Dummy/soother size help for first time mum please!

[Sophie2309]

Hi everyone, I am due my first baby in just over 5 weeks time.... I am planning on using dummies and would like to try get my baby to accept the tommee tippee brand bottles and soothers.

I have noticed that for young babies, you can either get 0-2 months, or 0-6 months dummy size. Is there any difference? Is it worth getting the 0-2 month at first then the 0-6 or are they both the same size and just another way tommee tippee tries to get more money out of parents?

Any help would be much appreciated

Thanks in advance :)

I promise I'm not anti dummy as my child had one. But ultimately a dummy is a bit of a faff - constantly putting it back in at night and making sure you have them with you and sterilised. Maybe see how baby gets on and if they need one. My friends baby never needed one as he was quite easy to soothe

I had some as a back up in case baby was ‘sucky’ as I was a thumb sucker and I’m really against it if avoidable as I had real issues quitting (and you can’t remove a thumb quite as easily! ) As it turns out baby does a lot of suckling for comfort so we’ve taken to using them to help her drift off, so just before naps etc.

We’ve been using these one since about 3 weeks and she seems to be a fan: MAM Night Soothers 0+ Months... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075GRHZ89?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I think it's just the size of the shield which changes. I'd probably stick with size 0-6m and get 0-2 if those seem too big.

Maybe the smaller ones are more designed for really tiny newborns, premature babies etc. I think we had one as a promotional gift from somewhere in that size and it didn't really seem any different from the others we had.

They fall out and get filthy but worst of all is they get lost. The child can get VERY attached to a particular one which can make your life miserable if you loose it. Bitter experience talking.

See how it goes before getting one. They suck their hand, their fist, their feet. With DC 2 & 3 I did not go there and it was fine. Good luck.

Thank you everyone :)

I was planning on getting them as a back-up more than anything, not forcing baby into having them, just something to help her drift off if she is a 'sucky' baby. She has had fingers in her mouth at a previous scan so I'm thinking she may be. I will look into the one suggested though, and just use them if needed. If she doesn't need them i'll give them away, but I'd rather have them to hand and they go unused than not have them and need them aha.

Thanks again :)

Are you planning to breastfeed?

Also we very easily removed the dummy at about 15/16 months old and they were used very lightly at bedtime only. Some children are mega attached until 3/4 years old. I'm going to try everything in my power not to give baby two a dummy as I might not get so lucky next time!

Not judging OP but a dummy didn't even focus on my radar when I was expecting. I've two DS, neither used one, I didn't even think about it. Why do you want to use one for your baby? Are you not just creating problems for yourself and for your baby?? Don't go there, it's not necessary. Total waste of time and just a whole bag of problems ahead when you come back here saying your child is 4, about to start school but 'needs' a dummy or the dentist says it's damaging teeth development and oh dear how do you wean your child off using them.

Dont stress
Buy a couple of dummies for newborn.
If she needs/likes then you go get more.
Dont get set on a brand.

Unless you live in middle of nowhere with no smazon prime ...well dont worry. You can buy what you need later

0-2 months are a little smaller so I'd get a pack of them. If you end up using them you can order of amazon/supermarket for some more.

Ds had reflux and dummy helped that he had tommee tippee ones until 6 months then we went over to mam as they have the box you can microwave sterilise them in. Dd I had mam ones on standby and she was a finger sucker so ended up using them, she was brand loyal and would only except mam, ds would have any brand.

I didn't have any major issue removing the dummy but left it until nearly 2. As soon as they could crawl the dummy became cot only (naps and bedtime)

I had no intentions of ever using a dummy but my children benefited from having them. I still silently judge the parents of the 2 4 year old I see walking around with them in their mouths/ coming out of nursery and getting them straight out of their pack pack and putting it in

I got a free mam newborn dummy in a free mam newborn bottle online. My DS is 6 weeks old and won’t sleep with it, but he likes to start creating mid food shop so it calms him till we get back to the car and he’s magically fine again 🙄 I’m sure he does it on purpose. Other than this he won’t take the dummy despite my efforts, I think he’s going to be a thumb sucker instead 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thanks everyone. They are mainly as a back up, to help soothe whilst I prepare a bottle, half way through shopping in ASDA, on my way home etc. I'm not going to force them on baby, but have them there ready if she accepts them just to help soothe her before I can give her a feed. I'm not planning on breastfeeding (someone asked), possible expressing and giving from a bottle but I'm not overly fussed about breast milk tbh.

I've got some of the 0-2 as the teats on tommee tippee ones were smaller than 0-6 month ones. I know some people think I shouldn't bother, but personal choice that I want to..... will be used lightly and begin to take away by a year old incase anyone was wondering

"Not fussed about breastmilk"

You could probably shove that raised eyebrow up your arse PP. OPs business how she wishes to feed her baby.

OP, I went straight to using the regular Avent ones because DS2 was a sucky baby. He was born at 6am and had one by 9pm!
I tried with the thin newborn teats but both mine hated them. They much preferred the flat teat ones.

OP didn’t ask for advice over whether on not to use a dummy, only about size. Not sure why so many people barrelling with advice about her choice?

OP, I found the 0-6 months were too big for a newborn. The Mam 0-2 months were worth getting, even though they’re only used for a couple of months.

