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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Dummy or no?

9 replies

MrsHelsBels74 · 22/11/2012 07:52

DS1 never liked a dummy but DS2 is 9 weeks old now & sometimes is calmed down by sucking on a finger. I'm reluctant to start him on a dummy as I haven't a clue about getting him off it again but wonder if it would help at the moment. Or if we just carry on will the urge to suck pass fairly quickly?

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timetosmile · 22/11/2012 07:57

I don't see why not.
At your stage, I'd go for whatever gets you through and keeps you and baby as happy as possible.
My 3 all had dummies - it was a life-saver for DS1 who loved it to go to sleep. They get off them in their own sweet time, and now that DS is 12 it doesn't seem like it was something worth battling over!
And they're all lovely kids with normal teeth now

TENDTOprocrastinate · 22/11/2012 10:50

Dummies are great at soothing babies! Dd1 loved hers. We used it pretty much from birth. When she was 2ish we gave her dummies to the dummy fairies who then gave dd a present- the dummy fairies then gave her dummies to new little babies who needed them iykwim. She accepted this and the next day we were dummy free. Simple!

Dd2 (13 weekd) has no interest in dummies- I can't get her to take one. Sometimes she could really do with one! She spits them straight out. She is a hand sucker.

I'd give them a go and see if she likes it.

TENDTOprocrastinate · 22/11/2012 10:51

He- sorry!

ByTheWay1 · 22/11/2012 10:53

dummy is better for teeth formation than a thumb (and you can eventually get rid of a dummy!) we used one for the "sucky stage" - 6 weeks to 6 months and found it was easy to get rid of - it is only if you keep it in use long term that it becomes a problem....

Floralnomad · 22/11/2012 10:58

My two both had them , I always thought it would avoid thumb sucking ,which I can't abide . Neither of them have any problems with teeth and we only let them have the dummies for sleeping etc, not general running around /playing . Really easy to get rid as well whereas you can't chop the thumbs off!

mumnosbest · 22/11/2012 11:00

Sorry but its a no from me. They tend to stop sucking fingers way quicker than dummies. I've had 2/3 sucky babies. I think if they are sucking theres usually a reason (comfort, hungry,teething) and its better to read the cues than let them rely on a dummy but each to their own.

Original poster

MrsHelsBels74 · 23/11/2012 07:04

So we bought him a dummy & it's been a bit hit & miss so far, sometimes he likes it, other times not so much. This probably sounds crazy but it just makes me so sad to see him sucking it, like I'm failing him in some way

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aimingtobeaperfectionist · 23/11/2012 07:15

It's whatever works for you. My DD is a sucker and used to make herself sick as she'd suck so much on me then bring up all the unwanted milk- what a waste! So we use a dummy for settling her to sleep. She still sucks her thumb in the day and her fingers and my fingers and DP fingers and pretty much anything else near her mouth and has done since day dot. I used to feel guilty about giving her a dummy but it comforts her without making her sick and we don't plan on letting her keep it forever so I don't see the problem?

5madthings · 23/11/2012 07:19

whatever workd. my dd has a dummy. the only one of my five to have one, it means she sleeps ehich is good enough for me. its for sleep and in the pushchair now so i can limit it whicj is good. ds4 is a thumb sucker still at four yrd old so i like thst i cam take the dummy away!

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