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Original poster

Breastfeeding and dummies

16 replies

SquedgieBeckenheim · 27/03/2017 15:12

DD2 is 4 weeks old and EBF. I'm debating whether to introduce a dummy or not. I don't know any EBF babies that have/had dummies. DD1 had one, and she was EBF but always used nipple shield so nipple confusion was less of an issue.
DD2 feeds well now, we had some latch issues but they have resolved over the last week. She falls asleep at the breast, but then when I put her down in her carrycot or co-sleeper crib she stirs and wakes up. She'll fall back to sleep if I offer her a finger to suck on. Obviously this isn't ideal! If I don't put her down she'll sleep on me for 2-3 hours till her next feed. Not ideal either!
So do I offer her a dummy? Will it mess up her feeding? Or will it just mean we all get more sleep until we wean her off of it?

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waterrat · 27/03/2017 15:17

why would it mess up her feeding?!

I breastfed from birth for about a year with both my kids - breastfed completely on demand ( ie...a lot!) and they both had dummies from about 2 weeks old. I love dummies ! Never used them instead of feeding - I just used them to settle to sleep etc.

I think in the first week whn they are establishing a latch I would avoid but no reason to worry now.

All the babies I know were ebf ....and lots of them have/ had dummies.

GuinessPunch · 27/03/2017 15:18

My baby is nearly 12 weeks. I have tried to introduce a dummy in the last 2 weeks.. he is only just beginning to take. I didn't want him to get nipple confusion (which I read about) so I left it until quite late.

namechange20050 · 27/03/2017 15:20

My baby was ebf and he had a dummy no problem. Nipple confusion seems more myth than reality!

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gamerchick · 27/03/2017 15:20

Yanno you're stewing over what ifs and you don't know if your baby will take a dummy. I tried my hardest with all of mine and got nowhere. The faces of disgust I ended up having to use my little finger which defeated the point.

Joyofscreamingjoy · 27/03/2017 15:21

Mine had dummies- sanity saver 👍 If I recall correctly it was at about 2-3 weeks old.

newmumwithquestions · 27/03/2017 15:24

If it makes it easier just do it. DD2 loved her dummy for 2 weeks, then she found her thumb instead and never looked back. I'm still feeding her at 15 months so it hasn't seemed to harm her!

MrsBellefleur · 27/03/2017 15:24

I think 6 weeks is the recommended age to introduce dummies to avoid nipple confusion. I will be waiting until then as dd is a week old and we are still having slight latch issues so I don't want to jeapordise anything.

Dd1 never took to a dummy, always spat it out so we shall see if this ones the same!

Original poster

SquedgieBeckenheim · 27/03/2017 15:26

Thanks for the responses! I hear about nipple confusion all the time so that was my concern. Glad to hear it's not the big deal people make it out to be.
gamer did yours wean themselves off sucking on your little finger?

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OrangeJulius · 27/03/2017 15:38

When I introduced a dummy to DD at 3 months, it did make her latch worse (shallower, I think). She had latch issues from the start, which is why we waited until we were in a good place bf wise before introducing the dummy.

Twentyten2010 · 27/03/2017 17:53

DS is eight weeks and had a dummy from two days old with no issue. He is EBF apart from a bottle of formula at 11pm. However, he's always had a great latch so we didn't have to worry about messing that up.

whyistherenoavocadoemoji · 27/03/2017 17:58

I think it depends on the baby. My 4 month old is EBF and has never had an issue with confusion (she takes a dummy at night and and LOVES drinking expressed milk from a bottle too).

waterrat · 27/03/2017 19:10

Don't wait till 3 months they might not take it then. I've never heard of a dummy having any impact on breastfeeding at all. Dummies are so good I feel sorry for people who don't want to use them

Original poster

SquedgieBeckenheim · 27/03/2017 20:00

water It's not that we don't want to use a dummy, I just don't want to screw up her latch! It took 3 weeks to get it right, I don't want to give a dummy then it all go wrong again. My nipples have only just recovered. Every other EBF baby I know in RL (except DD1 who already was used to sucking on silicone due to the nipple shields) hasn't had a dummy, so I believed all online about nipple confusion. It's reassuring to know it doesn't necessarily happen.
I have washed and sterilised the dummies I bought "just in case" so they're ready to try tonight if she struggles to settle again.

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Wishiwasmoiradingle2017 · 27/03/2017 20:01

Sids recommends the regular use of a dummy!!

Frouby · 27/03/2017 20:05

I ebf ds and had the same problems re putting him down after a feed. Finally got him to take a dummy at about 6 weeks. Got a fab 3 hour break without him having a complete meltdown. However at his next bf his latch was awful. Really shallow and draggy so I darent offer it again.

He was also a very determined bottle refuser.

ODog · 28/03/2017 20:25

Do it. I've successfully ebf 2 babies who were dummy addicts. I think nipple confusions is a crock of shit a myth

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