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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

Introducing a dummy

13 replies

pastmaster · 13/05/2010 12:12

I have been trying for a couple of days now to introduce a dummy to my five week old, now that breast feeding has been well established. I have decided to introduce a dummy as he has taken to using me a soother and now struggles to go to sleep unless I am nursing him. Unfortunately, he will not accept the dummy and just pushes it out with his tongue. Putting aside all the obvious pros and cons about he use of dummies, I would be greatful for any advise from people who may have encountered a similar problem and how they overcame it. Is it worthwhile me trying a different type of dummy? Or will I have to accept that he won't take one and hope he finds his thumb when he old enough? I'd prefer to avoid the latter as my elder child is now a confirmed thumb sucker and shows little desire to stop.

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Firawla · 13/05/2010 13:12

yeah it should be worth trying different types just to see if he does prefer it? then if he still shows no interest you will have to accept he doesnt like dummies, but if you are keen for him to have it then try a couple of different shapes first. some only like the cherry ones, some only like the flat ones.. so you never know one might suit him

heth1980 · 13/05/2010 15:36

it's worth trying different types just to see. unfortunately though i tried in vain to get both my dd's to take a dummy and they just wouldn't! I guess some babies would just rather have a nice warm nipple than a piece of plastic

Galena · 13/05/2010 20:47

I just kept trying with my DD. Eventually she took one.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/05/2010 20:49

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Galena · 13/05/2010 20:54

Starlight, it can be tricky - I would nurse DD to sleep but as soon as I removed the boob she'd wake up again. so I'd put her back on and she'd do the same again. Swapping boob for dummy meant she stayed asleep.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/05/2010 21:00

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Original poster

pastmaster · 13/05/2010 21:01

As nice as it is to nurse him to sleep, at 3am in the morning its not so grand. Also, I will eventually want a night out and I don't want to be in the position where he won't settle for anyone else (as happened to my sister in law).
I had some success this afternoon, he used it happily for 10 minutes this afternoon. The one I have is flat and quite big - despite being for 0 to 3 months - so will try to find a more rounded one.

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StarlightMcKenzie · 13/05/2010 21:03

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Fuzzywood · 13/05/2010 21:04

Have you tried warming it a bit? Seemed to work for a friend of mine.

Original poster

pastmaster · 13/05/2010 21:14

Starlight, please don't worry, I'm feeding every 2 to 3 hours at the moment,and he's gaining weight at a rapid rate. Its just that after 45 mins to an hour feeding, he's then 'rooting' again half an hour later and then dozing off after 5 mins. I then put him in his cot and bings awake again and the process starts over and can last several hours. I have a 4 year old to care for during the day, so I am exploring all options so I can have a couple hours of shut eye for all our sakes! I'm sure if dummy fails that all will improve when he is able to find his thumb: he already sucks his fingers

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Galena · 13/05/2010 21:20

Starlight, it's no longer an issue for me, as DD now a) no longer breastfeeds and b) sleeps through, but your idea wouldn't have worked anyway - once she'd had one side and fallen asleep, she wouldn't take the other side even if I tried to rouse her. If she woke when I took her off and I put her on the other side, she'd feed for about 30 seconds and fall asleep again. I'd take her off and she'd wake. So no improvement.

ZuzuandZara · 13/05/2010 22:02

Have you tried squeezing a few drops of breast milk onto the dummy?

narmada · 13/05/2010 23:13

pastmaster my DD really liked the NUK dummies when she would accept one. They seem mostly to be available from independent chemists (e.g., not boots). I know thumb-sucking can be a bit of a pain, but hey, if your new baby does go that way, look on the bright side: thumbs do not fall out of the cot in the middle of the night and lead to repeated calls of 'mummeeeeeee'!

starlight, now I am as pro-breastfeeding as it is possible to be (I relactated completely when DD was 9 weeks) but feeding to sleep can become an issue for some babies and mums. It is not always the case that it's a failsafe way to get them to sleep for longer stretches. Some babies just aren't made that way and wake up as soon as that nice warm boob is removed. Some babies will absolutely not under any circumstances be put down sleepy but awake, either.

I am sure the OP is not suggesting she will replace 3am feeds with dummies. By 5 weeks BM supply should be fairly well established, surely? If milk supply appears to drop, then the night feeds can be upped again.

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