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Original poster

What made you introduce a dummy?

53 replies

Smogtopia · 26/06/2022 12:40

As the title says... what made you feel a dummy was necessary?

This is not a judgement post! Or a dummy bashing thread! I'm just trying to suss with my PFB if they need one or not.. yes I'm overthinking it but I always thought 'I will avoid them if I can as saves me removing it later down the line / one less thing to make sure I've got and have sterilised etc'

Does PFB need one / will it help with sleep etc?

OP posts:
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Seeline · 26/06/2022 12:42

It helped us all get some sleep with DS. It was never my intention to use one, it became a necessity.

DD flatly refused one (as well as all bottles).

It may not be you who decides 😁

Original poster
Smogtopia · 26/06/2022 12:53

Ha ok I might give it a try!

OP posts:
Eek3under3 · 26/06/2022 12:55

DT1 was given one in nicu. They are proven to help reduce the risk of sids, and it helps him self soothe. He has slept through since 6 months. DT2 never took a dummy and 2 years on is in our bed every night…
Currently 32 weeks pregnant and will definitely be giving baby a dummy.

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GeorgiaMcGraw · 26/06/2022 13:02

My mum suggested it v early on. I gave baby the dummy one time when he was upset, bam, calm baby. It helps him to calm down and fall asleep. He doesn't always want it (or need it to sleep) but it is useful. Easy to sterilise anyway. Microwave in a bit of water for 3 minutes or bung it in Milton for 15.

AnnaKorine · 26/06/2022 13:03

My newborn baby did not sleep unless my finger was in his mouth for his first afternoon and night at home. The next morning we purchased dummies and he slept with one in his mouth. He just needed to suck. Second baby wasn’t remotely interested and just spat it out whenever I tried to give it to him, he also didn’t like to be rocked so was a completely different child and a natural self soother. You will find out when yours comes which type it is!

AntlerRose · 26/06/2022 13:04

My health visitor was watching me 'feed' my baby and said he was using me as a dummy rather than feeding and said try a dummy so i did and it helped.

GreatCrash · 26/06/2022 13:05

I have 3 DC, 2 had a dummy and 1 didn't. It depends how 'sucky' they are.

GiltEdges · 26/06/2022 13:06

They are proven to help reduce the risk of sids

This was the main reason for me. DS ended up in hospital at 5 days old with bronchiolitis and one of the nurses on the ward mentioned it.

custardbear · 26/06/2022 13:06

My first didn't entertain one, second loved it! Stopped at about 9 months though as I didn't want him reliant on it, but by then he'd started chucking it out and not crying about it so he was ready. Mine also were sucky babies and it helped soothe them, I was also glad as I was very 😱 about SIDS

RedRobin100 · 26/06/2022 13:06

My first never took to the dummy at all - great! Didn’t have to buy any and no issue having to remove.
my second is 8 weeks and likes it. Right after he was born he started sucking away at his thumbs and fists. Just seemed to be a sucky baby and it soothed him / helped him sleep. It settles him when he’s fussy - and I need a break, so… 🤷🏻‍♀️

Flowerymess · 26/06/2022 13:08

I had no intention of using one. But by the time my daughter was 3 months and still waking every hour at night I introduced it and the length of wake ups significantly reduced.

Greydogs123 · 26/06/2022 13:08

I was quite against dummies before I had my child. I was very keen to breastfeed and found it a bit of a struggle, so didn’t have a dummy for the first 6 weeks, but then she was a very ‘sucky’ baby and it was too painful to allow breastfeeding for comfort (I was just about bearing up for actual feeding), so I introduced a dummy for sleep and comforting. We then got rid of it at around 10 months after she had a bad cold and couldn’t breathe proper with a dummy in for sleep, so we switched to cuddles and managed to do without a dummy after that.

R1408 · 26/06/2022 13:10

Babies need to suck and I didn't want to have them on the breast all day.

