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Parenting

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Original poster

24/7 dummy use.

15 replies

Dryersheets · 15/09/2017 10:24

Hi this is my first thread and I'm a mam to a 8 month old baby boy.

I understand the benefits of giving babies dummies when they are tired or upset. As a breastfeeding mother I know all too well how soothing sooking is for a baby. However I'm slightly puzzled by a couple of mams I meet up with who keep a dummy in their babies mouths ALL the time.

Baby could be quite content for a couple of minutes before mam realises the dummy has fallen out and they rush to put it back in. One was talking the other day about getting those car mirrors so she can make sure he's not dropped the dummy. To me, as long as he wasn't crying/fussing for it I'd leave him without. I never gave my son the dummy often, and even when I did he wasn't too keen on it.

I'm not criticising their parenting I'm just wondering if I'm missing something. A reason that a baby needs a dummy 24/7?

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

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LoopThehoop · 15/09/2017 10:46

It's none of your business or your problem how they choose to parent there children

MiaowTheCat · 15/09/2017 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

villainousbroodmare · 15/09/2017 19:12

Seems unnecessary. But you've happened upon a topic that always tweaks the vipers' tails!
[fetches popcorn]

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ShapelyBingoWing · 15/09/2017 19:13

I'm not criticising their parenting

Yes, you are.

petalsinthegarden · 15/09/2017 20:04

I have an 8 month old, and she only really has a dummy to help her sleep sometimes.

I do think it's comfort for some babies as they're all so different, similar to thumb sucking I guess.

Each to their own!

LoopThehoop · 16/09/2017 12:17

Op
Where are youuuuuuu?
I have my popcorn

Original poster

Dryersheets · 16/09/2017 12:42

Not criticising. Didn't say it was wrong just said it wasn't what I'd do. If that's criticising that means they are criticising me by having a different parenting style/attitude. And thats not how I feel at all.

My question was; apart from soothing an upset baby is there another benefit to a dummy.

I'm asking for knowledge not slagging anyone off. I'd genuinely like to know what people think.

OP posts:

LoniceraJaponica · 16/09/2017 12:46

Wow! Some of the replies are rather snippy. Defensive much?

DD never took to a dummy, she discovered her thumb at 9 weeks, so I have no experience.

Original poster

Dryersheets · 16/09/2017 12:51

On a parenting advice form where people ask about different parenting techniques that they have seen/heard. Is your answer "it's none of your business" to all of them? There's no instruction manual with kids, were all in the same boat. Like everyone here I'm trying to broaden my opinions and knowledge on bringing up a family. Well that's everyone bar those who are here just to be malicious.

OP posts:

LoveMyLittleSuperhero · 16/09/2017 12:51

My DD had awful reflux, sucking her dummy for 30-45 minutes after her bottle kept the milk down and kept her calm and comfortable. I think to outsiders it probably looked like a pointless dummy (I was a dummy hater before DD was born) but there was a reason. She only uses it for sleep and when she's distressed now since we found out why she had reflux and solved it.

Original poster

Dryersheets · 16/09/2017 12:54

That makes sense, thanks for your input!

OP posts:

LoveMyLittleSuperhero · 16/09/2017 12:58

No problem, it takes a village to raise a child and it's easier to be understanding if you do indeed understand

Original poster

Dryersheets · 16/09/2017 13:10

Here here.

OP posts:

sleepymama81 · 16/09/2017 13:11

My daughter was on medication that meant I couldn't let her have teething gel (she couldn't have lidocaine) until she was 1. She had a dummy quite a bit (not constantly, but a fair amount) because having something in her mouth seemed to help (or maybe distract) from her teeth, which all except the last 4 big ones flew through without a break from 5-12 months. Once she hit age 1, she bit through a dummy in the back of the car and I was worried about choking so I stopped them in the day, luckily this coincided with her teething taking a break. She was also a refluxer (silent, so very painful) so it also soothed her for that too.

She's 17m now and dummies live in her cot. She has them to sleep and that's it. I was also a dummy hater pre- baby, any forthright notions of not giving a dummy soon flew out of the window. Within a week of birth I'd say

Original poster

Dryersheets · 16/09/2017 13:39

Gosh biting through the dummy , thats frightening. Never heard that before .
I must say before birth I too was a dummy hater but like most people I did have some that were bought for us and during straining times I gave them a go. They did soothe but they also caused problems when it came to feeding as he had trouble latching on anyway so stopped for that reason. Nowadays, if he's tired, I'll give him one in his hand (not impressed if you put it in his mouth) and he'll play with it and pull against him sucking on it. It's more of a game than a soother.

OP posts:

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