Is 3 weeks too early to give my baby a dummy?

[Carolinemy]

He has started to suck his thumb and fist anyway so thought surely a dummy would be better. I am aware some people frown upon giving a baby a dummy too early but not sure why exactly? And how early is too early?

The SCBU nurses gave my son a dummy at 2 days old. So I think you're okay!

If I was you, I would let him suck his thumb and not bother with the dummy. Mainly because the thumb can't get lost etc and he can control it himself, you don't have to get up every 5 minutes to pick up the dummy when he drops it.
But, I know that some people frown on sucking thumbs saying it puts their teeth crooked?
I guess it's your call?

Mine both had one from birth. DD1 became totally addicted to it but dd2 could take it or leave it. She is 16 months now and has no interest in it.

I took mine in hospital, I'd let him suck his thumb if he's content with that though.

DD sucked her thumb which was great when she was a baby but less good as a reception school girl
Wished I had given her a dummy as a baby as I could then have just thrown it away when I had had enough of it
DS had a dummy on D1 I think, and then we just ditched it when the time was right

when breastfeedign is still being established, a dummy can replace the breast meaning that instead of stimulating your milk supply by suckling, he is sucking a dummy. in the longer run his milk intake can be lower of less breast stimulation. It takes about 6 weeks to establish a milk supply if you are breastfeeding.

If you are not breastfeeding then giving a dummy is a way of satisfying a very strong instinct in babies to suck/suckle. So finding his fist may be a way of him looking for a way to satisfy this instinct.

Babies will all chew their fists as they get older as finding their hands is one of the first ways of finding out about their world. 3 weeks sounds a bit too early for this, imo. So if you are breastfeeding, then offer the breast more often. If you are not breastfeeding, I'd go with still ff on demand. FF babies at this age still benefit greatly from feeding on demand instead of a 3 hr or whatever routine.

hth.

Thanks for all responses. I am breastfeeding and would not want to do anything to hinder this. Maybe 3 weeks is too early then? He has never had any trouble latching on though since practically the moment he was born.

IME, it's better to wait until after the 6-7 week mark. Not so much about latch, more about if he suckles you less your milk supply might dwindle - what foxytocin said. There's more info from good old Kellymom site here: www.kellymom.com/bf/start/concerns/pacifier.html.

dummies can be a blessing for babies who can't/won't self-soothe... but yours can

Sucking a fist is one of the early signs of hunger. Try feeding as a first resort!

if thumb sucking takes off go with that....have a relative who is a dentist who says its fine as long as it stops before adult teeth come through.... plus you will regret having to get uo 5 times a night to put dummy in

my sister refused a dummy when she was a baby prefering her thumb, she couldn't break the habit and she used to get called tombstone :S i have never seen such crooked teeth before or since tbh.
Shes had lots of problems going back and forth to the orthadentist and shes 22 now, still having problems,
I think its easier to break the habit of a dummy ( for an older child ) as its not attached to you and the movement of putting thumb into mouth isn't an automatic physical memory that comforts you.
I would say dummy all the way.
my son used one from 1wk old and ditched it himself at around 6 months.

i gave in at 3days!!was also B/F and my little one had no probs in feeding.but every baby's different. :D

Both mine had dummies as soon as we were home from hospital. And both spat them out promptly if they wanted a feed instead

DS still has one at 15mo just for naps/bedtime, and still breastfeeding too so I didn't feel it interfered. Depends on the baby though!

I didn't give my first 2 babies dummies, but i did with my 2nd two, from about 1 day old, and they were bf, it takes the pressure off a bit and I wouldn't do without one now. If it is your first baby and your bf, then keep a close eye that s/he is still getting enough booby time.

ds1 didn't have a dummy - i tried 8 different types. i was desperate for sleep!!

ds2 didn't STOP feeding and in the first week put on over a pound in weight having lost none!! He had a dummy at 10 days after i couldn't stand it any more!! Midwife actively encouraged me to give it and said some babies need more comfort that others and they get that by sucking - be it a dummy, thumb, bottle or breast.

I personally preferred a dummy (even though i think a thumb looks SOOOO cute!) as it can be restricted and then throwm away. i have just done this at the age of 2.11yrs and haven't had any problems getting rid of it.

Ds2 just spat it out when he wanted a feed. It did help him go a little longer between feeds which meant he was taking bigger feeds of the hind milk and so was satisfied for longer too

sorry for the spelling