Has anyone given newborn a dummy and it has affected breastfeeding?

[Sheera1]

Only day 3 here and ds2 won't settle at night at all in cot. Thinking a dummy will soothe. We are breastfeeding and going well but only day 3. Want to give one and mixed advice about whether this does actually cause nipple confusion.

Personally, do it the sooner the better! Nipple confusion (IMO) is a bit of a myth.

I did briefly when ds was about 6 weeks old but found it really buggered his latch up and was like feeding a newborn again. Has your milk come in yet? It's usually around day 3, you might find an improvement when it does. It's hard I know, I remember being so exhausted by day 3, but that night my milk came in, I fed him about 4am and he was like whoa, milk! And slept until 7.30am, then again and went until 10am and it made a massive difference.

He's doing his job and telling your boobs he's here and needs them to work but it's definitely very intense. Massive congratulations on your squishy newborn, mine is nearly 7 now and it seems so long ago.

Thank you. That is good advice. Don't think milk in yet though he has fed for ages today almost like a cluster feed so think he is prepping my boobs. Will hold off a little longer until it does. He is super awesome squishy wonderful. XxaXxaa

I gave ds2 a dummy from day 2 and he was a much more efficient breast feeder than ds1 who wanted to comfort such for ages. He spat dummy out when wanted a feed.

Not a dummy but I def had probs with bottles with my first, pessisted and was able to reduce bottles and cary on with boob. (then when wanted to reintroduce bottles they rejected them.)

We waited until week 5 before giving a dummy but after that we didn’t have any issues with bf-ing but every baby is different.

Most HVs and midwives say to wait until at least 6 weeks before introducing a dummy

I gave mine a dummy around a couple of days after he was born and it didn't stop him from breastfeeding, my milk came in on day 3 and he fed a lot better then

I think it depends how it’s used. Make sure it doesn’t get in the way of putting him to the breast when he is displaying feeding cues. That’s when it can muck up supply! Use sparingly, say only at night and only when you have already offered both breasts at a feed and baby clearly doesn’t want to go back to the breast. It’s really important at this stage that your supply is established.

I think your expectations might be a bit high op. On day 3 we were taking it in turns to hold ds so we could sleep in shifts! It's very unusual for a baby so young to be able to be settled in a cot so looking for a solution e.g dummy may not necessarily be the best thing. By week 5 we were getting some longer stints of sleep (ebf) but for the first few weeks it was definitely about survival/ very broken sleep. Very hard but very normal. Good luck whatever u decide, it's a tough time

NB it is definitely not recommended at this age. But if you were doing it, this is what to bear in mind.

Have a Google of the 4th trimester! That will probable help explain what’s going on!

My HV mum says to me:

It's ok to use a dummy providing it's not offered to delay feeding. If baby is displaying feeding cues it should be offered a feed. Dummy offered after a good feed for settling only. If baby is established on a dummy parents should not remove prior to 6 months as it increases risk for SIDS if removed.

Thanks all. Last night went way better and milk in which helped as people here said. Didn't use the dummy so will wait till week 6. Xx