How soon can you give a new baby a dummy?

Mamabea · 02/09/2008 17:14

usually recommended to wait till BF est (if you are bfing). Probably at 5-8weeks- how does that sound?

ellideb · 02/09/2008 17:14

I would have thought from the very beginning but I could be wrong.

StarlightMcKenzie · 02/09/2008 17:15

This reply has been deleted

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Mamabea · 02/09/2008 17:15

I think the advice (don't know who from) is to wait till established as think dummy might interfere with baby wanting to suckle on boob and thus ensure plentiful supply (now feel like I'm making this up but sure it's what I read on some NHS site)

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 02/09/2008 17:16

Well I was a bit surprised when someone I know gave their 3 day old baby a dummy. Got me thinking about suckling to help get bfing established, and nipple confusion etc but I didn't say anything because I wasn't sure and now I'm still wondering about it.

OP posts:

lardybump · 02/09/2008 17:23

I gave my baby a dummy when she was 2 week old. BF was established but she had bad reflux and colic so HV advised it (and it was a god send too.) It didn't stop or hinder bf in any way..

Mercy · 02/09/2008 17:27

I think ds was about one week old when he had a dummy; it didn't interfere with breastfeeding at all.

Dd was about the same age - she was bottle-fed from 10 days.

girlsallaround · 02/09/2008 17:29

i gave my dd2 a dummy at less than 2 weeks. bf was established. it was fine.

i tried to give dd1 a dummy early when bf was not established yet. it really didn't work out.

warthog · 02/09/2008 17:32

funny - i was wondering the same thing!

i gave dd1 one at 2 weeks. dd2 is 9 days old. spoke to mw today who didn't seem to think there was any minimum age. she thought it was ok when the baby was footling around rather than feeding.

jocesar · 02/09/2008 18:35

i gave ds1 dummy at day 2, no probs bf!

wastingmyeducation · 02/09/2008 18:42

It's not recommended if baby is slow to gain, so we never persevered. I'm glad I won't have to bother weaning him off it. [lazy]

xx

GreenMonkies · 02/09/2008 18:55

I would say that a dummy shouldn't be given regulalry until baby is 8 weeks+. The comfort sucking that most people say is unneccessary is actually still important. Your baby wants to be held as well as to nurse, so to put them down in a moses basket/bouncer chair with a dummy is only fulfilling thier need for oral gratification, not thier need for physical contact and closeness. Also, even comfort sucking delivers some milk to the baby and stimulation to the breasts, which helps baby grow and develop and mums milk supply to be plentiful.

No matter what anyone says there is a lot of research which indicates that dummy use interferes with breastfeeding, can contribute to poor latch and inefficient breastfeeding, which can result in low milk suply and sore nipples. Add to this the alteration of oral/facial bone development that artificial nipples can cause and you have a whole heap of reasons to steer clear of dummies completely, never mind the first few weeks!

Far better to nurse your baby as often as s/he wants, including "comfort" nursing, and carry them in a sling so that they are comforted and pacified without the need for a plastic and silicone boob substitute.

scaredoflove · 02/09/2008 18:59

gave one of mine a dummy 6 hours after birth as he started sucking his thumb and I did not want a thumb sucker

fully BF for 8 months no problem

fizzbuzz · 02/09/2008 19:36

I am a big fan of dummies, so give ds and dd one.

Ds fine, dd lost it about a million times a night, and we were constantly in, out, in, out re-inserting the damn thing. Very tiring!

So, although a big fan of dummies, would not give any more dc's one, beacues of dd problem!!!

pudding25 · 02/09/2008 20:10

I think we started a dummy when dd was 3 wks old and bf was fine. What a godsend. However, at 16 wks, it is now affecting her sleep and we have gone cold turkey. Not having fun.
greenmonkies My baby has not been held 24/7 but she is much loved, cuddled, hugged and kissed. IMO, a baby does not need to suckle all day and night and never be put down. In fact, if I had dd on my all day and night, I would not still be bf as I would have had a breakdown by now. Also, how can they learn to move their babies and explore if they are constantly carried? However, each to their own. If that is what you want to do, then great but dont insinuate that your way is the only way and a baby is not loved enough if they are not constantly fed and carried.

Essie3 · 02/09/2008 21:43

Just under 4 weeks, and DS is in no way confused. There's no fooling him with a pretend nipple - if he's hungry, the dummy won't do!

Katw3kitts · 02/09/2008 21:51

I hate dummies.

But... after 2 days of almost constant sucking on my (new to this BF malarky) nipples. I would have broken in to the nearest chemist to steal one (if i could have physcally managed to get myself out of the house)

There was no confusion. Happy mum and happy sucky baby.

She's 11 now and has never sucked a thumb thankfully.

Katw3kitts · 02/09/2008 21:54

Oh and fed her for 12months + so no issues with latch or supply.

GreenMonkies · 02/09/2008 22:03

Pudding,

I didn't say that a baby is not loved enough if they are not constantly fed and carried. I did say that this is what they are asking for in the first few weeks and that it's actually far easier (in the long run) to give them this than to saddle them with a dummy that they will later have to learn to live without at some point and which can cause problems with oral/facial development.

As for "carried babies" not developing and learning to move, umm, no. I won't go into it here and hijack this thread, but you only carry them for the first few months, once they are sitting up you put them down for longer and longer and they crawl and walk normally.

pudding25 · 03/09/2008 09:04

Sorry, green monkies for having a go. I am very overtired and we are doing the dummy ditching at the moment which isnt helping my mood! (however, I am still very glad we did give dd a dummy to begin with).
Anyway, as i said, each to their own. Parents need to do what makes them and their babies happy and get through each day in one piece!

LizSpain · 03/09/2008 10:50

My midwife said if breastfeeding then wait til approx 5 weeks before introducing dummy otherwise it may interfere with breast feeding but if bottle feeding then as soon as your ready. My son is bottle fed & has had a dummy from 2 days old, it was the only way to calm him down. Hope that helps

LizSpain · 03/09/2008 10:50

My midwife said if breastfeeding then wait til approx 5 weeks before introducing dummy otherwise it may interfere with breast feeding but if bottle feeding then as soon as your ready. My son is bottle fed & has had a dummy from 2 days old, it was the only way to calm him down. Hope that helps

Warrier · 14/02/2012 11:11

We have to remember that all mums have individual experiences and what is good for one mum may not be good for another. Some have great support and others are not that lucky and others have babies that constantly cry and others dont. Do whats best for you and your situation and not to follow what someone else may think is right or wrong.