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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Giving 16 day old breastfed baby a dummy?

40 replies

butterflylove16 · 01/07/2016 00:06

Hi everyone, I posted on here last week & had some great advice - so I was wondering if anyone could please help again?

DD is 16 days old, & for this past few days is constantly feeding & won't sleep otherwise. I'll feed her for say an hour, cuddle her for a while, lay her down then 5 minutes later she'll wake up crying for my breast again. Last week she wasn't putting on weight, but was weighed on Sunday & Tuesday & is now gaining weight well. A lot of the time on my breast I don't think she's really getting anything, it's just the comfort she likes.

The problem is this is making my breasts very sore, & I'm getting no sleep as she'll only sleep on my breast. I'm feeling tempted to try a dummy maybe just at night time so I can get some sleep, but unsure if this is a bad idea? I'm worried about nipple confusion as I'd hate to undo all of our hard work, & also I would be concerned in case this caused her weight to stop going up.

Right now though I just can't see any alternative - she's spent about 18 hours at my breast today, & about the same this past few days. She seems to be getting a good amount of milk, so I don't think that's the issue.

Thank you if anyone is able to help Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
butterflylove16 · 01/07/2016 05:37

Thank you so much, & yes it's amazing but oh so tiring! I just remind myself she's only a baby she's not purposely being difficult bless her. Expressing some could be worth a try as well.

OP posts:
AnnaT45 · 01/07/2016 05:44

DD had a dummy from about three days old... We were still in the hospital. Took to it like a duck to water. Never had any probs with milk supply etc and I breastfed her for 9 months. There will be days when they feed non stop to get your supply through but they'll let you know if the dummy isn't what they want!

I personally found breastfeeding very hard for the first 6 weeks and I had no issues with match or supply etc. It's just relentless some days getting your supply in. But I promise it gets better after 6 weeks and then every week after. Good luck

Nicnak2223 · 01/07/2016 06:19

Just to agree with everyone else, I gave my ds a dummy at 5 weeks he is currently 28weeks, still breastfed, and uses dummy for naps and night time.

He had reflux and the dummy helped soothe him. Even now is hit and miss whether he wakes up with it still in or spurs it out in the night but it's saved us some sleepless nights and saved my nipples too.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 01/07/2016 06:27

DD wouldn't take a dummy but DS had one from a couple of weeks old. He was a sucker and it was agony. He's still BF at 1 yo and he gave up the dummy himself at about 4mo. No confusion for him and he was feeding well, just continuing to suck for comfort. I was sure to continue feeding on demand to keep my supply up, just swapped to the dummy when he had finished.

Get some Lansinoh for your nipples, it's magic stuff Grin

lapetitesiren · 01/07/2016 08:07

It might be worth getting someone to check the latch and also check your baby doesn't have a tongue tie. If the baby s suck isn't efficient you can spend a lot longer feeding. Ask your midwife or health visitor;there may be a drop in breastfeeding clinic or otherwise NCT might point you to some help. Using a dummy is fine, some babies are just very sucky but it would be good to check to see if there is anything you can improve as if she is sucking to get milk she will obviously get less if she sucks a dummy instead. Tongue tie is easily sorted out with laser treatment or a snip. Both very quick procedures and the baby will feed straight away afterwards. Feel for you. You must be exhausted.

Batboobs · 01/07/2016 08:14

I used a dummy and found that when my DS woke up, he had urate crystals in his nappy, so in his case he was drinking all the time because he was thirsty/hungry and not just for comfort. I found that he would sleep through, but simply starve himself. I'm not against them, but just keep an eye out I guess.

pocketsized · 01/07/2016 08:20

DD used to comfort suck so much on my breast that she'd just throw the milk back up, then go right back to sucking. She had a dummy from a few days old and went from less than 10th centile at birth to 75th by 6 months, so pretty sure it didnt interfere with feeding!

Micah · 01/07/2016 08:29

I agree with timely tess.

I love dummies, don't get me wrong, but i think if you can you should leave it a little longer until everything is established and your supply settles.

They grow so much at this age, they do need to be constantly stimulating supply. Try to hold off till 4/5 weeks. Lots of walking in the pram helped us when she wouldn't settle.

If you do need to introduce one earlier, be careful and only use it when you really need a break.

museumum · 01/07/2016 08:35

There's really no guarantee your baby will take one or even if they do that they'll get very attached. I offered one to bf ds for going to sleep in the pram or car seat after a feed (so I knew he wasn't hungry) but he wasn't really interested.
In the end lullabies on my phone worked best.

Original poster
butterflylove16 · 01/07/2016 09:53

Thanks everyone. I've had my latch checked a few times & there don't seem to be any problems. I also love Lansinoh! At first I did struggle with the latch on my right, but it's all okay now. Dd just cries if she isn't constantly at my breast since the start of the week, I love her so much but it's starting to get me down- especially as I have no family/friends here, live in a village & don't drive. She doesn't like her pram or sling/wrap so I feel unable to even go for a walk. She sometimes likes her bouncer which is good, but it's difficult to even eat a lot of the time as I can't move.

I'm sorry I sound so complainy don't I? I'm not ungrateful & love looking after dd do much, I'm just finding this difficult right now that's all, & not sure if I can wait much longer to give her a dummy.

OP posts:
PeppasNanna · 01/07/2016 10:00

I have 6 dc. All of them had dummies. My last dd had a dummy from about 2 days. Bf for a year.
Do whatever you need to do, to rest & get through this time.

Congratulations Flowers

Original poster
butterflylove16 · 01/07/2016 10:08

Thank you peppasnanna Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
butterflylove16 · 01/07/2016 10:09

Oh also the hv had a good look at in her mouth & never mentioned tongue tie - I imagine if dd had it she would have mentioned it to me?

OP posts:
Numberoneisgone · 01/07/2016 21:29

Butterfly HVs, LLL leaders, paediatricians, GPs looked in my ds mouth and none were able to diagnose posterior TT. I do not have a clue if you have that issue and most likely you don't but if you have any concerns find a lactation specialist who has expertise in TT.

getyourselfchecked · 02/07/2016 13:27

Mine had a dummy from 5 days old. He definitely knew the difference between a dummy and the breast. Like you say, you just need a short break from the relentless feeding. Of course you do. Walking in the pram is fine if you have the energy but at that time, I just wanted to have a lie down and not hold the baby for a short while.

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