Dummies / pacifiers

[RandomCatGenerator]

Hello everyone

I have a 2 week old bottle fed baby. I know he needs non nutritive sucking as well as nutritive so I’m wondering about dummies.

What age did you start giving your child a dummy? Did you have any particular rules for dummy use? Is there anything in terms of pitfalls I should know about in dummy use?

I was a thumb sucker until I was maybe ten years old; my sister sucked her thumb for even longer. Is there anything in terms of starting and maintaining dummy use that would prevent him getting addicted in this way, if that’s even a thing?

Thanks!

No baby of mine was going to be getting a dummy. I don't like the way they look and they aren't necessary.

Then I actually had a baby and got a grip of myself!! All three of mine have had a dummy, the eldest two gave them up at three and the youngest still has one (or seven...) but she only one.

The dentist said with my eldest you would never know he'd had the dummy but my middle child's teeth had a sort of curved look. This disappeared within about 6 months and now his teeth are fine, but the dentist said it could have been permanent if we had left it too long.

Anyway, dummies can be a lifesaver and judgemental people like I used to be can just bugger off.

My eldest had a dummy from about 2 weeks he was premmie and the hospital gave him one for comfort when I wasn't there. He had it until he was 4 but he only had it for naps and sleeping from about 28 months. It was easy to get rid of it at 4 it was Christmas just before his 4th birthday and we found all the dummies and made a present of all the dummies for all the new babies that were being born and he got a thank you present from the babies. He only asked once about his dummy and was reminded he gave them to the babies.

My youngest would have a dummy or a bottle only boob for comfort!

I was also anti dummies. One came free in a pack of something else, my son wouldn't stop screaming, popped it in his mouth (at the end of my tether) and ... blissful silence. I soon got over my principles after that. I also had to have braces due to finger sucking so it seemed a good way of swerving that and the dummies were thrown away when they were 2 or so.

I should add that it probably depends on whether your babies cry a lot. Both of mine did (possibly due to them having reflux). My nephews sat happily gurgling in a chair when they were babies. I wouldn't have felt the need for dummies in that case but they were a total sanity saver for us.

None of my 3 kids used a dummy. All of them had colic and I tried and tried for soothing but none of them accepted it. They would throw it out of their mouth and completely refuse it. I bought many new ones after each birth but got to use none.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

I don’t like dummies and felt too self conscious to give my baby one (none of my friends or family used them, all my DH do). It’s pure snobbery, I hate the idea that people think I’m trying to shut up my kid with a dummy.

After months of trouble settling her for day naps we tried in desperation but she refused to take it despite taking a bottle from 2 weeks. Just the way it goes. Those who were given them in hospital (premmy) take them no issues.

Sleep experts recommended it and I do think it’s mean to swaddle and not give them something to suck. Once our daughter was unswaddled she sucks her hand and self settles.

We are both 30 YO thumb suckers so sure many people will think we’re worse off. My brother and sister had them as kids and don’t thumb suck.

We do have friends who’ve had a nightmare getting the dummy off their kids. I also think snobbery works both ways. Those who use them are very offended by those who don’t want to.