s interesting to see there is a different view - that a dummy increases the chance of continuing to breastfeed. That wasn’t my understanding. It’s good to hear different experiences.

Dummies are often given to NICU babies because it helps them strengthen their suck and feed better so yes they can have them from birth. Just be careful about not ignoring feeding cues and try not to let baby sleep with dummy in all night. DD has used hers for comfort to fall asleep with since about 2 weeks old, but i try not to use at any other time and i dont let her sleep with it in once she's fallen asleep. (For info, we mix feed.)

One of the nurses in the maternity hospital said to me when I was worried about DS crying was "some babies are sucky babies and they need a soother to settle. If you don't give them a soother they'll use their thumbs, and that will damage their teeth alignment as they get older. Soothers reduce the risk of SIDS too." I changed my mind and got DS soothers.

It’s perfectly safe but not advisable for establishing breastfeeding, even if combination feeding.

I wouldn't say it isn't safe but having recently read a thread about trying to get children to give up dummies before it harms their teeth too much, I'd think twice about introducing one in the first place.
No judgement either way but I'd see how it goes first.

None of mine had dummies except one when she was one week old and in hospital with RSV. The nurses thought it would be comforting.

My DS had a dummy straight away. Helped him settle so well. He was bottle fed though.

DS2 had one from 6 hours old and was such an efficient sucker that I managed to have overactive let down for weeks.
He could suck milk from a stone that one. Honestly, if you have a sucky baby, my experience is that giving something to comfort them, makes them realise that once at the breast that’s where they get milk from which makes them better at nursing.

Absolutely nothing wrong with giving them a pacifier from birth, some babies need to suck and others don’t, either is ok!

Lots of advice that it helps against sids and strengthens suck in prem babies. My 3 dc were a great experiment; Dd1 sucked nothing - terrible sleeper, not a content baby for first 6 months, wonky teeth with misaligned jaw that she now has a brace for (amazing difference already), dd2 sucks fingers (still aged 10) and teeth are straight and she’s a fab sleeper- had dummy but after couple of weeks went for fingers. Her ID twin dd3 had a dummy until 3 for sleeping only - happy, content baby with super straight teeth and all had good speech. Let your baby try and take their lead.

All my babies had dummies from day one. They were all EBF and there were no issues.

My baby was given a dummy in hospital when only days old, as she was being tube fed and needed to remember how to suck. Many years on, she is fit and healthy and has straight teeth.

My son was in NICU for the first week of his life and they gave him a dummy there. He’s now three weeks old and breastfeeding is going really well! Don’t worry!

@LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood can you link to that study? Never heard that dummies make breastfed babies more likely to be formula fed.

@LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood

If you want to breastfeed (I note you say you are mixed feeding) giving the dummy now will inhibit breastfeeding as baby is latching constantly for a reason - to stimulate your milk supply. Nothing wrong in switching entirely to formula, but it’s best to be aware that giving a dummy at this stage makes that switch entirely to formula much more likely.

This isn't always the case, I combi fed and never had any issues with my supply, some days she didn't bf at all and only had formula and vice versa. Ended up bf until dd was 2.5yrs

At a week old and in full cluster feeding mode, I had passed my baby from one breast to the other for literally hours on end, when I finally snapped and turned to my partner at 1am and growled "find a 24 hour supermarket with dummies NOW!"

He ran like hell and returned with ten different dummies. My now 11 week old took to the MAM ones with the flat sort of teat. It hasn't affected breastfeeding in the slightest. You tune in and know when they need fed. It doesn't stop his hunger cues or cluster feeding. If he's hungry he'll bloody well let me know!

The dummies have proven invaluable for me in the run up to bedtime. He's a great sleeper but witching hour strikes at about 6pm and he gets in an absolutely shocking state at the breast- winds himself up to hysterics. The dummy calms him down and then he's able to latch and feed as he normally does every other time of day. Babies are funny wee things, you'll get to know what works for yours and when the dummy is helpful. They soon spit it out if they're not fussed.