Dummies for Dummies

[lottytheladybird]

I'm thinking of introducing a dummy to my 6 week old DS2. My DS1 never had one, as he sucks his thumb. DS1 will turn two at the end of June and still frequently sucks his thumb.

I'm not sure I want DS2 to suck his thumb, but how easy is it to introduce a dummy without them becoming dependent on it? I just want to use it for short amounts of time here and there. Is that realistic?

Also, is it really necessary to sterilise a dummy after every use?

we gave dummies to our twins when we brought them home after hospital. One took to it straight away and LOVED his Deedee the other wasn't bothered either way but it would help him settle / he would otherwise find his thumb.

DT1 dropped dummy when he was about 4mths old, and never went back to his thumb. DT2 had his deedee up until he was 2 1/2 (he did have a lot of hospital tests and a brain op) mainly as we said he could i dont think it would have been that much of a trama to take it away earlier it was his most favorite thing in the world

as long as they dont have it 'plugged in' ALL the time it is a very usefull tool, and certainly gave us some much needed rest and them some comfort.

We gave dd1 a dummy at 6 weeks. She was a colicky, screaming, uncomfortable baby, and I'm not exaggerating to say it helped instantly...

It disappeared on her first birthday, before she was OLS enough to ask for it, beg for it, etc etc, and was pretty much painless.

Ds1 wouldn't countenance anything in his mouth except breast. all the frigging time.

SCBU tried desperately to teach dd2 to suck with a dummy, but to no avail.

So dd1 was the only one who had a dummy here, but between 6 weeks and a year. It was fine.

We lasted 2 weeks without a dodo... Cried when we took plunge as my gorgeous newborns face was ruined by horrid plastic! But.... Had desired effect instantly and didn't have the heart to take it away! I reckon it's easier to control a dummy than a thumb!?!?! I felt really guilty for giving it to her and felt I had to justify it to EVERYONE we happened across. Now, as long as she's happy, I'm happy and I'm quite easy about plugging her in whenever I feel she needs it. Will cross taking it away bridge when we come to it!!!!!

I think dummies are amazingly useful tools if you don't get too carried away and let them have it all the time. My son's had his from about 6 weeks until now 13 months. But he only ever has it for sleeping, never just to pacify him in between naps. That way it doesn't effect their speech development and they learn to cheer themselves up without the dummy.