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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

Dummies - Opinions

67 replies

vbab78 · 30/06/2006 17:35

Have any of you ladies got any opinions on dummies? It's just that my baby constantly is rooting around like he is hungry, when I know he isn't, chewing his hand and screaming beyond belief when he can't get his hand to his mouth. He will quieten down so you think he is resting or asleep then in the next breath try and scream the place down. This is worse at night.

I think he is trying to use his hand as a comfort, me and DH are at the end of our tether and considering using a dummy to see if it sorts it despite the fact we said he would never have one.

DS is 12 days old and this is our first child. Please help.

HELP!

OP posts:

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SoupDragon · 30/06/2006 17:39

Hate them.

But that didn't stop me trying all 3 of mine with one out of desperation None of them were having any of it though.

Try one and see. Of course, you then have the problem of popping it back in whenever it falls out throughout the night...

docket · 30/06/2006 17:40

I think dummies can work in soothing 'sucky' babies so probably worth a try. Are you swaddling him? Does he calm down once he gets his hand?

Nemo1977 · 30/06/2006 17:40

hi vbab
when I had ds I was adament I didnt want him to have a dummy but he was breast feeding every hour and half of it was comfort. I gave him a dummy in the end and at 3mths he gave it up himself. DD has had a dummy from 4 days old and still has it at 6mths. I think if you feel your child needs one and it will stop you loosing the plot then do what you think. Some children just need different soothers.

serenity · 30/06/2006 17:43

Dummies have their place imo. I had incredibly sucky babies too, and I found them a godsend tbh. Some people say they can interfere with BFing, but I BF all three and never had a problem. When mine were little they had them for comfort and sleep only, and once they were mobile and could be distracted and amused with toys etc, it was sleep only.

PanicPants · 30/06/2006 17:44

I hate them too, like soupdragon we tried to give ds one though - again out of desperation. But he wouldn't have it, just wanted me instead.

I'm soooo glad we didn't try and force at, as he improved on his own by about 6 weeks.

PanicPants · 30/06/2006 17:45

I think dummies have their place - but to me nothing looks worse than seeing toddlers out and about with a dummy

Nemo1977 · 30/06/2006 17:47

panicpants agree about toddlers with dummies in once DD is mobile dummy will be relegated to bedtime and from there will disappear with the faries.

alexsmum · 30/06/2006 17:47

i had the suckiest babies ever and the dummies were a god send.an absolute godsend.go for it.
i think there is a lot of snobbery about dummies based on how they look, but i'm afraid i'm in the anything for a quieter life camp!
I also b/f till 12 months so it didn't effect that.

(having said that ds2 is now 2 and an absolute addict so make your ouwn judgement on that!)

PanicPants · 30/06/2006 17:48

Mind you, at the time I'd have sold my soul for him to have taken the dummy!

Original poster

vbab78 · 30/06/2006 18:14

If DS had a dummy would he still cry for a feed? Spit out the dummy so to speak?

OP posts:

Dior · 30/06/2006 18:16

Message withdrawn

RubyRioja · 30/06/2006 18:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

beckybrastraps · 30/06/2006 18:18

If ds had taken a dummy he'd have had one but the little sod kept spitting it out. Do what keeps you sane I say!

marthamoo · 30/06/2006 18:19

I think it's always a mistake to decide on things before you have a baby Dummies were a lifesaver for me, particularly with my first - both my children have had them, gave them up without too much fuss, neither has problems with speech or teeth. I'm of the "anything that makes life a little easier" school of parenting so I'd say give it a go...

Oblomov · 30/06/2006 18:20

I hate dummies.
And I hate seeing toddlers with them, even more.
But even then, I eventually offered one to ds, in desperation, and he showed no interest.

Despite how much I personally hate them, I must advise you to atleast try it.
It sounds like it could be the answer to all your prayers !!

FloatingOnTheMed · 30/06/2006 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sparklemagic · 30/06/2006 18:55

as others have said, go for it - if it helps then why ever not!

I think there are an awful lot of people who hate to see them but I think this is mainly on toddlers sporting the 'plug and play' look - saw one playing in a play park the other day, dummy in gob, didn't even take it out to talk, just talked round it....YUK

However I'm sure you won't go there

Are you swaddling the baby? I'm sure I read somewhere that some babies get quite unsettled by the movements of their own limbs, as they can't control them - so what seems to be baby trying to get hand to suck might not be at all. I would strongly recommend swaddling if you're not already.

Good luck!

colditz · 30/06/2006 18:58

try a dummy but be prepared to have to hold it in his mouth - he isn't able to hang on to it yet.

UniSarah · 02/07/2006 22:22

Sympathy- we were there 3 months ago. Ds was a sucky newborn and didn;t like the way his hands would move away from his mouth when he waved his arms, so my fingers were getting sucked soggy. On day 14 DH gave in and bought 2 dummies. I came round to the idea when I saw that ds would drop it out his month when he fell asleep.
Now hes 3.5 months and the dummy is on stand by each night at bedtime and after night feed but only used about half the time, hes got better at sucking his fingers when he wants to suck him self to sleep.Hes only only ever had it as a night time pacifier.

hunkermunker · 02/07/2006 22:23

When you say you know he isn't hungry, what would happen if you tried to feed him (are you bfeeding or ffeeding?)?

dinny · 02/07/2006 22:27

thing is you just don't know if he's hungry or wants to suck for comfort. whichever, (IMO) just stick him on yer boob

bobblehead · 03/07/2006 00:25

I gave one to dd when she was around 3/4 weeks as she wanted to suck all the time, because of wind I think. Initially I was only going to give it between 7pm and 7am but it helped so much I used it all the time. She still fed alot (every 2 hours at night- for the next 10 months!) but it did give my nipples a break and there was no mistaking when she was hungry! Sadly she still has it now at 13m and is way more possesive of it, but its a battle I've chosen not to fight for now.

Mandymoo · 03/07/2006 09:32

DS is 8 weeks old and i've finally given in and given him a dummy!

He was always either sucking my boob or trying to suck his hand and then getting arsey when he couldnt get it in his mouth - so we tried him with a dummy and he settles down almost immediately.

I have to admit (and its only my personal opinion!) that i loathe them and hate seeing toddlers with them stuck in their mouths when they're trying to talk etc, but i think for babies they do have their place.

DD (3.6) sucked her thumb and still does but now we have the issue of her sucking it all the time - i suppose at least you can physically take a dummy away from them whereas you can't really cut off their thumb can you?!

maretta · 03/07/2006 09:39

I used to hate them - that was before I had children.

Give it a try. It doesn't matter what other people think, there's no need to make life harder for yourself that it needs to be.

WellKnownMemorablePeachyClair · 03/07/2006 09:45

I hated dummies; now I'm of the opinion that if it saves some stress / sleeplessness why not?
I wouldn't advise with a BF baby before feeding is eastablished, but otherwise- why not if it will possibly save you stress? DS1 couldn't BF (allergies / failure to grow- was on speical formula) and the summy helped.

The other two I used because it helped.

Things to remember are that it can take a bit of time for a baby to get used to the dummy, and you can get situations where dummy falls from babies mouth and babs cries until you place it back. However, far easier than a screaming comfort seeker to settle.

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