Using a dummy - rod for my own back?

[mollykins]

Hey all, I'm new to this site but like the very candid message boards. My DD is 15 weeks, she's always been a total nightmare to settle to sleep, we've gone through hours of crying, rocking, patting, putting her in her cot awake - more crying, getting her to sleep first, then she wakes crying. So in the end I tried a dummy. My god it worked! She settles well, spits it out and pretty much goes to her dream feed then on to 7am which is pure bliss after weeks of anxiety. The whole household is happier. My question is - is this wrong? will she get addicted to it? am I a bad mother for resorting to this? I guess I want you to say 'no it's fine, do whatever it takes' but if anyone has any words of motherly solidarity I'd appreciate it - I'm tearing myself up with guilt at the moment.

Cheers all, I feel loads better about it. It's just the snob factor that makes me feel bad I think. I only use it for bedtime and who knows she may give it up herself... (ever optimistic!).

My cousin is an Orthodontist and she has introduced her baby to a dummy!

Have just been reading this thread with a screaming 7-week old baby in my arms....this morning I bought a couple of dummies for emergency use only. Well I had had enough and have just sterilised it and put it in her mouth and she has gone more or less straight to sleep.

I am also one of these people who thought I would not use it for snob purposes (dd1 sucks her thumb) but no idea why. She looks a lot happier now than she did a few minutes ago, screaming enough to make her sick.

What are we middle-class mums like?

I haven't read through the thread so I may be repeating other posts, apologies if so.

I don't see anything wrong with allowing bubs to use dummies. In fact I think theres a move towards seeing it as a positive thing as it encourages them to breath when they're settling to sleep and may help prevent some cases of cot death.

Personally I think 'dummy addiction' is a term thought up by anti-dummy groups to try and scare those of us who use them. I don't see any harm in allowing a bub to take comfort from sucking especially formula fed bubs who don't get as long 'sucking periods' when being fed.

I do think its important to use them responsibly though, limit to nap/sleep times, use orthodontic ones, keep a careful eye on tooth development etc.

DS2 is 3yo and still has one at bedtime and if really poorly, dentist has been checking his teeth and there's no problems

my ds had dummy at this age it was great still has dummy but only as comfort for night and if sleepy in day which is very rare or when he is driving me crazy lol although still very rare

he is 2.7 and knows at breakfast he gives me dummy then i put on his pillow at night works well doesnt cry for it in day or anything

when he is 3 no later than 3 half i will send them off with dummy fairy

i think as long as baby is settled and ou are able to get some sleep how can it be bad

My DD had a dummy - gave it up completely unprompted without any tears just before her 3rd birthday, saying they were for babies. It's not been mentioned since. She slept well and was generally always happy to go to bed. We always made it a "bedtime only" thing, she never had it for comfort during the day.

My DS will not take a dummy (we've tried!) and is a nightmare at night. Will only settle with a breastfeed.

The only issue I ever had was with my MIL who kept telling me how much she hated dummies. So I suggested she try not using it the first time she had DD at night. She's never mentioned not liking the dummy since!!!

I think they're fine. If it makes her happy and gets you some more sleep, go for it. 7 months in, I'd kill for a full night's sleep!