Dummy debate

Lalaladybird

Do you let your babies have them or not and why?

With my first I didn't and was really pleased but I gave my 2nd a dummy because she seemed really "sucky".

I can see pros and cons to dummy use, what do you all think of them?

ticklepenny_2

I was jealous of friends who's LO's took to dummies as they seemed to be able to solve all problems with a dummy. But DD refused a dummy from day 1. Now DD is more chatty than the other LO's. So as you say there are ups and there are downs to both sides.

scuzzi

My midwife said yesterday if I was intending to breastfeed they didn't recommend dummies because it encourages a different sucking technique.

kegg_2

my oldest had a dummy and i loved it. He would only take one type of dummy and used them for 2 years. He stopped day time dummy when he started playgroup but still had one at night for a little longer.
It has never stopped him talking and even as a toddler never shup up.
My younger lad never had a dummy as a baby. It was offered but refused, then when he started playgroup he picked up someone elses and we went through a stage from about 15 month to 2 years when he had a dummy. Then he lost interest in them and stopped again.
He was also a chatty toddler. So i think it just depends on the child.

angelicmary85

My 2 were really sucky but I didn't give either of them a dummy.

As Ticklypenny said, they seem to solve all of life's little dramas for little people but I prefer to comfort my children if they fall down or are tired - I didn't want to shove a dummy in their mouths

DON79

I am not against dummies but then I was not successful in breastfeeding twice which if I had been, I may never have used dummies.

Ds1 absolutely adored his dummy and he chatters loads and loads - it wasn't easy to wean him off but we did it before he was 1 1/2 yrs old so that he wasn't still stuck with it years later.

Ds2 was never very interested in it at all and could take it or leave it so we had no trouble with taking the dummy away. Although he is the one now who does not/will not talk and he is three years old.

It does depend on the child and I would say if you can get away without using it, then don't use it but it's not going to cause any lasting harm for them to have one. Just be prepared for potential tears/tantrums later on when you try take it away if they get really attached to it.

OrkneyStar

I hate the things, but that said DS started sucking his thumb at about 6-10 weeks and still does it when tired, aged 3. Dentist says not to worry though. He used to suck in his sleep, even with no thumb in his mouth! He was breastfed for 13 months.

fernliebee

I am really judgemental about them tbh. I think they are fine for babies, but I hate seeing children with them. Fair enough if they have them for bed or round the house, but out at the shops, or worse when they are trying to talk.

My DD's are 26 months, and 2 months and I haven't needed a dummy for either of them. DD1 was just ridiculously placid as a baby, rarely screamed, just the odd cry when tired. DD2 prob could have done with a dummy at first but she is chilling out now. For the first 6 weeks she would just feed constantly, never coming off herself, I just had to take her off if I needed to see to DD1. She also cried a fair bit, but would happily suck my finger for hours if I would let her. Now though she is getting into some sort of routine and has bigger feeds, more spaced out, and is happy to be awake etc.

I know it isn't factually correct, but I always just assumed they were a bottle feeding thing, as IMO if DD can't be calmed by a feed then a dummy wouldn't sort it- so I feed her!! I know people give them for other reasons though.

Ultimately, despite my mean, judgemental view of them, I don't think any worse of people who give them, I just don't see the point in them myself, and can't understand why some children have them so long, just because I haven't gone through it with mine, I'm sure I would feel differently if I had to take one off my DD's.

tiamai_d

All mine have had them. They are not for every baby, but if used responsibly (ie, not 24/7) I don't see a problem with them. On another forum I visit they seem to think they are evil and that its terrible that you can't settle your baby and have to resort to a piece of plastic... I think thats a bit neurotic tbh.

DS1 was given one in SCBU because he would stick his fist in his mouth and make himself vomit, given that we spent ages getting the milk in there (NG tube, breast fed and I expressed milk) and his issues, this was bad. He stopped using one at 12months after a viral rash in his mouth. Breastfed for 2 weeks (failed for other reasons not the dummy) extremely chatty, never shuts up.

DS2 was given one again in SCBU to help his breathing. He was 7 weeks early, traumatic birth and spent time on a respirator and CPAP, there was a lot of evidence that a pacifer (or the sucking action) helped with breathing, given that he was unable to feed at that point (because I was in a coma and he was very poorly), the nurses gave him one with DH's blessing. He stopped using one at 18months when I got fed up retrieving it from under the cot and made him go cold turkey, ha! Breastfed in hospital (stopped after a nurse attempted to band his head and my boob together). Speech problems due to his birth (brain damage resulting in cerebral palsy) not because of the dummy.

DD has one, again, given in SCBU to encourage her suck reflex. She was only 3 weeks early but was very sleepy and didn't have a good suck at first, as well as it helped her get her wind up. Later it was used at sleeping time. She is 1 year and now only has it at nap and bedtimes. Soon she will go cold turkey after she gets over her cold because I can't be bothered dummy hunting at 3am. Breastfed for 4/5months, again, very chatty and likes to yell.

galvanizersbaby

DS was very sucky had a dummy up until he cut his first tooth at around 9 months and then he didn't want his dummy anymore.

DD never had a dummy as she would never suck one

foreverindebted

I hadn't ever really thought about it, but DD didn't like it. She used one one evening and that was the end of that. Won't take a bottle either, unless it has only water in it. Retrospectively I'm really glad that she didn't take one. I agree, I'd rather comfort her myself.