How soon did you give a dummy?

[Twinkletwinklelil]

Can we give a dummy from birth?
I want to combi feed but don’t want to be the babies dummy like I was with my last!

Also my DM, who never sucked her thumb, can dislocated both her thumbs at will.

From about a week in with last two babies. Waited a bit longer with the first as was more worried about establishing breastfeeding.

Found them a godsend with all 3. They all got them taken away before 2nd birthday. No issues whatsoever.

Day 3. Next one will be from day 1!

@MrsTerryPratchett cause some people are smug arseholes who spew judgemental bullshit for breakfast

@Godesstobe And I was told by mine that that was the cause 🤷🏻‍♀️ Like you said, we're both just repeating what we've been told by professionals.

My thumb sucking definitely contributed to my dislocation though. I have hypermobility and prolonged pulling on the joint permanently weakened it according to the doctor.

Yes, we are both only providing anecdotal "evidence". That's why I would like to know if there has been any research on the subject. My experience of thumb sucking has been wholly positive but I don't know if this is likely to be true for the majority of children.
Most of what is online does not cite any research to back it up (apart from a finding that children who suck their thumbs are less likely to suffer from allergies to many common allergens because they build up resistance by literally putting them in their mouths). Ditto children who bite their nails. But, although that is interesting, it is not the key issue that many parents worry about with thumb sucking.

Always swore I wouldn't use them, but then sent DH out on night 2 with baby number 1 as she just constantly wanted to suckle! Baby number 2 didn't really take to them.

From birth, then my son ditched it by himself around 4 months when he got his first teeth

As soon as it came out of the steriliser when we arrived home, he was 4 days old, if I could have got it sterilised in the hospital I would have used it sooner.

Thanks, didn’t work for me unfortunately but we’re going to try again! DS was exclusively bf and a dummy he would bite, a bottle he would bite 😂

Big thank you for the responses!!

I don’t want to be a human dummy this time.. with a toddler it’s going to be tough already, and I agree with a lot of you, dummies have been around a long time!
can’t wait for the judgement from family members 🙄😅

It was day 4 or 5 with us for DD. EBF for 9 months and combi fed after that. DD had it until about 3 ½ purely for bed times or when ill, no issues with speech, eating or teeth. We tried removing it with a bit of resistance before that but one evening not long after she just handed it in at bed time saying she’s a big girl now and hasn’t had it since. No drama, no trouble and I also read it has a protective effect when it comes to SIDS so was happy with our decision.

Next DD due soon will hopefully take to one too, it was a sanity saver.

My first had one for about 4 months started when he was in NICU and they asked if he could have one. He wasn't that interest though and used it as a chew toy so we stopped giving it. My second had it from the start and loved it and we weaned him off it when he was two and a half. Both only had it for sleep but pre children I was adamant I wouldn't use one !!! Some children need them and they certainly have their place.

As well as a dummy I would definitely recommend doing a bottle a day of expressed milk once breast feeding somewhat established (few days).

my husband used to give my babies their bottle just before bed. Gave him a chance to bind over that activity, I knew they’d had a good fill before bed plus they would then never refuse the bottle when I needed a babysitter!

I would just sit in another room and express for the following day at the same time. Gave my nips a rest too. Also gave me a chance to build up a bit of a store as I could express slightly more than needed.

It was important for someone other than me to give the bottle (so they knew there wasn’t a better alternative on the menu).

As PP have said dummies may reduce the risk of SIDS, but the evidence is not that strong. I suspect that's because they imitate the benefit of BFing, which halves the risk of SIDS.

I never used a dummy and can't say I missed it but my Mum didn't use one either and I never was very sure when I was suppose to use it that wouldn't interfere with BFing. Different people have different experiences and if you are bottle feeding and have a very sucky baby then I can imagine it makes a big difference.

Hello, I never used a dummy and my mum never used a dummy or indeed the rest of my immediate family. Friends of mine did use one for their children - but unsure if there was any benefit tbh. Started at about two to three months

I think I’m just starting to understand the sarcasm directed at irrelevant replies on MN.

OP asks a straightforward question: ‘Can you give a dummy from birth?’, and instead of answering, the thread fills up with, ‘I never used a dummy’, ‘I would never’, ‘My mum never used one with me’, or ‘Not sure what the benefit is’.

Well, congrats, your dummy-free parenting medal is in the post! Meanwhile, OP’s question was about when to use one, not if. If the question is not relevant to your life experience, perhaps just scroll on by?

Mine was given one in the neonatal ward. BFing took a little while to get started but it was for a mixture of reasons. We are still BFing at 7 months and the dummy is an absolute godsend.