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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Dummy?

15 replies

breatheslowly · 08/07/2010 18:09

Perhaps I haven't read the right book/website yet, but I have no idea whether babies are best off with or without a dummy. I realise I may be opening a can of worms and this might not be the right place to ask. But anyway...

Dummy or no dummy?

Please feel free to point me in the direction of a thread that has already covered this.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MrsBadger · 08/07/2010 18:12

start off without
try one when you are desperate and nothing else works
they will let you know what they think!

Hevster · 08/07/2010 18:14

I was always a slightly snobby no dummy person, however when DD1 was about 4 weeks we took her to the cranial osteopath who recommended we give her one to help her head post birth (the sucking action helps apparently) so we did. Haven't decided about DD2 having one yet. DD1 hasn't had it all the time, just at sleep times and in the car

Igglybuff · 08/07/2010 18:16

I second what mrsbadger says. I was anti dummy too but as DS had reflux it helped him sometimes. We didn't rely on it as I was (and still am ) his dummy so at 9 months he doesn't use it at all.

DS didn't take to a dummy probably because we didn't use it from day 1!

hippopo · 08/07/2010 18:17

We were told at our NCT class the other week that the latest research has shown that using a dummy to settle baby to sleep significantly reduces risk of cot death. Although they advise waiting until breast feeding is established (6 weeks?) to avoid nipple confusion.

This was the first I had heard of this and keep meaning to do a bit more research. Need to do it quick as am due tomorrow!

Interested to hear other views.

MrsBadger · 08/07/2010 18:27

iirc that researcxh was 'babies who are used to a dummy are at lower risk with it in'

sarahscot · 08/07/2010 18:58

I was anti-dummy too . . . until DS was 2 weeks old. Some babies don't need them, some really do. Some babies are just 'sucky' and you can't (and shouldn't) breastfeed constantly. Until he had a dummy he was either feeding or crying - never just being content!

I may get stoned for this, but my son had his dummy until well after his 2nd birthday. He has beautiful straight teeth and has been talking the hind leg off a donkey since before his first birthday.

irestmycase · 08/07/2010 19:06

I agree with MrsBadger. If they need one, they need one (and the advantage over fingers/thumbs is that they are eventually disposable).

My DD had one - she was a very sucky baby and it helped to settle her. DD decided to get rid of the dummy herself some time between 12 and 18 months (can't remember when exactly).

LouM10 · 08/07/2010 19:09

I think if you don't give them a dummy, they will probs end up sucking their thumb, which is a lot harder to stop them doing when they get older. At least with a dummy, you can gradually take it away from them till they don't even realise they don't use it anymore.

addictedishavingagirl · 08/07/2010 19:19

i've bought dummys for my baby. i was a big thumb sucker and my mum found it hard to get me to stop. imo a dummy is easier to take away than a thumb!

but i do plan to have the dummy gone by 12 months...we'll see how that goes!

goodlifemummy · 08/07/2010 19:46

I've heard about the preventing cot death too. My DTD's had dummys from birth but they were born at just under 34 weeks and didn't have the suck reflex yet so the SCBU nurses gave them to them straight away to help them learn. We cut back on them from about 18 months by using them only at sleep times, then only at night-time and so on. I found them useful and as a sleep prompt when they were a bit older.

mrswill · 08/07/2010 19:54

Dummies get the thumbs up from me. I was anti dummy until seeing the state of my nipples 2 weeks into BF, DD was a lot more content with one, and slept better. Much better than a thumb, which is much harder to stop than a dummy. Wait and see what your baby will be like, he may not like a dummy or thumb.

MumNWLondon · 08/07/2010 19:57

I have 3 DC, have bought dummies each time and none of them wanted one. DD sucked her thumb (better than a dummy as she could control it - she has now stopped though) and DS1 sucks on a comforter. DS2 is 12 weeks and so far doesn't suck on anything.

Igglybuff · 08/07/2010 20:05

On the SIDS/dummy thing - I thought the research was that if the baby already uses a dummy, the risk is reduced by using it at night.

nymphadora · 08/07/2010 20:26

Neither of mine had one dd1 is a thumbsucker and dd2 didnt have anything. dd2 did try & pinch other peoples though

jobhuntersrus · 08/07/2010 20:38

Wait and see. Some babies like to suck alot and a dummy brings them alot of comfort. I wouldn't introduce one on day one just for the sake of it but if your baby is anything like mine were you will reach a point where you are willing to try anything to settle them!! That's when you try a dummy and it either helps or it doesn't.

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