Giving a dummy to a breastfed baby

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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

My 6 month old EBF ds has had a dummy since 2 days old, my older child had a dummy and I knew how useful they were, I was certain I was red to introduce it early so it was accepted. He’s 99th febrile for weight and in 9-12 month clothes already so fair to say it has had absolutely no issues with feeding! The dummy has been a godsend to give me 5 minutes with my toddler and especially in the car!

At that age you need him on the breast every time he wants it at night otherwise you won’t build enough supply for him. Provided you make sure he’s on the breast at night for as long as he’s on the dummy during the day you’ll be fine.

Ds takes a dummy and is ebf. We introduced it around 3.5 weeks I think. Ds had awful reflux and wind and the dummy helped him relax so he could bring his wind up easier and the sucking seemed to help the reflux so he was more comfortable all round.

I was very cautious with when I gave it to him because the first 6 weeks baby is learning to feed and is building your supply even by comfort sucking. So I always offered breast first and made sure he'd fed and had a period of sucking for comfort before I moved him over to the dummy. But in our case this then allowed him to have 20 minutes upright time before he could be laid down. I still was careful to let him cluster feed etc. So if you're using it sparingly it shouldn't affect your supply. There's some evidence to suggest use of a soother is a protector factor against sids now too and they're so useful for those moments when you just can't respond with boob because you're driving or on the loo etc. Ds really liked the tommee tippee breast shaped ones and they are glow in the dark which is great for middle of the night!

Was 20 years ago but I EBF first couple months and DS had a dummy
we then mixed fed for a further few momths which midwife aaid wouldn’t work - but it did
but advice changes all the rime but mu cousin recently had a baby and she EBF and baby had a dummy, every baby is different.

For me the main time it would have been handy if he had accepted was places like in the car. Often he’s been fed, and I just needed to get the 20 min drive home
when he would meltdown. And you cant stick boob in when you’re driving.

I could have written this first baby all NCT and EBF, would take a dummy ( tried at 4 weeks) or a bottle ( tried at 6 weeks). 2nd baby had a dummy at 10 days and a bottle at 2 weeks- much better as I had a toddler, there is no way I would or could breast feed on a park bench in December, so she had 2 bottles a day ( one at lunchtime and one at 11pm). This allowed me to be a good parent to both my children.

I waited a few weeks with my first to give her a dummy, she gave it up on her own at about 10 months. I BF her til 16 months.

My youngest I pretty much gave a dummy to straight away. I wanted to stop BF earlier that time, so stopped at 10 months. She loved her dummy and we had a struggle to get rid of it at 1.5 but it didn't negatively affect eithers feeding.

My first I was told the same, so by the time I introduced a dummy it was too late and she wouldn't take it. She used me as one instead for the next three years. Determined not to make that mistake again, I gave one to my second within a few hours of birth. She was never confused and breastfed until she was over two. The dummy was a miracle and she was a much better sleeper than her sibling, maybe because of the dummy. We got rid of them when she was 2.5 and I never regretted introducing them. If I had my time again I would have given the eldest one straight away.

My twins were breastfee and also had dummies and have just recently given them up they are 2 and we have a 3 year old I feel for you

Ask the midwife to point to one scientific study that shows nipple confusion is a thing. TLDR, it's not

We tried for our baby from about 5 days old but he just spat it out. Also ebf. He’s now 7 months and still refuses a dummy! Also refuses a bottle which has brought its own challenges.

At his 8 week check the gp said if we can’t get him to take dummy we’re unlikely to have success with a bottle and sadly she has been right! We would’ve given a dummy if baby had taken it though, instead he sucks his thumb constantly!