Introducing a dummy - best type for low risk of nipple confusion?

[RGPargy]

Hi

I would like to introduce a dummy to my BF 4 week old and was just wondering if there is a specific type that would be beneficial at lessening any risk of nipple confusion?

The dummy would only be used when LO was really fractious, which is mainly in the evenings.

Any info would be great.

TIA!

word of caution

I used one of the flatter shaped ones as it resembled the nipple (think it was by Nuk). We used it on ds from 1 - 5 weeks old on the understanding that we would use it when he was fractious during the night having read about newborns need to suckle. In reality I found myself very quickly using it more and more during the day whenever he seemed a bit restless and I lay awake all night as he couldn't keep it in his mouth so yours truly had to hold it in for him.

We went cold turkey with the dummy at 5 weeks and I can honeslty say it was the best decision I ever made.

In my 18 month experience (seeing ds's peers at playgroup etc.) lo's with a dummy are more irritable than those without..

word of caution over

Thanx for the word of caution foxy!

DS had a dummy from newborn and was quite reliant on it. However i do think they are only as reliant on it as you let them. For example, DS only had his dummy for nap times, bed times or if he was poorly, so i'm intending to do the same for DD too.

In all honesty, i would much rather be up a few times a night to stick a dummy in, than have to deal with a screaming fractious baby who wont calm down for love nor money!

I do see what you're saying tho.

my little girl got a dummy at about 8 weeks. At 6 months she got a cold and I managed to get rid of it - she was waking every 20 mins in the night needing it and then needing me to hold it in her mouth until she fell back to sleep. I neaarly died from sleep xhaustion, be careful!

You could try one or two and see what happens; if your nipples get sore and/or baby gets fussy at the breast then discard the dummy and wait a bit before trying another one?

Iirc, waiting until baby is a bit older, say six-eight weeks, when "breastfeeding is established", gives baby a better chance of not getting confused. No guarantee though -
I think that nipple confusion might be more one of those "luck of the draw" things; some get it whenever you introduce one, some don't, even if given one from birth, and the type of dummy has little to do with it.

Both of mine loved any type!

Buy a few different ones and see which one is preferred!

Message withdrawn

Wow, thanx for all your replies!

I ended up trying her with an Avent orthadontic (sp?) one, which she gets on fine with and quite happily chomps away on it. She even gets herself off to sleep now! She doesn't need mummycuds anymore! I feel redundant!