Should I try a dummy?

[houmousandcarrotsandwich]

Ds is nearly 4 weeks old and s breastfed (usually has 1 feed a day of expressed breastmilk via bottle, which he takes well)

He is generally a calm baby who doesn't scream too much. I think he is using my nipples as a dummy though. Our feeding routine is to offer 1 breast (which he can be on for up to an hour), change nappy, then offer other breast (which he doesn't always take, but does most of the time & can be on for upto 40 mins and not convinced hes actually drinking any after a while).

A few people have suggested that hes using me as a dummy, and I'm starting to agree.

So if he is, how do I use a dummy?
Do I give him, say upto 20 mins a side and at the end of 2nd side offer it?

Any dummy advice/tips/tricks appreaciated

i wouldn't

his feeding sounds entirely usual for a 4 week old

it will settle down but offering a dummy instead of a breast at this early stage could mess your supply up

if he is taking side 2 then he is hungry

his feeds will speed up in time

first 6/8 weeks are very tough and tiring

I wouldn't go with a dummy, because it sounds like you're doing fine without! My first ds was a slow feeder & I often felt he couldn't possibly be still getting any milk after an hour on one boob, but he gradually sped up, and in retrospect I'm glad I never gave him a dummy because once they've got used to a dummy it can be a bugger to take it away!

My DD (now 3 years) was a really slow feeder like this and it took her ages to speed up. We used a dummy at 4 weeks and it was such relief to be able to put her in her cot and she fell to sleep without needing my breast! The dummy was a god-send for us. We took it off her at 12 weeks as she started waking up because it had fallen out of her mouth, but at 12 weeks it was easy to teach her to put herself to sleep without it. My son (now 8 months) wouldn't use a dummy and I have to say i wish he had because the only way to settle him down oftem was to put him on the breast. It's completely up to you, but I just wanted to let you know that Dummies can be a really good thing if used sparingly!