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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

feeding or finding comfort? shall i try a dummy?

26 replies

Thomcat · 23/01/2006 20:47

I didn't use a dummy with dd1 and she never really sucked her thumb. Not sure dd2 really needs a dummy and would rather not give her one if I can help it. But she often wants the breast only to instantly fall asleep. If I lay her down after a few minutes of feeding and her having fallen asleep again she wakes and wants to go back on. That's fine, but she sucks for a moment and then sleeps again. It gets a bit tiring and a bit annoying when I could be doing something else. Shall I just deal with it and crack on or shall I relent and try a dummy?
She was born 19 Dec just gone btw.

OP posts:

Original poster

Thomcat · 23/01/2006 21:06

bump

OP posts:

notasheep · 23/01/2006 21:08

ds was a booby boy too,really hope you can get through this Ok.

Sorry-but as far as i am concerned dummy NO!

notasheep · 23/01/2006 21:11

Sorry,didnt want to sound abrupt there.Evening time they tend to have such a feeding frenzy,and you must be exhausted.
But hope you dont have to resort to dummy.

Can cause speech problems.

mears · 23/01/2006 21:12

I was against dummies until DS2 became ill at 6 months a needed to suck a dummy for comfort.

With babies 3 and 4 I was more relaex. I used dummies sparingly to allow me to get the tea cooked or brothers bathed etc. DS3 unfortunately got reliant on it till 8 months. DD1 (babe 4) found her thumb at 11 weeks and problem solved. DS3 never found his thumb and for me that was a pain.

As you know we all have different views of thumbs and dummies....

Limited dummy use can be a lifesaver.

Perhaps you need to try other alternatives than immediately offering breast. However she is still very yound and probably just loves being attached to mummy....

starlover · 23/01/2006 21:13

dummies can also help reduce the risk of cot death notasheep!

nothing wrong with them IMO... ds used one from early on. he is now coming up for a year and only has it at bedtime

morningpaper · 23/01/2006 21:14

I had a sucky one and with my second I have encouraged dummy use from the beginning. OK so she looks COMMON but at least DH can nip up and replace it. With dd1 she was dependent on boob to fall asleep and frankly at times it got on my tits - I'm sure I'm not the first mother who attempted hovering with breast dangling in mid-air over their half-asleep child to save dragging them out of their bed for the 20th time etc. etc. So try a dummy - she might not take to it anyway but if she does, huzzah!

morningpaper · 23/01/2006 21:15

Lordy EVERYTHING can cause speech impediments if you listen to your Health Visitor

notasheep · 23/01/2006 21:16

I mentioned the speech problem as I cared for a little lad who had one,rather than something i read somewhere!

bundy · 23/01/2006 21:16

agree it canbe a lifesaver, we used one with both girls but only from about 9 mths, and only at bedtime. i too had terrible problems getting dd1 to stay awake for a longish feed..those girly snackers!

Aloha · 23/01/2006 21:16

Don't believe that using a dummy with a baby causes speech problems. On the health side, dummies are good for babies, but they aren't compulsory. Try one if you want Thomcat, and if it doesn't work for you, you've lost nothing. I wish dd would have one, then she might nap during the day sometimes.
I suppose I daren't ask THE question....?

notasheep · 23/01/2006 21:16

Dont listen to your health visitor!

morningpaper · 23/01/2006 21:17

now that's good advice

suzi2 · 23/01/2006 21:18

A dummy has worked well for DS. Like your DS, he would/will feed to settle himself and then wake when the nipple is no longer there. So when he suckled to sleep I would simply replace the nipple with the dummy and put him down. And he wouldn't notice he was no longer with me! Now (6 months) popping his dummy in is his cue to go to sleep. He also gets it if he's really screaming - stops him taking in loads of air and getting really windy. He didn't take to it instantly - it took a few shots. But it has given DH and I some much needed space!

have to confess it isn't doing the trick the last few days though...but that's another story!

lockets · 23/01/2006 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

starlover · 23/01/2006 21:19

he does doesn't he lockets? lol
i don't think dummies look common at all... well, maybe on a 4 year old who walks around all day with it in their mouth... but not on a little baby who wants some comfort

Original poster

Thomcat · 23/01/2006 21:22

i'd never even ask a health visitor anything!
hmmmm, well might resort to using one now and then so i can detatch my breast once in a while, it might make my life a bit eaier and less tiring durung the evening. but just don't want it to be something she relies on. how do i stop her becoming dependent on it, if we use it do i remove it once shes asleep ?

OP posts:

Angeliz · 23/01/2006 21:24

Thomcat, my dd is now 11 months but yes, i've always popped it out when it's done it's job and she's asleep. She probably will grow to love it though, both my girls did and it definately hasn't caused any speech impediments

starlover · 23/01/2006 21:24

tc linus spits his out when he falls asleep!

Original poster

Thomcat · 23/01/2006 21:29

oh no, it sounds tempting. i just don't really like them, but maybe just in the evening ir if we are doing a long car journey or something.

how about keeping them sterile and stopping lottie putting it in her mouth? how long does a dummy that keeps getting spat out stay clean for? or does it not really matter?

OP posts:

starlover · 23/01/2006 21:31

ooh you can buy little dummy sterilisers for microwave, it only takes a couple of minutes... i'll see if i can see one online

starlover · 23/01/2006 21:31

here out of stock atm, but presumably you can get them in store.

Original poster

Thomcat · 23/01/2006 21:36

you are my hero aren't you!
have emailed you btw starlover,
tc xx

OP posts:

starlover · 23/01/2006 21:37

lol yeah got your e-mail... will post pillowcase out tomorrow

FrannytheQuinoaEater · 23/01/2006 21:39

Thomcat it sounds to me like the laying down might be what's waking her, have you tried carrying her in a sling? Then she can keep the breast in her mouth if she wants to, or just be rocked to sleep with the movement of your body.

I know it's not very practical when you have another child as well, but I do think that babies' intense need to be held and fed is also a cunning way for Mother nature to make sure you sit down and have a rest too. So don't rush to put her down if you are only going to be doing housework or other non-essentials

Racers · 23/01/2006 21:41

re. sterilising - I used one from similar age (4wks) and only poured boiling water over them. Yet I did sterilise breast pump, bottles etc religiously for 7m.

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