What is your experience of using dummies?

[ralv]

Hi All,

So far in 5 weeks of motherhood I have done so many things that my arrogant pre-parent self said I would never do.
My DS is extremely fussy, particularly in the evenings, and seemed to have a very strong desire to suck. So after a particilarly scream filled day and lots of to'ing and fro'ing with the decison, we bought a dummy.

Ideally I want to use it only to help him settle to sleep and not have it jammed in his mouth morning, noon and night.

So I would really love to hear how you used dummies. Would you leave it in at night or take it out just as he falls asleep? Would you use it if he was fussing when put down for a nap or just for full red faced scream attacks?
Thanks so much in advance!

(he's 9 weeks)

Mine had dummies till aged three and I couldn't care less what anyone thought or thinks. Dd was (still is) very high needs and dummies saved us all, they were as much part of the weekly shop as a loaf of bread and a pint of milk.

Each to their own and you don't get a medal because you managed without or got rid at 10 months .

We had a very similar DS who was a very unhappy newborn. I hated the idea of dummy's and was snobby about them until having him! At 5 weeks we gave him one and he was a lot happier. It really helped him 'self settle'. All of my friends had a 'technique' with their newborns. Feed to sleep, rock to sleep, sleeping with them on them etc etc. ours was the dummy. DS is now 18 mo and since 8 months he's only had it for sleeps or when he's poorly. We got one of these and it's been a life saver www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006YFRUEO/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1423772268&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX200_QL40&keywords=sleepytot+bunny. From 5 months he could find the bunny and put the dummy back in. He's quite attached to 'bun bun' now. We will continue to let him have it for naps until he's ready to give it up. I will say that it's been a life saver for us with sleep and I wouldn't hesitate with letting DC#2 have one either but I don't agree with toddlers having them in all day long as I believe it affects speech.

Good luck and do what's right for you.