3.5 week old baby - can i start using a dummy to lengthen time between feeds?

[helpivegottogivebirth]

Never thought I'd need to use a dummy but have changed my mind.

Polly feeds roughly every 2 hours during the day - little and often. Basically if she creis, and has been changed or winded, then it means she's hungry. I thought of introducing a dummy to try and widen the gap, and hopefully increase her appetite for when she does feed. what do you think?

And can you use dummies at night? I'm not sure i want her addicted to it, but for my own sanity and the thought of a bit of sleep i would give it a try.

Do dummies increase wind problems? She doesn't wind well either - and infocol didn't seem to have that much effect on her.

Any dummy thoughts, hints, tips, advice would be welcome.

thanks

[Gemzooks]

amberflower, both mine have done that, gradually going longer from 8-9 weeks, I see it as normal, the baby gets bigger, happier, more used to life, knows that night time is for sleeping, takes enough milk and one day they sleep through and keep sleeping through. I don't know why it's seen as odd or anything.. I would not have left them as young babies of a few weeks old to go too long, in fact I still wake DD 15 weeks at 11-12 for a late feed, and will carry on doing that till she sleeps through solidly every night, but you expect babies to start sleeping through the night around 4 months, for example, as long as they're well fed and happy...

[amberflower]

I totally agree that you should not sleep train a young baby or 'force' it to sleep through the night. But what if they do it naturally? Is that a problem? I mean, DS just gradually went longer and longer through the night from a late 10:30ish feed, initially feeding at around 1:30am and then going longer and longer (I would always offer a feed the minute he woke in the night aand never tried to 'stretch' him out) of his own accord. Then one morning when he was about 9 weeks I just woke up one morning and it was 7am. The next was the same, the next and the next....no sleep training, he just 'went through' all by himself. His cousin did the same at 4 weeks and I know of other breastfed babies that simply extended the night feeding until they were pretty much 'going through' with no 'forced' sleep training at all, often by 6-8 weeks. It is not that usual, admittedly but some babies do just sleep through very young.

But - is that now considered dangerous then according to SIDS? Is the current advice that you should you wake the baby during the night even if they show no sign of waking, to get a feed into them even if they are not demanding it, to stop them going into that deep sleep and to cut the SIDS risk?

Just interested because it is 5 years since I had DS, and am currently pregnant with my second. Not that for one minute do I think I am going to get another through-the-night-at-9-weeks sleeper , but would be useful to know. I would hate to inadvertently allow anything that would put baby at risk if I did by some miracle get another natural 'good' sleeper...

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

I thought the research was that taking a dummy away from a child who had had one might cause a problem..

[Babieseverywhere]

kittypink, Just checking that you do know that dummys are fake breasts not the other way around

There is no problem with babies being at the breast as long as the mother and baby like. Likewise I can understand the pull of dummies. I tried introducing them to both my children but they would not take them.

StarlightMcKenzie, That is how I read it. Dummies seemed to have a protective effect (they didn't know why and it could just be sucking something so a thumb or breast would work as well)
But if a child who was use to a regular dummy did not have one at night as a one off, their sids risk increased higher for that night, than if they never had a dummy ever. Not clear cut at all. Plus the research was sponsored by a dummy manufactor

[kittypink]

I've definately read that fsid recommend it in the literature I had when pregnant last year. I do think that it is because of fairly recent research that the advise was changed.

As with many things, the advice changes so often its hard to keep up!

[NellyTheElephant]

I see you have decided against a dummy for now, but I just wanted to add another opinion. I have sworn by a dummy in the early stages (from a few days old) with all of my 3. They were all v v v sucky babies and the dummy was a godsend. I never had any trouble distinguishing the need to feed and the desire to suck (the dummy would be unceremoniously spat out and crying would start). Given I have teeny tiny babies (around 2nd centile) and they have all shot up to above 75th within 6 weeks I clearly fed them enough despite dummy use..... My eldest 2 both gave up their dummies by 4 months (at which point their thumbs unfortunately became constantly rammed in their mouths, if I put in a dummy they just spat it out and put thumb in instead so no chance of staving off thumb sucking). DS now 3 months has no interest in dummy and constantly sucking his fist.... some babies are just sucky and the dummy helps until they get the motor functions to suck hand / fist / fingers instead (which of course creates a whole new set of problems!). Despite my use of the dummy I would still say I fed (or in case of DS still am feeding) on demand if that makes sense, though the dummy probably did mean that feeds were spaced out a bit more (although that wasn't really my plan, I just wanted happy, non screaming babies). Sorry, I'm rambling, I just don't see the dummy as a bad thing or something that has any detrimental effect on breast feeding. Sometimes I think people ascribe too much weight to dummies - they aren't really a big deal, my personal experience is they didn't interfere with feeding and for some babies they work wonders, if you feel like it would help, then try it - it's not a huge issue.

[kittypink]

Hia! I had to give DD a dummy really early on because she was wanting to suck for comfort all the time. cue human dummy!

make sure that you watch for swallowing whilst feeding, if DD is just sucking then replace boob for dummy.

I think you are wise not to try to extend time between feeds at this point but dummies can be good for soothing.

FSID actually recommend the use of a dummy whilst babies are sleeping, even at nap time. Although it is best to have breastfeeding well established first.

[Babieseverywhere]

Deciding to go with the flow, sounds much easier...hope you are enjoying sitting on the sofa with the tennis

Just to add, there is no need to force yourself to drink any amount of water. Drinking to thirst (i.e. as normal) is all your body needs to make milk.

