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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What is your opinion on dummies?

55 replies

sharond101 · 19/02/2012 22:03

OH thinks we should get some in for the baby coming. I think they are a last resort and don't want baby to be dependant on them. What is the consensus?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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notnowbernard · 19/02/2012 22:08

I think they are great

They aren't called 'pacifiers' or 'soothers' for nothing

IME they can satisfy the instinctive need a baby has to suck

I think you need to keep an eye on the ball wrt feeding in the early days (if you breastfeed - it's important the baby is given maximum opportunity to suckle as that;s how milk supply is established) But my older 2 had them from early on and were excl bf without problems... wonderful things, dummies! Saved my sanity

DC3 absolutely refused though. Little bugger

Good luck

FunnysInTheGarden · 19/02/2012 22:12

Dummies are a GOOD THING. DS2 still has his at bedtime (and whenever else he spots one) and they help to soothe him. He isn't entirely attached and I think if they were to just disappear he would be fine, but they have been a life saver. Oh and DS1 spat his out aged 3 weeks and has never had one since.

justlemonade · 19/02/2012 22:12

Bloody brilliant! Used them with DD1 and will get some again for DD2 expected in July. Feeding etc no problem even though we used one from 3 weeks.

Joygirl78 · 19/02/2012 22:13

We used them in very early days until dd learnt enough coordination to suck her fingers and then we quickly got rid. She was bf for 8 months.

yousankmybattleship · 19/02/2012 22:14

I think they're great! Have never understood why people have a problem with them. Mind you, I only ever used them when my babies were in their cots and got rid of them when the children were under two. I do think there's something seriously wrong with children wandering around in the supermarket with a dummy in their mouth!

Iggly · 19/02/2012 22:15

Well in the early weeks of BF (if you plan to), you should avoid because baby suckling even if not a proper feed will get your supply going. Babies are designed to want comfort from boob.

At 3am in the morning after feeding for hours however you'll feel otherwise! But it does pass, I promise.

Dummies are useful - DS had reflux so helped him keep stuff down. But they aren't a magic cure having tried with DD who was having none of it

I was a bit of a snob pre DC when it came to dummies but we were careful to make sure DS didn't use one for sleeps and he was fine having it every now and then. We had no issues stopping it.

goingtoofast · 19/02/2012 22:15

My 1st and 3rd really loved having a dummy, 2nd wasn't interested!

Tigresswoods · 19/02/2012 22:16

We never used one. You may not need one.

I can see the benefit with a little baby but don't get me started on when they are a bit older.

AitchTwoOhOneTwo · 19/02/2012 22:18

didn't like them when i was pregnant... then i had the baby and realised that they are a farking GODSEND. especially in the car. both of ours had them at nighttime and in the car, absolutely brilliant. dentists much prefer them to thumbsucking as that's a habit that can't be broken by removal of fingers.

notnowbernard · 19/02/2012 22:18

I do get a bit tutty and huffy when people start banging on about older DC and dummies

Folk get so damn judgy

Some kids get attached to teddies, rags, blankets... they are objects of comfort as is a dummy

Mummiestobe · 19/02/2012 22:18

We're not going to use them unless extremely nessisarry. I dont want the baby to be dependant on them. I'm going to keep baby with me a lot of the time so I can sooth it rather than using a dummy.

However I can see the benefits of them & why parents choose to use them. We've got 2 on standby & a Sophie Girraffe for teething xx

LemonDifficult · 19/02/2012 22:18

DS1 not interested but DS2 had a dummy a bit from about week 3 to about week 10. I was gutted when he gave it up!

I think they are great but you do have to be careful. My SiL was obliged to find 'DumDum' every single night until her DS was 5yo!

nappymaestro · 19/02/2012 22:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 19/02/2012 22:19

They certainly have their advantages. Some babies r just sucky babies and I certainly found with dd1 that it was either a dummy or she used me as a dummy and with dd2 a dummy really helped strengthen her sucking reflex and she fed much better within a couple of weeks of having one. They r also now reported to help reduce SIDS and are a huge help when you actually need to put your baby down for a few mins.
On the flip side if they loose the dummy in their sleep they can often wake up, they cost a fortune cos you constantly loose them and taking them away can prove challenging.
My advice would be that it wouldn't hurt to have one in the house just in case but just wait til you meet your baby and go with his/ her needs some babies don't need one others love to just suck bit used correctly they don't do any harm and no sense in you all being sleep deprived and miserable trying to do it without. Just wait and see :)

Tigresswoods · 19/02/2012 22:19

I can see that notnowbernard but I think it is a bit different. They seem to be a way to just shut the child up.

Totally see the point for a little newborn though.

storminabuttercup · 19/02/2012 22:20

I said I'd never give ds one when I was pregnant, first gave him it at 6 weeks, absolute godsend!

I prefer dummies to sucking thumbs etc, you can take a dummy away, thumbs are a bit trickier!

NannyPlumIsMyMum · 19/02/2012 22:21

They are very helpful for babies who suffer reflux . I was actually advised to use one by our very excellent HV.

They can be taken away - unlike a thumb which can't .

Tigresswoods · 19/02/2012 22:22

They can be taken away... But rarely seem to be.

tanfastic · 19/02/2012 22:23

Ds loved his and I had no problem at all with it. I got rid of his at 3.5 which is older than I'd have liked really but he enjoyed it that much I felt terrible taking it away. He wasn't bothered really though. I wouldn't hesitate using one in the future.

AitchTwoOhOneTwo · 19/02/2012 22:24

i LOVED shutting my child up with a dummy. that's the best bit! pre-verbal kids grousing away... grousing begone with production of dummy! it's a miracle product.

Iggly · 19/02/2012 22:24

The SIDS and dummy link is possible for babies who have dummies which are then taken away - risk goes up? Not the same as risk going down if you give a dummy IIRC.

notnowbernard · 19/02/2012 22:24

Well i never used one to shut my child up perhaps only occasionally

Hattie11 · 19/02/2012 22:25

i would only use if your baby can't settle in other ways.

My first two didn't have dummies because they could settle fine.

dd3 had terrible colic and after a few weeks of really struggling to settle her, i offered a dummy. She didn't take to it at first but i kept trying along with every other way of settling and eventually she did take to it and was a contribution to helping us establish a sleep routine. I only ever allow it at bedtime and have regularly told myself to break the habit sooner rather than later as i know thats easier. But because dd3 has always been a feisty one i never wanted to rock the boat. Shes now over 2 and still taking it to bed with her and i so regret not taking it away sooner. I think she's more attached to it now and if she sees it when its not bedtime she will cry for it.

yousankmybattleship · 19/02/2012 22:26

Yes Tigress - I used mine to shut my babies up. Nothing worse than a gobby one year old!

InsertCrapNameHere · 19/02/2012 22:26

I was made to feel very inferior by family friends for giving mine dummies but I'm of the understanding that I would have gone insane without. Both of mine had them and we got rid of them when they each reached 1 year old and had no problems at all, in fact I bloody loved them as did I!!!

We had these ones for newborns and they were excellent, can't recommend them enough www.boots.com/en/MAM-Start-Soother-0-2M-Girl_1113229/

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