Baby won't accept dummy- worth persevering??

[thecompanyplonker]

My DD is 5MO and won't hasn't accepted a dummy at all really except a few sucks early on. She loves to suck her sleeves, her thumbs and fingers (and mine!), and any toy that's roughly the right shape. But dummies are either chewed or spat out.

If at all possible I would LOVE her to have a dummy, and have tried her on a few standard brands without success.

Parents with experience of this, it worth persevering? Any tips or advice, or brands that you could recommend?

Why would you love her to have one?

I never used one and didnt miss anything except the struggle to give them up.

Why do you want her to have it?

I think they look icky (sucking on a plastic nipple the whole time) and they can be a nightmare at night if they keep falling out and needing to be put back in. They can also be a nightmare to give up. I was relieved that my baby didn't need one!

Because I've seen the benefits of them and think they would be good for DD. Not really looking to get reamed out for it, just asking if anyone has any experience they'd like to share.

I think they can turn into more hassle than they're worth. I've read a lot of posts from parents who have found themselves plugging a dummy in repeatedly overnight, so I wouldn't introduce one for nighttime use at this stage for sure. At this age she's probably starting to teethe so she probably wants to gnaw on stuff.

DS was a lover of the dummy.

DD1 wasn’t interested, she was a thumb sucker, until we went away at 13 months without her teddy. Subsequently DS found the container of dummies I had hidden when he turned 3 and took them away. DD1 became hooked. At 3 we took them away and DD1 went back to her thumb. Still trying to wean her off it at 12.

DD2 would gag on a dummy, refused point blank.

6 months was when a dummy became more hassle than help with DS1. It had been a godsend before that because he had silent reflux. But at 6 months it was played with, dropped everywhere, chewed on, woke up moaning for it in the night. So we weaned him off it then. Really glad I did, as people who had to lose the dummy later found it a lot tougher.

DS2 wouldn’t touch them. And ultimately I’m quite glad.

I never gave my two a dummy, they just never seemed to want one. When I saw the hassle my friends had when the dummy was lost I was glad they weren't interested - it's just another thing to worry about.

Ok- I was hopeful of using it as a naptime aid (she's an awful napper) but maybe I'm better of riding it out?

Off* not of!

We perservered with a dummy for DS and I’ll be honest, it was hard to wean him off it. But we’ve done it now, and his best friend sucks her thumb instead and her parents can’t take that away! I’d rather a dummy than a thumb.

My HV kept pushing me to get my child to take a dummy. In the end the mam brand worked but now we can’t get rid.

Tbh I think if she hasn't took to it by 5 months you are wasting your time and pointless forcing it. She will be weaning soon too.

If she likes sucking her sleeves could you give her a spare top or blanket to suck instead?

I think you’ve missed the dummy window, I used one for my newborn but she was (thankfully) over it by 3 months.

Perhaps she’s teething in which case matchstick monkey is brilliant for teething.

My niece didn't have a dummy and didn't look for an alternative despite her Nan trying to force one on her.

Dummies have their place with babies. I hate dummies on children that walk especially seeing photos of their lovely little faces partially hidden by a flipping dummy.

My 4 never took dummies early on.
Dc1 was 8mo
Dc2 was 5mo
Dc3 was about 1y
Dc4 was almost 2y

I appreciate many people will think it was madness to persevere but all 4 found immense comfort in the dummy once they took it and it facilitated night weaning and self soothing. All have up the dummy around age 3 with minimal issues.

*gave

If by the benefits you mean the SIDS thing, don't bother. It was taken out of the official recommendations because that study was funded by a dummy manufacturer. They also only found a decrease in SIDS for babies who are already used to having a dummy - ie - the fact of being habituated to a dummy, and then having it taken away actually increased the risk, rather than dummies lowering it overall.

My LO never took to a dummy. Required me to settle him multiple times through the night in the first year, but since then completely self soothes and sleeps 12 hours

My LO never took a dummy, I didn’t persist and tbh now I don’t have to worry about getting rid of it. Also I’ve read stories of babies waking up constantly when they wake and realise the dummy has dropped out their mouths.

What benefits? It would be a nightmare to take off her in a few years and could damage her teeth and delay speech, if she doesn’t want one why on earth would you try and force the issue

I see too many posts in FB about people struggling to get rid of dummies. I'm glad we never used one. My son doesn't stuck his thumb, and neither do any other of the dummyless kids I know, so it's not inevitable that they will do that.

I can't think of a single benefit of a baby having a dummy.

I can think of many reasons not to have one though.

@FloatingthroughSpace that's exactly why I'm still trying! What helped you succeed in the end?

Never used them. I hate to see older kids with them and they are a hassle. It's horrible seeing people persistently trying to shove a dummy in the mouth of a screaming baby to shut them up, instead of actually picking up their baby and comforting them. Probably an unpopular view but whatever

Has anyone ever just used them in the car? DD is almost five months is suddenly HATING the car and it's had me in tears recently hearing her cry so much. She's fine as soon as we've stopped and she's in my arms but obviously that isn't an option when we're on the move.