Having a freak out...please help!

TennisGal · Nov 1st, 2009, 07:55 AM

Basically, DD is a very 'sucky' baby, so to settle her we've used a dummy a few times (max five) in the last week.

I'd read that this can interfere with BFing, so I've decided to stop for the time being - esp as a BnB member mentioned that there are growth spurts on the horizon.

I'd read that dummy use can reduce the risk of SIDS, so was happy to use it - now I read that it has to be used every night to reduce the risk, and if suddenly stopped when baby is used to it...the risk increases. I am now completely freaking out. Could DD be used to it after a few nights? Not even consecutive nights...? Should I continue? Stop?

Please give me your thoughts, I am totally in a spin here...

Thank you, TG

NIfirsttimer · Nov 1st, 2009, 08:01 AM

calmmmmmmmmm!
its ok hun. i freaked out about this too as ruby doesnt usually want her dummy for sleeping, shes a sucky baby too and likes to continue to suck for a while after shes fed etc, so often when i put her down at night shes already asleep without it.
the guidelines say that if the dummy naturally falls out then its not necessary to keep putting it back in, so from that i took it to mean that its not really an issue. if it makes you feel reassured i guess you could phase it out gradually rather than stopping all at once? if shes only ever had it 5 times tho id say you would prob be just fine to stop, 5 occasions isnt really enough for her to be 'used to it' as such..
lots of ladies BF and sucessfully use a dummy, but i guess theres a risk involved with trying it, just incase it does interfere for her..

TennisGal · Nov 1st, 2009, 08:06 AM

Thank you...I don't know whether it's a lack of sleep or just genuine panic, but I almost felt like bursting into tears...

I may just stop using it for now, she's only fallen asleep with it a couple of times. Five times doesn't seem like she should be used to it?

tinyme77 · Nov 1st, 2009, 09:09 AM

I BF and use a dummy. When he wakes in the night I put a dummy in. If he takes it he isn't hungry if he spits it out he's hungry. They will let you know if they are hungry so don't worry that you'll not feed him when he's hungry.. It has really helped him sleep.

marley2580 · Nov 1st, 2009, 10:02 AM

There's no real difference (as far as I can see) between the baby having a dummy to go to sleep and nursing to sleep. So if it makes you feel better, nurse her to sleep.

wishingonastar · Nov 1st, 2009, 15:45 PM

as you're establishing your supply babies tend to be very sucky during that time and its natures way of getting your boobs to up milk supply (even if little un isn't drinking just them suckling your breast encourages more milk production)

my LO used to use me as her on tap milk bottle and pacifier especially in the eve and i just spent each eve chilling on sofa not doing much!

if its any reassurance i really doubt your LO is used to a dummy after only a couple of times so shouldn't affect the SIDS aspect in that way

TennisGal · Nov 1st, 2009, 19:35 PM

thank you all - feeling bit less like a nervous wreck! Wishingonastar - do you think it's ok that we used it around five times? Still too few to be used to it? Thanks again, ladies...this place is great!

Lorien · Nov 1st, 2009, 21:35 PM

I'd not worry about using the dummy -- let him soothe himself on you. It will make your baby happy and regulate your milk supply. Jack has taken a pacifier about a half dozen times (he's not really a fan) and gave it up without any issue. At this age, babies have very little 'object permanence' which is to say that, other than mum & dad, they don't really notice when things are gone.

If it's any consolation, breastfeeding your baby also vastly reduces the chances of SIDS as the breastmilk takes less time to digest so the baby is in a lighter sleep throughout their sleep times.

TennisGal · Nov 2nd, 2009, 02:53 AM

thank you - it's so good to get fellow Mum perspectives and advice!

wishingonastar · Nov 2nd, 2009, 08:19 AM

hey tennisgal - honestly five times won't make LO reliant on it

my little girl used me as her dummy til she learnt to suck her thumb at 9 weeks and obviously i wasn't next to her once she was in her basket for her to constantly suckle at whilst asleep so this would be the same as your LO using you or a dummy a little and then not having you next to them while they sleep

please don't panic about it hun it's fine

however, if LO is taking a dummy well and its not interfering with the latch when feeding then you've no reason not to use one if you feel its best for you...entirely your choice

