Dummies /Soothers / Yes or No

[TerryRose]

Hiya first time mum to be here, just wondering about soothers , do you use them ? We all had dummies /soothers as a baby/toddler but just wondering what are peoples views on them these days ? Thanks

It doesn't matter about anyone's views. I use them have since day 1.

Yes. If it helps my baby feel comforted then I can't see the harm. My kids all had them and this baby will to.

One of mine needed a dummy, the other didn’t want one. Use one if needed for your sanity.

Our HV recommended one for DS as he was sucking for comfort & also had quite bad trapped wind.

I can now give him a dummy when I know he’s getting tired, and he’ll fall asleep within 5 mins.

Whatever gets you through the night. If you feel the need then use them.
They are definitely not a moral issue

We use one, our DC has always been v 'sucky' and spent most of her babyhood screaming the place down so it helped her (and us).

They can help very little babies learn to suck so they can feed, and they can also help ease reflux and provide comfort in general.

Use them and love them

I didn't want to use them before my DD was born but on night 4 I gave in (we had bought some just in case) My only real reason for not wanting to give her one was that I thought it would be hard to take away, we haven't done this yet though. She finds the dummy really comforting so it has been worth using. It's a completely personal choice though so do what works for you and baby

Yep from day one, helped to settle baby and they reduce the risk of SIDS.

Got rid of it around age 2, no dental problems.

Only for teething on both of my children, neither had it longer than 8 months old. I watched my brother have a dummy stuck in his mouth until he was 5!!

I swore off them after our eldest took so long to get off them. Then we got 3 thumb suckers and that is a much harder habit to break, we did have 1 that didn't need anything too. This one will be allowed them but weaned of them fairly early.

I've used for both my boys. I only use for sleep though so they don't get 'too attached'

Whatever gets you through. Get some in just incase and if at all possible wean off before a year old or even earlier (from someone who's 3.5yr old is still obsessed with his!!). Take out when awake and use only for sleep as PP said

Tried one but he wasn't interested, and glad of it now. They're ugly but would have used it if he'd been keen. However, if you can get away without using it all the better! No sterilising/replacing/weaning off it. But no big deal - whatever works for you!

Tried DS with one for the first couple of weeks of his life, he wasn't interested.

Now age 3 he still sucks his thumb, cannot get him to stop. You can see what it is doing to his teeth and his pallate, poor kid is going to need some serious dental work in a few years.

I wish I'd persisted harder with the dummy!

Big fan of dummies!! They help settle baby so well.

@MrTumbleTumble teeth damage is my biggest fear on using dummies. Not sure how as a mum I can make sure that dummies dont cause dental issues in long term !

My kids didn't take to them but would have used them like a shot if they'd helped.

@duckhouse dummies will cause less damage than if they take to their thumb. You can't take the thumb away but you can take a dummy away, you just have to tolerate the crying.

Our 10 year old (having assessed for ASD) has caused serious damage with his thumb sucking and the dentist thinks he may need surgical correction.

@Chelyanne

I swore off them after our eldest took so long to get off them. Then we got 3 thumb suckers and that is a much harder habit to break, we did have 1 that didn't need anything too. This one will be allowed them but weaned of them fairly early.

This! I gave DD1 one at 3 monrhs and it was like a magic button for getting her to nap. Stopped using it at 6 months because I was so worried about prolonged use. She started sucking hee fingers instead and I can't take those away from her. She's now 3.5 and still does it for sleeping and I have no idea how to stop her. Definitely made her little teeth squint so I'm hoping we can completely kick it soon and her adult teeth will be okay.

DS1 refused a dummy and never sucked his fingers, though he's also a much worse sleeper than his sister.

Next one on the way and I'll just do what works for them. (Pre kids I was very much against them cos I can't stand seeing older kids with dummies, still can't... but pre kids I was a know it all idiot)

Before having DS I thought no. Wasn't wildly against them, didn't judge anyone who used them, but just smugly I guess thought they won't be useful. By day 3 we used one and it is as amazing. When he got to 12 months it was bedtime/naptime only, and never during the day. Around 3 he wasn't arsed anymore, but even if it had been a nightmare to wean him off them, it would have been worth it imo. Some babies refuse them though, I would maybe just wait and see and be open minded.

I think they are great. They help a child learn to settle themselves when going to sleep and quite often stop them waking up.

They also apparently lower the risk of SIDS in a young baby.

My 15 month old has had them since birth but now, she never wants one unless she’s going to bed. If she hurts herself or feels a bit unwell, she prefers to use her comforter for that.

I didnt use a dummy with my first purely as my son was tongue tie and couldnt suck it or just didnt like it! But i seen the struggle my friend has had getting a dummy of her little girl. She ended up having her dummy for that long it effected her teeth allignment, shes 6 now and still gets a dummy at bed time. I feel like i got through the first without a dummy and hope to get through this one with no dummy. That being said sleep deprived and losing my sanity im not holding myself to it if it soothes her.

We were advised by our ob/gyn to use them due to the reduced risk of SIDS.
We removed them gradually as speech began to develop.