[elliepants]

My baby is 8 weeks and he started at hourly then progressed to 2 hourly and is now still at 2 hourly but we sometimes get a 3 or 4 hour gap between feeds.

My midwife and health visitor said to check he wasn't snacking - but he was draining a full boob each time and was feeding very hungrily, so he just needed that much.

It is tough but best of luck with it.

Also the health visitor said that there was evidence that dummies helped prevent SIDS, so I don't feel bad about using one.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

Yes, I know

I replied before reading the whole thread.

I like to do that so I can say what I think without being influenced by anyone elses opinion.

[FabBakerGirlIsBack]

You asked what we thought

I think you are wrong to try and get a 3 week old to have any kind of feeding other than on demand.

I had to feed all mine 2 hourly for nearly 6 months so I understand that it is all consuming but your DC is tiny and needs a feed when they need one. Their tummies are so tiny.

[MrsMichaelSchofield]

just to add to what others have said about frequent feeding - my experience was that my bf baby needed fed every 2 hours for the first 6 months. Exhausting yes, but I think as soon as you get used to the fact that this is normal, it's easier to accept

[amberflower]

I am not sure about official studies on milk production being boosted by dehydration, but all I can say is that I breastfed a newborn around this time of year (DS is a July baby) and I had to drink a good 8-10 pints of water per day to stave off dehydration and ensure a good milk supply. I could always tell if I hadn't drunk enough because he was far more unsettled, as if the milk was less plentiful.

BUT having said that I would agree with other posters here. If she is feeding 2 hourly at this age it is because she needs it. Bear in mind that even if you do ultimately aim towards 3-hourly feeds they should be timed from the start of one feed to the start of the next. So say baby initiates a feed around 2pm, she will need to feed again within 3 hours of that 2pm start time. So if she feeds for about an hour until 3pm, she will only 'go' another 2 hours from the end of that feed before needing another one.

If you want to try and stretch her out (and avoid windy colicky problems) the best thing you can do is encourage her to take a good feed and not get into the snacking habit. If she starts bobbing on and off for 2 minutes here and 5 minutes there and only ever does this, then she will be filling her tummy full of foremilk, not getting any of the fattier hindmilk and you will have the double whammy of her being hungry sooner and being windier. Obviously continue with the demand stuff but try gently to encourage her to take a good long feed and empty a breast. At her age DS would feed for a good 45 minutes - it would usually take 30 minutes to empty one breast, then I'd offer the other. But he too was going about 2 hours from the end of one feed to the beginning of another.

You will probably find she will start to go longer of her own accord when she is ready, and as she becomes a more 'expert' feeder then the feeds will get quicker. By 3 months DS was only taking 15 minutes to feed rather than up to an hour!

So persevere with it...it is so normal to feel that all you do is feed at this stage. But KEEP DRINKING. Never mind baby YOU will feel awful if you are dehydrated. My DS was exactly the same as your little one at this age, it was feed feed feed, but by 9 weeks he was much more settled and sleeping through the night till 7am from a late feed around 11 pm. And not a dummy did we need. So have hope...it does get easier

[theyoungvisiter]

By lowrib on Sat 04-Jul-09 01:22:17
By the way the best way to make sure your little one is getting enough hydration in this heat is to drink a lot of water yourself.
I guess if your dehydrated this might mean they have to feed more to get the hydration they need?

lowrib - I'm not an expert but I believe that's incorrect.

The body cleverly makes sure the breast milk is right for the environment, no matter how much or how little you drink (well, within reason of course - not if you're dead from dehydration ). You should, of course, drink enough for your own sake, so as to avoid getting dehydrated yourself, but the baby won't suffer just because the mother is a bit dehydrated, and it won't affect the milk.

In fact, I believe there has been some research to show that mild dehydration in the mother can actual boost milk production, because the body recognises that the baby is more likely to suffer dehydration in the intense conditions. I don't know the references for this study though.

[lowrib]

I mean you're

I've offended my inner pedant!

[lowrib]

By the way the best way to make sure your little one is getting enough hydration in this heat is to drink a lot of water yourself.

I guess if your dehydrated this might mean they have to feed more to get the hydration they need? Does anyone know?

(BTW actually giving a young baby water is bad though because it'll fill their stomach up with something which has no nutrition, they need milk!).

[expo]

Feed her when she needs it. She is so so young. It is hard work but it is not so long in the big picture of things.

Dummies - oh yes, yes, yes. I used them with both of mine. Was shit scared about taking them off them. My first born came off in about 2 nights. My second born is still on them. Use them only at night and only in their cots. Good for stopping them sucking their thumbs/fingers. Funny because I am married to an Italian - I feel like a social outcast if I use one in the UK but in Italy EVERYONE uses them. Why oh why do we make life more difficult for ourselves over here? It is like a big "I can cope better than you can game - don't need a dummy etc etc"

[Gemzooks]

I would say, wait till the very hot weather is over, then try to get her to go a bit longer. Also 3 weeks is a growth spurt... so not the best time now. I do think they can gradually be encouraged to go longer but not in the heat. My 14 week old who usually feeds every 3-4 hours is feeding every 2 hours in the day since the heat started, she is genuinely just thirsty! good luck, soon it will cool off and she will get a bit bigger and go longer anyway...

[Powdoc]

Wonderful plan!

Am not anti-dummies (ours is a godsend for when DD gets herself into a screaming rage and doesn't seem to know how to shut off), but I think you've made the right decision.

[helpivegottogivebirth]

thanks everyone for the advice. i've decided against the dummy and spacing. am now sitting on the sofa with her, watching the tennis, stuffing my face with pasta and pesto and letting her eat till her hearts content.