What do you think about dummy?

[ThomasMum]

At the moment we are feeling sorry to our Thomas as he's teething (gee those teeth sure are very sharps!). The poor 'lil fella! As he's only 4 months old he doesn't how to hold things properly. We gave him rusks today and boy he loves it, but it gets very slippery even neither Josh nor myself able to hold it!
Then someone told us about teething dummy or even the real dummy itself.

But many people I know seems againts the idea mind you, esp they think that it might caused some problem eg. Speech difficulties etc.
Do you think it's a life-saver or the opposite? Is it a good idea or should we just let him chew our fingers until he's old enough to hold his own rusks/teething toys etc? :confused:

Regards

Thomas's Mum (ML)

[Milly]

Hi there!

Personally, we found the teething dummies (or Gummies) a waste of time. My DD is not really one for a dummy anyway and we found that with the gummy she would have rather have gnawed on the hard plastic side rather than the bit that went in her mouth. She did not use it as she was 'supposed to'. We ended up giving it a big toss. I bought it in a weak moment anyway. Those baby items aisle in the supermarket can be quite captivating :) Our DD was pretty good with teething and she did not get grizzly or anything, but she did like to gnaw on her fingers and do the old slobbering. What we quite liked to have on hand was the Nam brand teething ring that had rubber all around and a couple of cool water bits on it. It was so well designed and she could gnaw on every bit of it and it was a great size for her little mouth. Not too big at all like some of them tend to be. It was a great play thing too. It was about $10 though, but she loved it.

In regards to dummies themselves I think that they are okay in moderation. Some kids can just take them when it suits them and then spit them when they don't. But some kids get quite addicted and that's where you have to be on top of things with them and not let it get to an addictive stage. Then there's other babies don't give two hoots. Personally, I think that if your kid is not really asking for one, then don't force it. I do see a few parents giving their babies dummies when they are already settled and I never quite understand that. I was actually observing a couple with a very new newborn baby in the hospital today (we were on a hospital tour) and bubs was quite well settled and not complaining at all (typical relaxed easy going newborn), and yet they popped a dummy in his mouth anyway. I was a bit puzzled by this. I suppose it was just something they thought they had to do, but my thought is that if they are not really wanting one or making a fuss for one, don't force it. The kid will take it if they want it. Play those things completely by ear is my philosophy :).

[mumofethan]

Well i have to agree that the gummy dummies are a waste of money... my son never uses his!

as for normal Dummies, ethan has his but only uses it to settle to sleep, and if he is really unsettled... i dont normally even give him his if he hurts himself because i know he will settle himself...

:D

Michelle

[betty]

zac won't accept one

[madvoice]

My DD won't take a dummy and she's teething at just under 3 months (I was born with teeth so I'm not surprised). I find the water filled teething rings are very helpful. I put them in the freezer for a few minutes to cool them down (not frozen) and then hold it so she can gnaw on it.

[mumof2girls]

Both my girls had dummies as babies usually when they went to sleep (I would remove when they were asleep straight away) and when they were teething they liked ti put the handle of the dummy in their mouths to chew on. I think dummies can be a problem if you let them have them all the time as they have something in their mouths all the time it can impead their speech and my dentist says that with all the constant sucking it can push the teeth out of place as well.
Neither of my girls would touch teething rings they just didn't like them, good luck I hope you find something that works :)

[moggs]

Hiya,

I don't know why the dummy is frowned upon (by normal society, not the forum). My buba was colicy and it was one of the things that would settle her. She became quite fond of the dummy until a few weeks ago where she has now just forgotten about it!!!

She never had any speech problems, she spoke quite early and can pronounce words/sentences very clearly.

My advice is if your it helps settle/comfort your child then there is no harm as their emotional security is just as important.

Moggs xx

[our little treasures]

I agree with moggs, I was against the dummy when I was preggars with dd and thought there isn't a way in hell we would use it. Then I had a dd who screamed for 23hrs one day at 3 weeks I had run out of milk and couldn't help her. My mother was there and she had five kids and we didn't have a dummy but this day my mum got a dummy and tried her on it.

My dd is 16mnths uses dummy for sleep now, and out of the kids in her age group she is much more advanced in her speech says 60 different words and uses some 2-3 word sentences. Her teeth are fine. I would say go with your instincts after all a happy child makes a happy parent!!!

[ThomasMum]

for all your invaluable inputs

Thomas is doing okay now, thanks to the good ol rusks, and the gummy dummy is indeed a waste of money as Thomas doesn't like it!

Thanks oce again :D

LovePeace

ML Thomas's Mum