Nov 1st, 2009, 07:55 AM	#1
TennisGal Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bucks, UK Posts: 5,060	Having a freak out...please help! Basically, DD is a very 'sucky' baby, so to settle her we've used a dummy a few times (max five) in the last week. I'd read that this can interfere with BFing, so I've decided to stop for the time being - esp as a BnB member mentioned that there are growth spurts on the horizon. I'd read that dummy use can reduce the risk of SIDS, so was happy to use it - now I read that it has to be used every night to reduce the risk, and if suddenly stopped when baby is used to it...the risk increases. I am now completely freaking out. Could DD be used to it after a few nights? Not even consecutive nights...? Should I continue? Stop? Please give me your thoughts, I am totally in a spin here... Thank you, TG

Status: Offline

Nov 1st, 2009, 08:01 AM	#2
NIfirsttimer Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 4,357	calmmmmmmmmm! its ok hun. i freaked out about this too as ruby doesnt usually want her dummy for sleeping, shes a sucky baby too and likes to continue to suck for a while after shes fed etc, so often when i put her down at night shes already asleep without it. the guidelines say that if the dummy naturally falls out then its not necessary to keep putting it back in, so from that i took it to mean that its not really an issue. if it makes you feel reassured i guess you could phase it out gradually rather than stopping all at once? if shes only ever had it 5 times tho id say you would prob be just fine to stop, 5 occasions isnt really enough for her to be 'used to it' as such.. lots of ladies BF and sucessfully use a dummy, but i guess theres a risk involved with trying it, just incase it does interfere for her..

Status: Offline

Nov 1st, 2009, 08:06 AM	#3
TennisGal Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bucks, UK Posts: 5,060	Thank you...I don't know whether it's a lack of sleep or just genuine panic, but I almost felt like bursting into tears... I may just stop using it for now, she's only fallen asleep with it a couple of times. Five times doesn't seem like she should be used to it?

Status: Offline

Nov 1st, 2009, 09:09 AM	#4
tinyme77 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 502	I BF and use a dummy. When he wakes in the night I put a dummy in. If he takes it he isn't hungry if he spits it out he's hungry. They will let you know if they are hungry so don't worry that you'll not feed him when he's hungry.. It has really helped him sleep.

Status: Offline

Nov 1st, 2009, 10:02 AM	#5
marley2580 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Forfar Posts: 6,100	There's no real difference (as far as I can see) between the baby having a dummy to go to sleep and nursing to sleep. So if it makes you feel better, nurse her to sleep.

Status: Offline

Nov 1st, 2009, 15:45 PM	#6
wishingonastar Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Posts: 7,806	as you're establishing your supply babies tend to be very sucky during that time and its natures way of getting your boobs to up milk supply (even if little un isn't drinking just them suckling your breast encourages more milk production) my LO used to use me as her on tap milk bottle and pacifier especially in the eve and i just spent each eve chilling on sofa not doing much! if its any reassurance i really doubt your LO is used to a dummy after only a couple of times so shouldn't affect the SIDS aspect in that way

Status: Offline

Nov 1st, 2009, 19:35 PM	#7
TennisGal Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bucks, UK Posts: 5,060	thank you all - feeling bit less like a nervous wreck! Wishingonastar - do you think it's ok that we used it around five times? Still too few to be used to it? Thanks again, ladies...this place is great!

Status: Offline

Nov 1st, 2009, 21:35 PM	#8
Lorien Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 817	I'd not worry about using the dummy -- let him soothe himself on you. It will make your baby happy and regulate your milk supply. Jack has taken a pacifier about a half dozen times (he's not really a fan) and gave it up without any issue. At this age, babies have very little 'object permanence' which is to say that, other than mum & dad, they don't really notice when things are gone. If it's any consolation, breastfeeding your baby also vastly reduces the chances of SIDS as the breastmilk takes less time to digest so the baby is in a lighter sleep throughout their sleep times.

Status: Offline

Nov 2nd, 2009, 02:53 AM	#9
TennisGal Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bucks, UK Posts: 5,060	thank you - it's so good to get fellow Mum perspectives and advice!

Status: Offline

Nov 2nd, 2009, 08:19 AM	#10
wishingonastar Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: England Posts: 7,806	hey tennisgal - honestly five times won't make LO reliant on it my little girl used me as her dummy til she learnt to suck her thumb at 9 weeks and obviously i wasn't next to her once she was in her basket for her to constantly suckle at whilst asleep so this would be the same as your LO using you or a dummy a little and then not having you next to them while they sleep please don't panic about it hun it's fine however, if LO is taking a dummy well and its not interfering with the latch when feeding then you've no reason not to use one if you feel its best for you...entirely your choice

Status: Offline

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