Dummies for baby - yay or nay?

[Didsomeonesaybunny]

A few of my friends have suggested I invest in a few dummies as they are a great comfort to a baby, I don’t like idea of a dummy, but also don’t want to encourage thumb sucking by not giving the baby a dummy. I’m probably being an over-zealous overthinking mum-to-be but I just wondered what the general concensus is? Thanks

The lullaby trust are very helpful. They have a super helpline you can call and they will talk through their standard advice and give you rationale for it to enable you to make informed decisions.

I was so anti dummies pre kids!!! 2 girls down and I’m still anti dummies... apart from at night ;) my DD1 had one from 3 weeks old after constantly air sucking and crying when nothing appeared in her mouth (aka boob or bottle). She only ever had her dummy at night or naps and gave them up at 18months, as she only ever had them for sleep very easy to get rid of and a couple of unsettled nights and then forgotten about! My DD2 is currently 6m and same thing, night and naps only :)
Good luck!! X

Yay, dummies are a life saver. You can get a steam box thing for sterilization in the microwave. I think I just used to pour boiling water over mine in a bowl, but then ds was my third so I was a lot more blase about sterilization

My DD has never had a dummy nor was she breastfed and I think on the whole it's been absolutely fine. She can settle herself with naps and night sleeping.

Some may find it useful though. The thought never even crossed my mind to buy one or try one as I knew I didn't want her to have one. She doesn't suck her thumb either.

Depends on the baby but all of mine benefited from them, as did I. They were bf and would just have never stopped if I hadnt used a dummy to get them off to sleep. All bf to a year, had dummies just at bedtime until 4, 2, 3 and 2 respectively. All now at school and all have good teeth. I was worried the first time but they worked out fine for us.

I didn't like the idea for mine but then found it was the only thing that would calm her down when she went through the PURPLE crying period. I bought two in the 0-6 month size and we used them occasionally and they were brilliant. By five months she didn't need them and we were past that phase so she never had one since.
They do also have a SIDS protective effect.

Nay! Just another thing to sterilise, loose, have to take away once older. If they want a comfort item (some do some don't) they will adopt their own eg thumb, blanket, specific toy. I found the best way to comfort mine was to feed them, yes breastfeeding is hard at first but it gets easier after a few weeks.

I gave my DD one when she was a baby.
It was so difficult to get rid of when she got a bit older that I'm going to try to avoid one with DC2 when they're born.

I've bought a pack just in case, but will refrain if I can.

Personally I would use the dummy sparingly and ween off it by 6 months. They don't need a dummy to sleep all the time and if you use it for too long it can affect the teeth and speech.

I hadn't planned to use them at all but in the end did use a couple sparingly, by 6 months she didn't really need them and we got rid of them, no fuss.

Nope don’t use them sparingly. That is the SIDS risk. It’s all or nothing unfortunately.

Although I agreed the sparingly approach is the best idea for weaning them off and avoid speach etc .

Do whatever's easiest

It's never all or nothing, it's what you're comfortable with. You can get all kinds of baby monitors to help watch out for SIDS, don't be scare mongered.

Hi OP,
My DD had a dummy until she was about 7 months old and then she just went off it. I didn't force the issue as she had done the hard work for me! I would maybe get a couple of different types in and try them if you want to! fwiw my daughter liked MAM dummies but hated tommee tippee, they made her gag! I'm currently 12+5 with my second pregnancy, I will be getting some in just in case