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

Original poster

OK I have a stupid question about dummies

25 replies

cece · 27/02/2010 18:45

Having never used one before we have decided to try DC3, 9mths, with one tonight.

In the middle of the night after a fed he would always go back to sleep. Recently though he is now waking and then screaming the place down for an hour. Obviously we would like this to stop! So we thought we would try a dummy.

But I have a very stupid question. I know that they have it in their mouth to go to sleep but is it safe to leave it in their mouth while they are asleep or do you take it out? Told you it was daft!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

CarGirl · 27/02/2010 18:47

you leave it in and then put another 10 in the cot in the hope that they soon learn to put it back themselves when it falls out.

Original poster

cece · 27/02/2010 18:50

Hi cargirl, long time no see!

OK this is obviously going to be a whole new world for me! I was only going to get one! You have to have 10!!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

cece · 27/02/2010 18:50

OK just thought at 9 months do I need to sterilise it?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

TurtleAnn · 27/02/2010 18:59

Yes sterilise it and IMO try not to have them sleep with it in.
The worst thing about dummies is children having them in during the day so they are unable to practice talking - IMO

missmoopy · 27/02/2010 19:05

It is perfectly safe for them to sleep with it in their mouth, and research has shown it can reduce risk of SID - don't know how though? We had two in cot so she hopefully found one in middle of night rather than waking us up! ONLY use it at night though as they are addictive!

allaboutme · 27/02/2010 19:11

Yes fine to sleep with dummy in. In fact it is supposed to help protect against SIDS.
I'd get a few definitely (well if your DS likes it once hes tried it!) as if he gets used to it and you lose it there will be mayhem!! Plus always handy to have a clean spare one in the night if one goes missing in action under the cot and he wakes up!

Original poster

cece · 27/02/2010 19:19

OK thanks.

I was planning on only using at night when he wakes up and can't/won't get back to sleep at 3 am!

I was going to give a good wash in dishwasher. Do I really have to sterilise as well? I don't do his cups when I make up his formula! Perhaps I should be?!

OP posts:

TurtleAnn · 27/02/2010 19:24

Just wanted to clarify, I don't think dummies are unsafe. But as you say they are addictive and can lead to teeth being misaligned if used lots during the day and the night. And if LO gets used to sleeping with one in then it will be her 'sleep soother' and she will require it to get back to sleep which could be a harder habit to break in the future. But that is my opinion and not evidence-based fact. Take it or leave it as you please.

bigeye · 27/02/2010 19:32

The evidence about preventing SIDS has actually been discredited as it was carried out by tommee tippee (dummy manufacturer), and was only relevant to babies under 6 months. The original research suggested airspace around the mouth being left clearer with a dummy or something.

That said it isn't unsafe for them to fall asleep with one in their mouths.

I wouldn't sterilise it myself but then I don't sterilise anything!

Fruitbatlings · 27/02/2010 19:33

No definitely don't need to sterilse it at 9 months. I wouldn't sterilise anything after 6 months
Yes it's safe to leave dummy in while sleeping. As long as you only use dummy for sleeping then it won't ruin teeth or cause speech delay. Most babies I know/have known have a dummy for sleeping(including my own two) and none have had problems, and i've been in childcare for 15 years.

Pogger · 27/02/2010 19:34

Cece, we do exactly the same with DD (night use only when she wakes up, never used during the day) and it's worked well for us. At 9 months your DS should be able to put it back in himself, which makes a massive difference.

I second always having a spare one handy - mainly because, somehow, they ALWAYS, end up under the cot just out of reach.

We just wash them in really hot, soapy water & then give them a rinse in boiling water. Am assuming if you can wash bottle in the dishwasher, a dummy should be fine.

Fruitbatlings · 27/02/2010 19:34

IMHO obviously

GoldenTomato · 27/02/2010 19:38

As missmoopy said recent research has shown that the use of a dummy (or soother as I prefer to call them) can prevent SIDS if used whilst sleeping so they are more than safe. I used one with DS1 (although originally had refused to contenance one for completely reasons of misplaced snobbery!!!). He slept through quickly and has always slept well. We only allowed it for bed and he quickly manged to find it if it feel out even when apparently fast asleep.

DS2 refused to have it anywhere near him and has always been a terrible sleeper. Even now aged nearly 6 he comes into our bed 5 nights out of 7 in the middle of the night.

Only time I object is when I see older children. with them. The other day I saw some girl of about 5 in the supermarket with one in chattering away but completely incomprehensible because of the stupid dummy in her mouth. It was all I could do not to march up, rip it out of her mouth and bin it but in my defense had horrendous PMT and was being completely intolerant of almost everything that day!

Original poster

cece · 27/02/2010 19:39

Well my dentist told me I should have used a dummy for DC2 as he sucks his thumb. In his opinion dummies were better for tooth development as you can take them away!

Right, hhave washed them in soapy water, rinsed and all ready to go for later. He probably won't wake up now! LOL

OP posts:

Original poster

cece · 27/02/2010 20:06

OK have just given the dummy to him to try. All he did was put it into and out of his mouth. No sucking. Is this what he should be doing???

Please note he has never drunk from a bottle - would this effect his ability to suck it?

OP posts:

allaboutme · 27/02/2010 20:21

He probably just doesnt know what to do with it yet and is trying to work out what it is!
Let him play with it a bit and if he gets the hang of sucking it then good and if he doesnt then I guess he is just not a sucky baby!!

missmoopy · 27/02/2010 20:24

He might take a while to work out what its for, or he might not be interested. My dd was a sucky baby. Not all babies like dummys.

BertieBotts · 27/02/2010 20:31

He might not want to suck after all Have you tried teething gel/calpol/teething powders when he wakes in the night? I remember at that age I was flummoxed because DS would wake in the night and act completely differently to how he always had before with teething, so I thought "It can't be teething" - turned out it was teething after all.

Original poster

cece · 27/02/2010 21:49

TETHING! Lightbulb moment.... he is currently screaming the house down everytime we try to put him into his cot. Despite falling asleep in our arms.

Will try some Calpol!

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 27/02/2010 22:27

Hope it works!

Original poster

cece · 27/02/2010 23:09

OK finally asleep!

Not sure what has got into him, his sleeping is getting worse, not better!

Sp we shall see what the might may hold!

OP posts:

LittlePushka · 27/02/2010 23:15

Not read the whole thread but I would maybe just caution against the dishwashre - the teats on dummies will take in water and so it will take in water that is either dirty or has deturgent in it. Wont kill Dc but not pleasant

At 9 months I must admit I was only occasionally sterilising (steaming with bottles). And I used to pull it out of mouth when I went to bed. I had one DS for whom it was a godsend and was really useful and another DS who wasnt bothererd either way.

good luck!

justlookatthatbooty · 28/02/2010 07:50

i wouldn't put it in the dishwasher. They are designed to get water inside them (the teat bit that goes in babies mouth) and dishwasher detergent is famously agressive and toxic, unless you use Ecover or similar. I wouldn't want my baby sucking on those chemicals. Just wash them in hot soapy water with something mild like an eco washing up liquid and then rinse and squeeze the teat a few times and allow to dry.

Original poster

cece · 28/02/2010 10:33

Good point about the dishwasher.

Well after staying awake till gone 11 last night he slept through!

He is still playing with dummy. Just puts in mouth then takes it out again! LOL

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 28/02/2010 12:10

DS does that - just plays with dummies. I am quite glad TBH as I won't have to wean him off them. He used to have one when he was younger but since about 6 months he just plays.

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread