When’s the best time to introduce dummy’s and one bottle of EBM?

[CocoDeMoll]

I know the NHS guidelines but I followed them with my first and she never took to dummies and bottles because I left it so late.

In your opinion when is the best time without ruining breastfeeding? He’s almost 3 weeks.

If baby is feeding well at the breast and you feel as if BF is establishing, I don't think there is anything wrong with doing it now. A baby is not going to get confused or go off the breast because of one bottle a day (or a dummy for that matter).

The dummy....from day 1. The breast milk, I’d give it a week or 2. But I always introduce a formula bottle suddenly at 7 weeks to go back to work and have never had a problem.

I've given mine a dummy from the start; she's 10 days now and isn't particularly interested in it but there has been the odd hour where she's kept it in and I've had some peace! She's also had two bottles so far on days 2 and 3 to give me a break and went back to breastfeeding fine.

Thanks, I’m going to give it a shot

I did 2 weeks

I gave a dummy at a few days, ds3 was comfort sucking for a long time after finishing feeding. I have 2 toddlers so dont have the time to sit and let him use me as a dummy in the day. I do let him in the night though. Its not caused any nipple confusion.

I gave a dummy from a week old, the midwife said it was fine to do it then, and he had a bottle from 4 days old because we had to supplement for a couple of days and he had no problem switching between bottle and breast and gets a bottle of expressed milk a few times a week now.

Dummy and bottle of expressed milk introduced from day 1. Ignore the term "nipple confusion" it doesn't exist. A lot of mums I know waited at least 6 weeks before introducing a bottle and / or dummy and have had issues.

Can I ask why you want to introduce a dummy? I'm not being at all judgey. I am genuingely curious.

At 3 weeks there is a risk you will miss feeding clues if you give him a dummy.

Is breastfeeding fully establised? You have both got the hang of it and he's gaining weight? Then if you want to introduce a bottle of either ebf or formula then it should be OK. The only issue is that because he doesn't have to work so hard to get milk with the bottles he may get lazy or frustrated with breastfeeding so keep an eye on it.

I'd introduce both now.

Dummies are brilliant if the baby will take to them!

So I tried a bottle of EBM and he’s not a fan . Out of trying four I’ve managed to get him to have one but he seemed really windy after. I want to get a dummy in but I’m waiting on getting to a Boots as I’ve got a voucher for a free one (cheapskate)!

jim I wanted to start on a dummy because it’s just another tool to get him settled and get me some sleep . He’s gaining weight really well.

from day 1. Ignore the term "nipple confusion" it doesn't exist

This. I, along with lots of my friends left it to six weeks and found the window of opportunity had already gone.