dummy dilemma

[Lucky13]

I've been advised to give my 2 week old a dummy at night as she feeds constantly for most of the night without a break. I'm not sure what to do as i don't really like them, but i would like a few hours sleep. I have been told that as she is breastfed with nipple shields it shouldn't cause much problem - what do you think?

Hi,
I was really against dummies before I had children. My first son was given a dummy, with my permission, shortly after he was born by intensive care staff. He had breathing difficulties and was tube fed for the first few days. The dummy was supposed to encourage his sucking reflex until i was allowed to feed him myself. Because he wasn't able to breastfeed immediately we also used nipple shields and it took a long time for him to finally feed without shields. At one point the health visitors felt he had something called 'nipple confusion'? because he was having a dummy and feeding from bottles and from the breast with and without nipple shields. He just stopped feeding at around 8 weeks old until i decided to go with one method and stick to it. I chose breastfeeding without the shields incidentally but I'm not sure if this is useful/relevant information.
With regards to the dummy.
They work, you get some sleep, and it's very difficult to get rid of them once you use them. Not just because they get a bit addicted and start crying for a dummy but because it's such an easy way to soothe them - an easy option.
Problem is he's three now and still has one for bed time which is kept in his room at all times (a decision made at age 2). It's been three years now of hunting for the dummy in the middle of the night when it's fallen down the back of the bed.
I guess dummies can be a great option short term but long term they are such a pain. Maybe you could be more firm about it and get rid of it early ie. before 3 months when he's not so likely to notice??
My second son is 6 months old and hasn't had a dummy but did find his thumb early on. Some babies are just sucky babies.
I'm new to this mumsnet thing so hopefully i'm not speaking out of turn, and I guess the right thing is to discuss it with your health visitor as they're the experts. But I guess, like me, you're interested in other mum's experiences. So there's mine.
Hope this helps.

I think at two weeks I would try and stick it out. It is likely to change very soon. Even FSID (who now recommend dummies, whole other thread) say don' introduce before one month due to possible interference with bf.

I have an 11-week-old and know how tough the sleepless nights ae. Sympathies and hang in there.

DS has one, it was a godsend when we started, when he was about 6 weeks old I think, we were able to get more sleep, and soothe him quicker when he was grouchy.

He started getting a bit addicted to it so we started cutting it back, now he only has it for daytime naps, and if he wakes in the night. He doesn't have it if he gets grouchy during the day now - I just have to deal with that, which I am better able to now than I was a few months ago, and he goes to sleep without it at bedtime and after his 10.30 feed, so I'm fine with that for a while at least - he's almost 7 mo now.

hello lucky13, how is it going apart from the night feeds? who is advising you to give the dummy and why are you using the shields? if you are having any problems at all it is better to talk to a proper qualified counsellor rather than introduce rubber things.

Hi thanks for the replies.

My instinct is not to give a dummy yet, but both health visitor and midwife have recommended it because they say she is snacking and comfort sucking rather than feeding at night. It starts anywhere between 9pm and goes on until 4 or 5am. They are both worried that i don't get any sleep - which i don't.

The nipple shields are slowly being weaned off now that the nipples have returned to normal. I have seen a BF counsellor and have managed to get DD to start to latch properly, although she still wants the shield when she's in a tantrum.

I'm not sure whether it will make things worse or better?

I'd not bother with a dummy if you are coping and your instinct says no. Do you have a partner who could do some of the nightfeeding with EBM?

Both dds had a dummy early on (dd2 def before 2 weeks) and both were bf. It didn't interfere with feeding.

I personally think dummies are fab for babies, if using it settles/soothes them or helps them to sleep. It's a comfort object at the end of the day.

DD2 still has hers (15m), DD1 stopped at just 3y (had it for sleep only from about 16m).

can you do anything to improve the night feeding? are you feeding lying down? can you co sleep? is she crying when you put her down and so you're using bf as a way to get her back to sleep again? she might settle to sleep on your chest and be content with that rather than feeding? so many questions lol. I remember dd spending the first week sleeping on me, the second sleeping in the crook of my arm, the third sleeping right next to me etc. seems so long ago (all of 8 months)

My DD was exactly the same at that age, wanted to comfort suck all the time. We bought her a dummy when she was 3 days old and it was an absolute godsend, she had it when she was tired and it really helped her to get to sleep and stay asleep. She started spitting it out when she was 12 weeks old - decided she didn't need it anymore. I think a lot of babies do grow out of them at that stage so it might not do any harm to give it a go, especially if you are getting no sleep at all. Oh and I bf her for 13 months and it didn't interfere with the feeding at all. Good luck, hope you get some sleep soon!

i think that if you are already having a few issues with latching then a dummy isn't going to be useful at this stage. suckling stimulates production (esp at night) and also the more she gets to do the better you'll both get the hang of feeding and establish supply of milk.

Here is what Kellymom says about dummies and breastfeeding

I've just seen that this thread is a couple of days old, so you've probably already made your decision!

My ds and I ended up co sleeping, and when he was still very tiny, he could latch himself on and off whilst I slept through it all!