Buying dummies for babies..

pink_phantom

abijanzo wrote:

I think it's basically that as their mouths grow they prefer a bigger teat -

Ha ha, good job they don't think like this when feeding from the breast. It doesn't bear thinking about. Saggy boobs + Saggy nipples. :eek:

xmaslolly76

every one will laugh but i like to chew babys dummys , i dont eat them i just bite them seems to be good stress relief, i carnt bite the managers head off so i bite other things :-)

Bun

I think people ignore the fact that most of the damage used to be done by the design of the teat and dipping teats in fruit juice causing teeth to come in decayed. The designs are completely different now, and thumbsucking causes a lot more damage, and as has been pointed out, is difficult to break in some children.

Use whatever you are happy with, just be careful that you check the teat is secure and hasn't been chewed through/broken before each use. Later on restricting the dummy to certain rooms/situations can help.

pink_phantom

I think dummies are particular to different children. I would spit a dummy out if my mum tried to give it to me but my brother loved his and we both turned out fine. I think if it gives children security to have a dummy then it should be encouraged because a secure child is inevitably a confident child. If it is just used to quieten the child in replace of a parents time then perhapse it is not so good.

Rachie_B

my youngest wouldnt take the modern shape flatter dummies he preferred the "cherry" type teat ones

i agree only change dummy if its past its best ,sticky or with holes in ,once baby has teeth ! my son used to chew on them when he was teething,the noise used to go right through me <shudder >

his teeth / speech hasnt been affected at all it can do though : eg my eldest niece was allowed a dummy til age 5 ?!!!! her speech was and is still quite bad which im sure is doewn to the extended dummy usage

if baby is still being soothed by the ones you have then stick with those

also lmao @ all you "anti dummy lot" saying no dummy is best etc <sigh> that wasnt the Q

pdoff

ds2 wouldnt entertain newborn dummies so had 3-6 month orthodontic ones from home bargains from the start. i used to hate dummies too - went 4 months with ds1 screaming constantly then gave in & was like magic! he only had them at sleep time & was never allowed to walk or talk with them in. swapped on 3rd bday for guitar & no problems. dentist says he has the best teeth she seen in ages. friends son sucks his finger instead & she cant get him to stop - cant take it off him! has gone all hard & horrible from sucking it.
so basically whichever size your baby likes is the one to use!
re the hygiene issue since it's been mentioned, i always have spares to use if they get dropped & i sterilise them so really better than a thumb which could have been anywhere! kids put so much in their mouths anyway they gonna get germa from somewhere. i do hate it when mil sucked dummy after he drops it then tried to give it back! yuck! more germs in her mouth than on floor - & she smokes!! she no longer does this.

essexhoney

my dd would only ever take the mam silicone flat dummies which you can only buy in newborn. She had them the hwole time and i never had a problem. I think whether you change it or not is all down to personal preference or if you think your little one needs it.

Broken_hearted

My children never had dummies nor did they suck their thumbs.

donna-j_2

My baby loves his dummy. I find that most people who frown on them have children who suck their thumbs or comfort blankets (often scruffy little rags). How is this any better? As long as the child gets comfort from something then thumbs up, as far as I'm concerned. I have a friend like this and she does seem to think she has a moral advantage somehow

Re replacing the dummies, I think that with the rubber teat kind it's because the latex starts to revert to its liquid form, so when they become sticky it's time to chuck 'em. At first I bought a new batch every month (as per the guidelines), but now I just buy the silicone teat type and sterilise every so often (normally they just go in the dishwasher).

rchddap1

My nephew has never had a dummy. But yes he always needs something to suck when going to sleep. Instead of a dummy a small cuddly toy was used. Actually I started the whole thing off by getting him a 'Fimbo' one weekend. Later on that day he was giving his mum and dad trouble and sucking old fimbo's arm seemed to settle him down.

He's now 2 and still sucks the cuddly toys when going to bed. Sometimes we think it actually encourages him to go to bed as these toys stay in his cot / bed...and so he looks forward to going to see them and telling them about his day (he talks to them). When he's looking tired a simple question of "do you want to go find roley mo" will usually get a yes....and then off he goes.

So no dummy, and no scrappy old rag. And if needed during the day out and about he still looks okay holding or sucking on a cuddly toy.