Dummies

[perfectpanda]

I didn't use dummies for my older dc. But dc3 is 8 weeks and a big screamer in the car and pushchair. So I tried a dummy today and to my amazement he took it strightaway and had a lovely peaceful nap in his bouncy chair.

My question is, can I just use dummies in some situations (eg in buggy and car) without making him dependent on it at other nap times? So far he is managing some naps in carry cot without feeding to sleep and nightimes he is settling fine with feeding most of time. So I don't want to mess this up by making him need the dummy. Do people use dummies like this?

I'm no expert, but I think you can use it how you like. Though if it helps him to sleep much better, would you really be so opposed to him having it at other times?

I thought I would never use a dummy, for some reason. But DC1 was a very sucky baby (also massive, so I didn't really want him to feed any more). He had a dummy in lots of situations from being about 6 weeks (when DM bought it in desperation) until he was about 9 months, and then only for his day-time nap and at night. I was a little worried that we would have difficulty breaking the association but he gave it up voluntarily a little after 2, announcing that "big boys don't have dummies". So it all worked quite well.

I offered one to DC2 (three months) very happily but he doesn't seem to like it and we hardly use it now. They're all different. If it comforts him, I would go for it.

I suppose don't want a situation where I have to keep putting it back in during the night. Also feeling lazy about sterilising etc...!

SIDS advice is if you use a dummy it should be used at all sleep times. Till at least 6 months I think.

Really? Wish I hadn't asked now as that will make me paranoid! Wonder why intermittent dummy use affects SIDS? There must be lots of breast fed babies who don't use a dummy when fed to sleep?

Dummies are meant to 'remind' newborns to breathe, or to suckle, thus making sure they do not slip into the zone of not being able to regulate breathing.

I had to use one with my DS as he too was a milk monster and was making his acid reflux worse - a dummy actually helped comfort him and to get him off to sleep. We're still using it for naps/sleep now, although I always take it out just as he nods off to sleep so he's not reliant on it all night. They soon get used to putting it in their own mouths if needed.

Not going to lie though, I had to do a fair bit of settling with dummies in the newborn-4/5 month stage. It has enabled him to be quite independent with self soothing though x

We started using a dummy with dd at 8 months but initially only as a teething soother with teething gel on it as she won't let you put it on her gums using fingers, she sometimes has it if she has been biting me during a feed but it will fall out once she is asleep and it doesn't bother her. However I am still feeding her to sleep 80% of the time at 11 months so I may not be the best placed to advise on sleep habits! I don't want her becoming reliant on the dummy though as we have relatives with a NT 5 nearly 6 year old who still constantly has one with her and it has damaged her speech development, so I limit its use to when it is needed not as a quick fix.

I'm currently in the newborn stage with my 4th baby and all previous babies had a dummy. Once they start having one I've found they become more and more reliant on it to be honest.

This baby is almost 5 weeks old and I haven't given him one yet, trying to hold off completely but won't torture myself if I think he needs one

I was opposed to a dummy with Ds1, and by the time I cottoned on he wouldn't rake one. I offered Ds2 one very soon, he wasn't bothered really but started sacking his thumb. I kept offering the dummy and he will take it happily now, starting around 4.5 months. He's 6 months now and will have it in the car sometimes, at bedtime, and some naps (he falls asleep without it at times so I leave him to it)

This works fine for us. He found it and put it in himself a couple of times this week.

can I just use dummies in some situations (eg in buggy and car) without making him dependent on it at other nap times?

I would do it the other way around. Dummy for sleep time only. It's the most amazing independant sleep trigger.

I'd second what Fate said. My dd2 had a dummy for sleep and it was a great sleep trigger. I did do quite a bit of replacing it in the night but broken nights have been a feature for all 3 of my kids; each of whom we took a different approach with; dd1 tough love, dd2 attachment style but ff from 10 weeks and dummy til 3 years, ds attachment style ebf til 2 years, no dummy. So if I had a 4th I would never presume that any choices like this might be making a rod for my back later. I'm not sure we have as much control over the future as we might wish for!