Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Giving a dummy to a breastfed baby

36 replies

emdexx2 · 05/10/2023 16:25

Hi Everyone
I'm EBF my 8 day old baby, I was going to introduce a dummy to comfort him when he is fussy or upset as I don't want him to end up using my breast for comfort all the time, especially if I just need 5 minutes to do a job etc. The midwife advised against the use of dummy's as she said it could confuse him. Does anyone have experience of introducing a dummy this early on in their BF journey? Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MagpiePi · 05/10/2023 16:36

I wouldn’t give a dummy to such a young baby and I think the midwife is right. There is nothing wrong with him getting comfort from the breast, it is one of the most basic instincts he has and he is still really tiny.

I would rather delay the job for a few minutes and look after my baby.

Original poster

emdexx2 · 05/10/2023 16:39

I appreciate that and I do spend all day and night "looking after my baby" it perhaps came out wrong. I have a 3 year old who also requires my attention and rather than leaving the baby to cry I wanted the option of giving him something to soothe him if necessary.

OP posts:

JumbledE · 05/10/2023 16:40

I have a 7 day old EBF baby! Congratulations!

Both my previous two children have been breast fed and used a dummy from very early on. Around ten days for DC1 and from birth for DC2 (he was in nicu and they introduced it). Didn't cause any issues for us. I've tried giving on to my newest DC but he's just not interested. We found them useful for the first 6 months but then weaned them off. I hope that helps :)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

0-3 months old Babies & sleep Breast & bottle feeding Families

Universalsnail · 05/10/2023 16:42

All my breastfed babies had dummies and they were fine.

Daisy5011 · 05/10/2023 16:45

I use it for exactly that. Each baby is different, some just don't take to it anyway.
It's fine to say delay the job and look after baby if you only have 1 baby. If you have other children that need you then do what works for you and you're family.

parietal · 05/10/2023 16:46

try it and see if it works for your baby.

HappyAsASandboy · 05/10/2023 16:48

I have breastfed four babies and all of them had a dummy when very little. Just be aware of how much you're using it and make sure the baby gets as much time on the breast as possible.

My only advice is to get rid of it as soon as you think you can. My last two babies I managed to remove the dummy at about 4 months, which seemed perfect.

goodenoughmum88 · 05/10/2023 16:51

Midwives and feeding people worry about nipple confusion at that age, but Seriously😘 babies are survivors and quickly work out that sucking on a plastic teat doesn’t give them milk, and will then if hungry spit it out and let you know that they want you!

Sugarfree23 · 05/10/2023 16:53

I used dummies early on, and BF both babies for 12mth plus.
You need a big cherry shaped dummy. Breastfeed babies turn their noses up a flat orthodontic numbers.

Caspianberg · 05/10/2023 16:56

I would.
I waited with Ds until he 4 weeks old, then he refused to take it! It would have been super handy sometimes

Octobermeterreadtime · 05/10/2023 16:57

A hungry baby won't be fobbed off with dummy ime! SIDS recommend using a dummy which is good enough reason to buy plenty..

Original poster

emdexx2 · 05/10/2023 17:44

Thanks everyone!! My instinct was to just go for it but I didn't want anything to hinder our BF journey as I wasn't able to breastfeed DC1 so really pleased with how far I've got this time round!

OP posts:

newhere24 · 05/10/2023 17:45

I‘ve tried… both completely rejected the dummy.

Starlightstarbright2 · 05/10/2023 18:03

I gave my Ds a dummy At probably about that age (bf) after he spent nearly 2 hours using me as a dummy . He also At about 4 months gave up his dummy in favour of his thumb and got bored of that after 2 weeks .

He is now 6ft and never was confused

TurquoiseDress · 05/10/2023 18:04

I'd give the dummy to your baby, you may find they become settled or they may show no interest and just spit it out!

My two DC were complete opposites- DC1 was not bothered for the dummy and the other took a few years to put it down for good!

Either way, don't stress, give the dummy a go

You have a week old baby (congrats!) and a toddler do what you need to survive!!

And as for confusing the baby, they will work out pretty quickly that the dummy does not fill their tummy when they are hungry!!

Colourfulponderings · 05/10/2023 18:08

Trust your instincts. I did completely different things with both my babies because my instincts knew it was right for them.

Incidentally one of them had a dummy from a very young age still fed like a king.

TinyTeacher · 05/10/2023 18:50

My twins were in SCBU for a while, and they had a dummy before they could breastfeed - the nurses hoped it would strengthen their muscles as they were premature and couldn't go home until they could feed other than by ng tube. We established breastfeeding without much difficulty before they reached their due date and they carried on till 2.5 years. Still have their dummies at nearly 3.

newusern1 · 05/10/2023 18:52

Caspianberg · 05/10/2023 16:56

I would.
I waited with Ds until he 4 weeks old, then he refused to take it! It would have been super handy sometimes

Yep. Same here. By the time I was desperate enough to try the dummy it was too late and he wouldn’t take it!

Brightredtulips · 05/10/2023 19:17

No problem at all. Bf for a year, I could tell when he wasn't feeding and I would put dummy in his mouth and he fell asleep soon after. Theres no way he would have taken it if he was still hungry.

sexnotgenders · 05/10/2023 19:23

newhere24 · 05/10/2023 17:45

I‘ve tried… both completely rejected the dummy.

Yep, me too. The little feckers were unfortunately of the 'breast or nothing' mindset

Carriebelfast · 05/10/2023 19:25

sexnotgenders · 05/10/2023 19:23

Yep, me too. The little feckers were unfortunately of the 'breast or nothing' mindset

Show quote history

Me too, so frustrating as it all comes down to mum to settle baby

Sparehair · 05/10/2023 19:26

Worked like an absolute charm with dc1 and didn’t impact breastfeeding. Sadly dc2 wasn’t interested and was a thumb sucker as soon as she had the coordination to do it. The dummy was much easier to get rid of.

Original poster

emdexx2 · 05/10/2023 19:28

Thanks again everyone, I went ahead and gave him one and it meant I got to put my other little boy to bed for the first time since baby was born. Will obviously keep on top of it and not substitute for feeds but at the moment he seems happy!

OP posts:

Sugarfree23 · 05/10/2023 19:32

sexnotgenders · 05/10/2023 19:23

Yep, me too. The little feckers were unfortunately of the 'breast or nothing' mindset

Show quote history

Did you try the big fat cherry dummies?

Lots of BF babies don't like flat dummies because they don't feel anything like the nipple they are used to.

DappledThings · 05/10/2023 21:57

DC1 had a dummy after 2 weeks, DC2 after about a day. Both EBF for 6 months and then carried on to 14 months. Nipple confusion wasn't an issue in the least.

Flip

1 2