Dummy/pacifier to extend sleep/reduce wakes

[legogirl1234]

Hello,

My LO is 14 weeks, exclusively breastfed and currently feeds roughly every 3 hours, night and day.

We have recently introduced a dummy/pacifier and I was wondering if we can use this as a tool at night to extend her wake ups beyond the 3 hour mark?

Shes always fed on demand, so my feeling is that when she wakes in the night, she wants food, so I shouldn’t put the dummy in, instead I shouldn’t feed.
But my partner has started to pop it into her mouth to extend her wakes, giving us an extra hour, sometimes 2- which is a god send!

Should we be using the dummy for this purpose or is this a big no?

NB: When I do put her on the boob when she wakes, she does feed straight away but doesn’t seem frantic or absolutely starving or anything.

Personally I always fed at wakes but lots of people will tell you that’s terrible. I think it’s up to your discretion, as long as she has surpassed her birth weight and is otherwise gaining fine. Obviously if she isn’t you need to feed her.

Ask the health visitor as it will depend on her weight you're likely fine though

I was advised that if they've had enough milk they'll accept dummy but if they haven't then they will continue to cry

my midwife told me the same thing - if a baby is hungry they won’t take the dummy, if they’re looking for comfort then the dummy will work just fine and mummy gets a bit more sleep!😴