WorryMcGee · 26/06/2022 13:13

It helps her reflux (and now her reflux meds as I can put the dummy in after I’ve given it and it both calms her down and keeps the meds in her mouth!)

watcherintherye · 26/06/2022 13:14

Despite my judgemental views about dummies, pre-baby, I sent dh to get a selection from Mothercare at about 3/4 days in, basically to try and get a rest from what felt like a constant cycle of b/f for food/comfort/to sleep. Ds wasn’t having any of it! The disgust on his little face as we tried to pop a dummy in and he repeatedly spat it out was priceless! Gave up in the end, went with the flow and managed to work round having a ‘velcro’ baby/toddler who b/f till 2.5 (and who has turned out to be a very independent adult!)

K2012 · 26/06/2022 18:41

How do they help reduce the risk of SIDS?

BH31 · 26/06/2022 18:47

I was very against them but my baby was making her fingers sore sucking them when she wanted to go to sleep, she loves it! Unlike me…

YorkshireTeaCup · 26/06/2022 18:52

K2012 · 26/06/2022 18:41

How do they help reduce the risk of SIDS?

@K2012 there is a theory that it helps to keep the airway open, especially if baby is a little congested, and so keep baby's breathing regular.

I was very anti-dummy pre DD being born. The hospital tried to get us to use one whilst she was in NICU but we said we preferred not to. Within 48hrs of bringing her home, she had a dummy. 🤣 She was such a sucky baby! At 1yr old, she still is really sucky and it instantly calms her. Really aware i ought to start phasing it out soon and am not looking forward to it!

romdowa · 26/06/2022 18:59

The midwife told us that dummies are helpful for sids prevention. So I agreed with her to use one.

MissingGrandstand · 26/06/2022 19:01

I totally get what you mean re wanting to avoid the pain of taking it away later, but I rationalised months of comfort was worth however long worth of tears it takes me to get rid of it.

That being said, I may revisit this post when I'm trying to remove it to shout at my past self!

Babdoc · 26/06/2022 19:05

My two DDs both loved theirs, and slept through from 8 weeks. If the dummy fell out, they would grope about with their cute podgy little hands to find it, pop it back in their mouth, give a contented sigh and fall instantly asleep again!
They didn’t seem to want them much during the day, and it was easy to ditch them when they were about 2 or 3 years old.

TwittleBee · 26/06/2022 19:05

NICU Drs recommended it. I was actually rather against it tbh, didn't have one for DS1 etc. But they explained how it helps him soothe as he would naturally be sucking his thumbs / toes in the womb but couldn't get to them whilst so small without support of the fluid. They also explained how it would help him learn to associate sucking with feeding (everytime he tube fed we gave him his dummy). They also threw in how there's been a study that shows those babies who have dummies in NICU had better socialisation skills (I did ask them if I could share with me the article as I love reading medical articles but the Dr never got round to it and I didn't want to push him when he was so busy).

DS ended up giving it up himself at around 9 months old (6 months actual) when he realised he could seek boob comfort and I didn't mind that.

Lazypuppy · 26/06/2022 19:07

I was breastfeeding and didnt want her to use me for comfort like that.breastfeeding for me was for milk, dummy was for comfort as babies like to suck

Aspidistra1 · 26/06/2022 19:11

DS1 was nil by mouth for ages. It was suggested in NICU. We had to sign a consent form for it which I did think was odd compared to all the other much more horrible stuff going on!

Found it really great for comfort, ditched it without too much problem around 9/10 months. DS had no problem switching between breast and bottle, used to sneak dummy in after he’d breastfed to sleep and could keep him down this way. Ended up breastfeeding until about 20 weeks into pregnancy with DS2 who isn’t here yet but will absolutely be offered one!

MGee123 · 26/06/2022 19:13

After about 2 weeks of my nipple being used as a dummy. Best thing ever. She only has it for naps and night time or in the car. Started sleeping through regularly and dropped all night feeds at 6 months, and car journeys are calm and enjoyable. Totally worth it. She never wants it at any other time so can continue with it at those times only for as long as she wants!