dummy

I heard that babies sucking well will often not want a dummy, because their need to be soothed is fulfilled when they feed. My son was prem, didn't suck well and loved the dummy. My daughter can be called Electrolux and doesn't want any type of dummy.

My son got his on day 1 and loved it. It did frustrate me that he would wake up crying when it fell out at night. He is still using it at 2 years 4 months. I wanted to take it away at 2, but his sister was born that time. He only gets it when he goes to bed. At creche he doesn't even use it when he naps. At home I give it to him for his afternoon nap as I know I will then also be able to get some rest. This weekend is the first time I'm going to try the nap without a dummy and soon I'm going to take it away.

My daughter wll suck a few times and then push out. I do wish she had some kind of self soother. I am tired of being that soother... She is starting to suck on her hands, so I really hope she doesn't find her thumb. I will try the MAM again, because she actually liked hers (lost it) more than any other one I gave to her.

I really do not have a problem with a dummy while sleeping and feel taking it away at 2 is fine. Walking around with the dummy all the time I don't like as it can delay speech development (in my opinion) because the little mouth is so busy with the dummy that it does not make babble sounds that often.

I think we all hope our little ones never use a dummy/suck thumb/or have a doe doe toy/blankie.

Well as nature has it, all babies are different.

I took a Nuk with me to hospital but left it at the bottom of my bag. After an emergency C section, Jordyn being rushed to NICU for Meconium Aspiration Syndrome- The next day, with feeding tubes and oxygen tubes in nose and mouth, and him trying to suck on the cords (remember I could not BF/bottle at this stage) -the sister asked me how I felt about giving him a dummy..... Well I honestly at that stage did not see any problem. He has his dummy at sleep time, or if he isn't feeling well etc but I don't think he is dependent on it. I did think to myself this morning that I think he would go to sleep without it and am going to try that.

I think we juts have to use our discretion as with most things. And most of the leading brands are orthodontically approved- so I don't think there are major concerns when they are small.

I use the MAM dummies, he just took to them really well. I tried Avent and Nuk, even Tommee Tippee.

So if you are about to have a baby maybe have one on standby but there really isn't a need to force the issue.

I forgot about a bit of gliserine or gripewater on the dummy!

The easy thing is to get you LO to take a dummy but the Hardest thing is to GET THEM OFF THE BLOODY THING!! hahaha

I was determined to not use a dummy (note from my dentist friend - all dummys are bad for teeth, if used for extended times), but then I became the dummy so I relented and James hated it. I bought every dummy on the market and he would start screaming as soon as I put it in his mouth (the whole tapping, holding thing didnt help - he just screamed round it) so after 2 months of trying to force the issue I gave up and just accepted that I was going to have to be a human dummy. Suddenly the screaming stopped and I used to nurse him to sleep ...my life got easier.

Now he still uses me for comfort if he takes a fall etc, but he goes to sleep on his own with me (DH, granny etc) just gently sushing him (patting his back) and singing:)

He has no security object and no dummy and looking at my friends kids who are attached to one thing or the other, this is definitely a plus.

Dont force the issue if its unwanted:)

I was deadset on not giving my child a dummy - never bought any. Then she had jaundince and would not stop screaming in the incubator and my heart broke. So, when the nurse asked if we had a dummy, I sent dh to the pharmacy. She took it immediately though and stopped screaming. She has always loved her dummy. I only give it to her at nap time though, she has never been allowed to suck it unless its sleeping time (she seems happy with that arrangement for now).

As for the thumb - it supposedly has a worse effect on their teeth because most good dummies are shaped to promote natural development of the teeth whereas the thumb is not. Not sure whether or not that is true, but that's what I have heard.

As for getting your child to take the dummy - I would have preferred that my child did not want to take a dummy but it is easier to soothe with a dummy, so I guess the only thing you can do is persevere??

Touch wood - Luke has also not had the urge to suck his thumb or blankie etc...