We dropped the dummies cold turkey at 6 months, but they were a total godsend for the early months with our screamy, refluxy baby.

@Ohalrightthen

"Not fussed about breastmilk"

It's my choice what I feed my baby, anyone who doesn't like my choices can keep their opinions to themselves.

@Strokethefurrywall

You could probably shove that raised eyebrow up your arse PP. OPs business how she wishes to feed her baby.

OP, I went straight to using the regular Avent ones because DS2 was a sucky baby. He was born at 6am and had one by 9pm!
I tried with the thin newborn teats but both mine hated them. They much preferred the flat teat ones.

Thank you .

My little one has had her fingers or thumb in her mouth on most scans, so I'm thinking she will be a sucky baby. I'd rather try her with dummies than have her sucking her thumb, as the dummy I can take away aha. I have been looking at the other brands too, I'm hoping she takes to the ones I have, her head is measuring on the smaller side too so I'm thinking she may not be able to have the larger teat ones but I'm close to town and supermarkets if needed aha

@FizzingWhizzbee123

OP didn’t ask for advice over whether on not to use a dummy, only about size. Not sure why so many people barrelling with advice about her choice?

OP, I found the 0-6 months were too big for a newborn. The Mam 0-2 months were worth getting, even though they’re only used for a couple of months.

We dropped the dummies cold turkey at 6 months, but they were a total godsend for the early months with our screamy, refluxy baby.

Thank you

I have only got 0-2 month tommee tippee ones so far, hoping she will take to those as they have smaller teats (her head is measuring on the small side so I'm thinking she may not be able to have the bigger teat ones at first). I was in boots earlier and did see the mam 0+ and 0-2 month ones and see that they were flat but a bit wide so I think those or the Avent would be my go-to if she doesn't get on with the ones I've already bought. Plus the mam ones come with a sterilising box too which is a bonus as that's what I was in boots looking for for the tommee tippee ones aha.

I do have one 0-6 month TT dummy that came with a feeding set incase she doesn't take to the small ones, case of waiting and seeing what she likes I guess. Knowing my luck she will be fussy aha!

Fwiw breastfeeding is a lot less hassle than preparing bottles. Also makes life easier if your newborn gets poorly less often, and its a useful tool to have in your arsenal for soothing them if they do get ill, or are just upset.

Your baby and body, your choice, but it’s worth considering at least giving it a go even if you’re currently almost certain you’ll go for bottles.

Personally, my baby was in the NICU at the start and then couldn’t latch for a few weeks, so I used a mix of formula and expressed milk, and it was such a blessed relief when I could finally switch to breastfeeding. Made life significantly simpler. Also meant the weight dropped off me pretty fast because it burns upwards of 500 extra calories a day.

On dummies, I used them a bit at a start to help her settle for naps, and when she was in the pram, but I think by about 6 months she’d just naturally dropped them. Think it really varies between babies. We didn’t use the brand you’ve bought but I did use those bottles and they were decent.

What do you mean by not fussed about breast milk?

I'd say if you buy a dummy beforehand then you'll be more than likely to use it. I'd get one if and when, not as a backup.

My mum breastfed all four of her children and I remember her youngest (brother is 11 now) being fed all the time. I just don't feel confident enough to breastfeed...... I know that probably sounds stupid, that's what they are there for, people won't care, do what's best for baby etc etc but I just can't, wouldn't even in front of my mum.... let alone out in public, friends, family houses etc. I do have a breast pump, to try expressing, so she at least gets some breast milk, but I'm not going to get myself down if I can't do it properly (what I mean by not fussed).

I don't mind bottles, I work with children including lots of young children so I'm used to having to do bottles a lot (I also have a huge family and there's always at least one baby aha). Will be a bit different being my own child but I feel confident enough

For the dummies, yh I do plan on trying them with her once she is born, to help settle her in her pram, whilst I'm preparing a bottle etc, help settle for naps. Not a 24/7 thing and hoping to start taking them away between 6-12 months. Gone totally by 18 months but sooner the better due to her teeth and speech etc (hence she's only having at certain times, not free rein all day long too).

Ah, if modesty is the issue it can be quite discreet with the special tops where you can just poke a small bit of boo out, and then a big muslin or light scarf to cover round as well.

@SparrowNest

Ah, if modesty is the issue it can be quite discreet with the special tops where you can just poke a small bit of boo out, and then a big muslin or light scarf to cover round as well.

@SparrowNest Yh I have seen those types of tops before, I'm just really not comfortable doing it around others. It took me three years to have no bra on in front of my partner!

It is annoying in some respects as it works out cheaper, more bonding, less likely to get ill etc etc. But then bottle feeding also has its benefits too of the fact my partner can help feed or family if I need the loo or whatever aha. I do have a pump so I am going to try express milk, I just need to do a bit more research into how to store it and for how long etc and try do a mixture of Breast milk and formula, but all from bottles. I'd prefer it if baby has a mixture of the two, especially the colostrum as I know that's super important for them. I may have a total change of heart when she is born and go exclusively to breastfeeding. But I don't have any plans of doing so, but just never know (I've had a lecture from my nan aha!)

It sounds like you have a good idea of the pros and cons of the options, so as you say it’s your call.

Agree on colostrum of course, the nurses had me hand express it to give my baby in a little a syringe because she was in the NICU hooked up to machines and things.