Should I get a dummy?

[HiccupsAllDay]

My DD3 is 3.5 months old and doing really well. Except (!) she loves me a bit too much... won't sleep alone and won't even go in the pram in the day so I have physical contact with her almost 24hrs a day. Now while I love her dearly having her in the sling all day and bed all night is getting a bit much. She is EBF and is a VERY sucky baby, so I'm starting to think that if I get her a dummy for night time and daytime sleeps in the pram it may mean I get a bit of me time and she gets some decent sleep.

Trouble is I don't want to interfere with her feeding or for her to get dependent on it, the other 2 sucked their thumbs but she is showing no signs of doing so. Any advice? Should I just get on with it and stop moaning or give it a go?

I'd give it a go if she'll take it. IMO a dummy is far preferable to a thumb. DS1 has a dummy which he gave up easily at 3 and it was easy to control when he had it. DD is 4 and still sucks her thumb, shows no sign of stopping and has altered the shape of her jaw and will almost certainly need orthodontics at a later date.

Hmm I know how you feel. I have one the same age she sleeps with me at night and just catnaps during the day so can't get much done unless she's in the carrier. My dp doesn't want this one to have a dummy as our 4 yr old has only just given hers up and he thinks that's too long!!???£$%$% Given the choice I'd have a dummy again I think. It does ease things a bit especially when you're driving and can't pull over to feed.

I second the dummy. We gave DS the dummy at around 4 mo and he took to it no problem and it gave me a bit peace and quiet for 30 mins or so. You need to make sure you rest yourself. It's very draining being with them all the time.

Just a little bit reassurance about the dummy thing, DS gave his up just before he turned 3yo. We talked over how we'd get him off it, but he naturally grew out of it himself so that's one less thing to worry over!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

yes, get a dummy. worry about the dependancy later. the dummy fairy can always come and nick it.

Thanks for the quick responses I think I'm more concerned with it interfering with bf rather than the length of time it goes on for in terms of years. I hear what you say about thumb sucking did, wore a brace and only gave up at 21 when future dh promised to buy me a car radio if I stopped! can't believe I just admitted to that!

Warthog don't you just love the dummy fairy. She actually came a few weeks ago -unfortunately she missed one that I then caught my 4yr old trying to stuff into the babies mouth because she couldn't hear Cbeebies through the crying!!! Hiccups do professionals say it interferes with bfding then? I've never heard that.

I think the dummy does interfere with BFing in the first couple of months. But once you have BFing well established then there shouldn't be any confusion for the baby. That's more or less what I was told from a MW.

Yes lovechoc that's what I heard too, different way of sucking plus sucking dummy instead of asking for a feed. DD is happy and healthy but quite tiny (don't know weight coz I don't go). I have no concerns about her physically but she is in no way in what I would call a feeding routine, it's more like she snack regularly through the day so don't want to distract her with a dummy if that makes sense.

yes, potential conflict with bf, but once bf established, no probs. i gave both mine a dummy at 2 weeks. all fine. up to you really. i had sucky babies that wanted to be surgically attached to my nipples. i really needed the break and they were a godsend.

bimble oops!