Talk to me about dummies...

[LittleMilla]

I loathe them, and yet I did myself staring at one on the coffee table contemplating giving it to my ds2.

He's a wee one at just 11 days old but already I'm shattered after another shit night. He's feeding overnight every 1-2 hours and will sleep for up to 4 hours in the day. I know I need to try and flip him and have attempted to keep him awake more today to feed him more.

So what do people think about dummies? Ds1 never took one but ds2 seems to suckle more and we have short feeds where I know he's not taking much.

Can they be used as the baby whisperer says - just to help them self soothe in the early days and only for the first stage of dropping off to sleep?

[lottieandmia]

My breastfed babies would not take dummies. The formula fed one did like them though. It's fine to use one if you're exhausted imo.

[worldgonecrazy]

DD had a dummy - still does. They don't bother me in the slightest, and it certainly hasn't hindered her speech development. I suspect there is an association of dummies with the Wayne & Waynetta school of parenting which puts people off them.

I was interested to find out that the term "dummy" doesn't refer to their use to keep children dumb/quiet, but to the fact they are a "dummy tit", which was their original name.

[Davsmum]

I was very anti dummy - probably because my mother was - She used to say it was for 'lazy mothers' !!!
My DD never had one and it wasn't an issue - but when my DS came along - I 'gave in' and got one because he liked to suckle all the time!

I don't think there is anything wrong with them but I would probably say don't use it when you don't have to - and try to wean the baby off it at some point because my DS still used his when he was 3 and it was harder to stop it then! I think I let him have it too often - and it did seem to affect his teeth which sort of curved where the dummy was always in - however, they straightened when he stopped using a dummy.

[Layl77]

4 oz isn't a lot for under two weeks. Average is 3-7ish per week. Sounds perfectly normal for the age, after 6 weeks I find it gets easier and you're not as much of a human dummy ;) although dummies are plastic nipples!

[brettgirl2]

its simple, take the dummy off them before they get to old. Both mine had them but I also loathe seeing kids wandering around soft play with them in. 4 oz in first 2 Weeks is good, Most are about birthweight at that point surely?

[LittleMilla]

He lost a couple of oz in the first days and so he's actually gained 6oz. MW impressed as they simply expect them to be back up to birthweight by 2 weeks. So I'm happy.

I'm going to play it by ear. He's been awake (woken!) much more today and so I'll see if the extra calories make any difference. Will give it a whirl tonight if he starts waking hourly again as I'm pretty sure he's not hungry.

[Layl77]

Sorry didn't click it's first two weeks, yes that's good he's gaining so well. Bf is obviously going well well done!

[kipplin]

I've had two 9lb 5oz babies, both have had dummies. My 4yo gave hers to the dummy fairy when she turned 3. Prior to that she had only had them for bedtime. We had no trouble at all parting with them, much to my surprise!! She has excellent speech and is a lovely chilled out little lady....as am I!! The dummy has been a good friend to me ;)

I'm not a big fan of seeing LO out and about with them stuck in their mouth, so my only personal advice would be to set that rule early.

[Imsosorryalan]

I used dummies with both of mine. Was adamant I wouldn't at first but quickly changed my tune when I saw how they worked
Dd1 gave hers up to the dummy fairy at 3 without problems and dd2 we took it off her at 6 months again, no problems except for one tricky afternoon nap time.

[Kiwiinkits]

Dummies are all good for young sucky babies.
IMO dummies should be phased out before the baby hits about 7-8 months. And should be kept for in-bed use only. Otherwise they get VERY attached and they're hard to remove.

I am absolutely against kids who are forming language and starting to speak having dummies during the day. HATE HATE HATE kids of 2 or 3 walking around sucking a dummy as I think it stops meaningful communication.

[Imsosorryalan]

Yes, agreed. My two only kept their dummies in the bedroom and it didn't come out of there.

[Chocolateyclaire76]

I too loathed the idea of a dummy after seeing older children sucking on them but it's amazing how your opinions change post child birth! My LO was extremely loud and vocal from the moment she came out and although I really did try to resist it became too much and I gave in. She seemed to want it more the older she got, she's now 8 months, and I'm now having a debate about weaning her off it. She developed a habit of needing it to settle during night wakings which are frequent - the dreaded downside to the dummy!

In general though, I still hate the look of them and don't like seeing her suck it but if it's making her happy at the moment then I'm just going to go with it and deal with the fall out later!

[GingerDoodle]

I, like you, don't like them. However I did not want to be used as a soother, at first my DD wouldn't take one at first (a few days) and I can't remember when she did - 3 weeks or so.

She is now 10 months and mainly has it for naps / when she is tired; she is beginning to reject it at other times. My plan is to not upgrade the size - she has the 0 - 6 month ones and I won't be buying bigger - when they are too small to be effective hopefully she will just give them up.

[Mum2Fergus]

Never used one with DS who's now nearly 4...