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Parenting

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Original poster

Dummies?

14 replies

Chloebw · 26/07/2013 19:36

Hi im just looking for any advice on dummies? My baby is due on Monday. So far it's the one thing I haven't got and I wondered if other mums did or not? I am hoping to breast feed. Any good/bad experiences? Or if to use them when is a good time to start? Thanks

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Sirzy · 26/07/2013 19:38

get a pack and see how things go. Some babies need/want them others don't.

If you are breast feeding you will probably want to get feeding established before considering it anyway.

DS didn't have one til he was 8 weeks old but it was a godsend for various reasons from then. He dropped it by himself at 3 (only had it at night time from 18 months)

Nicknamefail · 26/07/2013 19:59

Not before 4 ish weeks for breast feeding, but then your choice. A lot of bf babies reject them anyway...

BoysRule · 26/07/2013 20:02

Don't get one unless you really feel it will help with sleeping/self-soothing or you have a really sucky baby. They can be a nightmare to get rid of and IMO I don't think babies should have them after 6 months maximum.

It is just another habit to get rid of - both my DSs had them (were very sucky and used me as a dummy), however, they both rejected them after a few weeks which I was pleased about. DS1 went on to suck his thumb which he still does to get to sleep.

I don't think that they should be considered a necessity that you get before the baby is born - like a muslin, or clothes.

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BoohPear · 26/07/2013 20:04

I gave dd one after 8 weeks. She used it occasionally for a few weeks and now rejects it, won't suck on it at all, it's like she's forgotten how!

ananikifo · 26/07/2013 20:07

I'm pregnant too and I'm not planning to buy a dummy. I'm not against having one if the baby seems to really need it but they're not good for establishing bf and I agree with boysrule that children use them for too long. You'll have time to go out and buy one if you decide to use it.

jammiedonut · 26/07/2013 20:13

I got them, but only because I ruined my own teeth through thumb sucking. My thinking was I could wean off a dummy, I can't remove ds' thumb! Twisted logic I know. I mix feed so no problems with nipple confusion, if you invest in the orthodontic dummies it helps with this too. Ds was a very sucky baby, and dummies were a life saver when I simply couldn't cart baby around hanging off my nipple all day when he wanted to comfort suck!
Everyone has their own opinion of them, so if you do use them prepare for some very odd responses I.e. mil calling them disgusting things and having absolutely no reason for saying so, also 'they'll ruin his teeth'....at 4 weeks with a very gummy smile this has yet to become a major concern of mine!
Absolutely agree with getting rid of before 6 months if possible, and be careful to use them sparingly. Ds uses them before bed as part of his routine, but if he can go without I don't force it on him, likewise I do not use it to 'shut him up'!

Dorris83 · 26/07/2013 20:14

Don't bother buying anything now. Wait and see if your baby is a sucky baby ( ie likes to suck) then buy some. We didn't bother and DS is very happy with his thumb now. But you might not want your baby to thumb suck. Probably best to try a dummy around 6 - 8 weeks when bf ing is established and they start discovering their hands.
Good luck!!

stargirl1701 · 26/07/2013 20:17

I wouldn't buy one now, just wait and see.

We used then with DD to help her manage her silent reflux symptoms. Once we got the meds sorted out, we replaced it with an Olly & Belle muslin. I think they can be excellent in the early months but need to be removed before they can alter speech. DD's was replaced at 7 months.

TallulahBetty · 26/07/2013 20:21

My DD wouldn't take one. I was disappointed as I really feel they would have helped - she cried constantly for 3 months and dummies would have been great to soothe her, but she wouldn't take to them

MadeOfStarDust · 26/07/2013 20:24

Are there not some studies which showed that the use of dummies drastically cut the incidence of cot death and SIDS - our doctor pointed this out to us and we used one for the first year...

trolleycoin · 26/07/2013 20:26

Never bothered with one. I never had one. Tbh I just thought its another thing to have to wean him off and dummies seem to spend more time on the floor picking up germs and muck. He was an early teether so when he did want something in his mouth it was to chomp on not suck. MIL said "OOH he'll suck his thumb". He is 2. He has never sucked his thumb.

Each to their own

foxy6 · 26/07/2013 20:29

I would wait and see out of five children two had dummies, one sucked his thumb, one sucked two fingers and the other didn't need anything. two were bottle feed 1 with a dummy and the finger sucker the other 3 breast feed

Original poster

Chloebw · 26/07/2013 20:45

Thanks for the advice guys. Think I will leave it just now and see how we get on without. I am always abut scared of "suckey" things as I ended up with awful teeth that after years of orthodontic treatment still don't have very good teeth!

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gutzgutz · 26/07/2013 20:49

I hated them! Note past tense... DS1 found his fingers early and so I never tried one with him. However, DS2 (bf) is a different child entirely and seemed to "need" something but could/ would not find his fingers or thumb. After a few months of no sleep I cracked and a dummy really soothes him. I will worry about removing it later! I use the "mam" ones, available in Boots etc. Advice to you is wait and see, don't introduce one unnecessarily. But if you do, buy the clip as well to save loosing it when out and about (gets expensive!).

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