Am I starting a bad habit?

[Biene]

My DD is 6 wks old, lately she's been constantly sucking her fists to comfort herself, if she's unable to get her fist/fingers in her mouth she'll start to cry until she can find them again.

So instead I gave her a dummy, normally she rejects the dummy but not this time, this time she has sucked herself to sleep...this is helpful to me because otherwise I have to rock/pat/walk around the room and my back is just not coping. But I'm wondering if I have started a bad habit, my mother is TOTALLY against dummies, so there's no way I can tell her I'm using one, what is it about dummies that is so bad?

[shed]

Well its a lot easier to get rid of a dummy than a fist or a finger when the time comes innit?

Some babies have the need to suck to comfort themselves and some don't. Yours does. She's so little, break the habit later I say. You might not have to anyway, she may do this herself when she is ready.

[Charlie]

My DD was doing the same thing...and still is...when shes happy with just her hands I don't bother with the dummy...and I only give her the dummy as a last resort....Both my mother and MIL have the habbit of bottle comes out dummy goes in...I have to keep telling the not to...as I don't want her to rely on it!!! I think like everything.....if you do it in moderation it shouldn't be a problem....she doesn't need it to go to sleep ....but sometimes she wants it so hey....if it keeps her happy I'm happy!! :yelclap:

[Jaileth]

Biene, don't worry too much. Corin took a dummy for a while at 6 weeks old, but now, two weeks later, he spits it at me and screams if we try and give it to him (unless he wants it, which isn't very often). We used it almost non stop for 5 or 6 days, and then didn't use it for about 4 days, which is why he spits it now.

Don't worry about starting a habit. Worry about now. You are doing what you have to do to keep you child happy and to keep yourself sane.

Could your mum be against them because she didn't use them? You can tell her that research has showing that kids who suck their thumbs (constantly) are more likely to have teeth problems than kids who suck dummies.

Take care!

[Baby Girl]

My DD1 never took a dummy but DD2 has one for sleeps.

She is a sucky baby so rather than have her scream for something to suck on, we give her the dummy. She is now a bit over 9 months and very rarely wants/needs it. If it works for you and your bub then go ahead and do it.

IMO, sucking on a dummy is better than sucking on a thumb when she gets a bit older and like Shed said, much easier to get rid of.

If she usually rejects it she might just need it at the moment and may give it up again pretty soon of her own accord.

[Goosie22]

what is it about dummies that is so bad?

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/concerns/pacifier.html

The problem with using dummies is they can be associated with problems establishing and maintaing Breastfeeding. If you use a dummy to space feeds or hold off the baby from feeding it interfers with you supply as babies need to feed frequently and timed feeding my results in poor supply and poor weight gain. Another problem can be confusion regarding the shape and mechanics of sucking on the artificial nipple and then transfering that to breastfeeding resulting in nipple trauma or mastitis from poor drainage of milk due to poor attachment or limited feeding. The link goes into other reasons why some people dont like them.

[Tea Lady]

I say sleep is precious and do whatever works for you and your bub :thumbsup: In hindsight I wish I'd worried less with my DD about bad habits and just gone with the flow and done what needed doing at the time. Good luck!

[mum24]

The problem with using dummies is they can be associated with problems establishing and maintaing Breastfeeding. If you use a dummy to space feeds or hold off the baby from feeding it interfers with you supply as babies need to feed frequently and timed feeding my results in poor supply and poor weight gain.

My ds3 has been gaining weight of average 400g per week. At 7 weeks he is about half his sisters weight and she is 2.3years. He bf often and definately refuses to take the dummy if he wants booby. My supply has in no way dwindled especially since I am almost constantly dripping like a tap with a split washer.


Another problem can be confusion regarding the shape and mechanics of sucking on the artificial nipple and then transfering that to breastfeeding resulting in nipple trauma or mastitis from poor drainage of milk due to poor attachment or limited feeding.

I think the ortho shaped dummies are closer to the shape of the real deal better than the cherry shaped dummies. I did get a slight touch of mastitis but that was more because I had too much milk and even with two babies constantly feeding ( my two year old still feeds ) and using up my supply, it would come back in equally as fast. At least having both of my kidlets feeding, the mastitis didn't last for very long, only a few days.

Guess what I'm saying is, in my experience the dummy has no bearing on how much your baby feeds or gains weight. It simply serves as a comforting tool thus enabling us mums some time out.

[Biene]

Thanks for all your replies, I'll stop stressing so much about whether or not I'm doing the right thing. :thumbsup:

I'll give my DD the dummy if she is sucking her hands again but I'll just keep a close eye on how much she is using it.

[JodieC]

My ds3 has been gaining weight of average 400g per week. At 7 weeks he is about half his sisters weight and she is 2.3years. He bf often and definately refuses to take the dummy if he wants booby. My supply has in no way dwindled especially since I am almost constantly dripping like a tap with a split washer.



I think the ortho shaped dummies are closer to the shape of the real deal better than the cherry shaped dummies. I did get a slight touch of mastitis but that was more because I had too much milk and even with two babies constantly feeding ( my two year old still feeds ) and using up my supply, it would come back in equally as fast. At least having both of my kidlets feeding, the mastitis didn't last for very long, only a few days.

Guess what I'm saying is, in my experience the dummy has no bearing on how much your baby feeds or gains weight. It simply serves as a comforting tool thus enabling us mums some time out.

My son has a dummy and there is definately nothing wrong with his suction on the breast, his weight has been constantly on the 90th percentile since birth. He will only take the cherry shaped ones

My other 2 kids had a dummy aswell, they only ever used it for bed and when they were around 18 months i just took them away, the first couple of nights it took a lil longer to get them to sleep but after that there were no problems

[SassyMummy]

My daughter didn't really care too much about a dummy until we ceased breastfeeding...so it didn't stop her from gaining weight at all (she's a bit chubby actually).

There's also evidence now that suggests a dummy can actually help to prevent SIDS (it's only a very new thing). So when you need to reassure yourself that you're doing the right thing - remember that.

Also - dummies are controversial things...and someone is always going to have an opinion on whether or not to use one. As her mother, you have the right to choose whether or not you use one. IMO, sleep is vital to be happy and healthy and be the best for your baby. If a dummy helps you get a few extra hours...then why not use one? You'll be much more able to cope day-to-day that way.

And like someone else pointed out - it's much easier to get rid of a dummy than a thumb or fist.

[shed]

Just to add to this, I think the anti-dummy brigade is more about a snotty nosed 4 year old sucking on a dummy at the local Westfield than a tiny baby comforting themselves to sleep with it. :laughing:

[JodieC]

I was on a bus recently and there was another mother with a 1 year old sitting next to an older lady. They were discussing dummies and the mother said she would never use one as they are disgusting and damage teeth.

Then she reaches for her bag, pulls out the babys bottle full of RED CORDIAL and gives it to him to go to sleep with :confused:

[Nan]

No, I don't think you are starting a bad habit at all.
Sounds like you have a perfectly normal, healthy, happy daughterto me!
Love,
Nan. xx