pacifiers okay to use with bf baby? if so which one?

[jen435]

Husband is really itching to give our one week old daughter a pacifer. Im ebf and afraid it will interfere with her latch and bf in general. Does anyone bf use a pacifier ?? If so when did u introduce it and what kind are u using?

 

[doggylover]

I don't use one, as my LO doesn't need it. It's a personal decision, but I would encourage you to try and ride it out a little longer before giving her one if possible. At this point, if LO wants to suck, let her suck on you if that's possible for you (if your nipples aren't too sore!) as it will be great for your supply.

My SIL ebf my nephew, and he had a paci since he was 3 days old (still has it now at 2, which is why I'm hesitant about them!!) but it didnt interfere at all with her bf latch, he bf just fine. He had a tommee tippee paci I believe to start.

 

[charlie15]

I EBF and use a paci, I was reluctant at first as not keen on them, but my LO would have sucked 24/7 if she could and I needed the occasional break. I had no problem with the latch and no prob with supply, but we used the paci very sparingly. I think we first introduced it when LO was maybe 2 weeks old, I can't really recall exactly! We tried the tommy tippy and LO didn't take to it, so used MAM. What I prefer about these is that they have large teets so are similar to a nipple.

 

[optimistic1]

As long as they have a good latch a pacifier it's okay it won't confuse them I wouldn't recommend using it all the time though. I use one that came from Akron childrens hospital there specially made but the pacifier they use to make them is a soother there the only ones I know that are shaped like a nipple the only time she'll take it is during car rides.

 

[Here_we_go]

My son took a pacifer straight away while we were still in the hospital. No nipple confusion or anything happened. I gave it to him for rides in the car and during naps or at bedtime. If he was hungry no pacifer on earth would satisfy him
He would only take NUK pacifers.

My daughter refuses to take one. I've tried and tried, especially when we would be in the car. I've tried several different types and I figure she's just not a pacifer baby.

EDIT: I also thought it might help to improve her latch since she wasn't opening her mouth wide enough causing a very shallow latch which was extremely painful for me. MAM, NUK, Playtex, Soothie, she'd make an awful face with any of those and gag.

 

[Steph82]

^^WSS

The hospital gave him one when we were there. He never really latched on to it though. If we want him to have it (car ride or if OH has him while I'm out of reach), we have to hold it in his mouth so he can play around with it. He has recently found his thumb though and much prefers that.

We never had an issue with latching. I EBF and pump while at work. Never had an issue with nipple confusion from breast to paci to bottle

 

[lmp1505768]

My DD was FF and took a pack fine. Breastfeeding DS this time around and he has had one from day one. No supply issues, no latch issues, and it really helps when he wakes himself up and just needs to comfort suck for a minute while he falls back to sleep. Otherwise I end up getting all set up to BF and he latches for two seconds and falls asleep, just after I have my let down lol

As long as baby eats at least every four hours your supply should be fine. (2-3 is better though)

DD took any pacifier I gave her, except for the ones you put your finger in, which surprisingly is the only one DS will touch. Guess it just depends on the baby.

 

[ARuppe716]

Hospital gave us an avent soothie and that's what we continued to use. I like it because its harder to just clamp down on and suck so its more to soothe than to suck non stop on. It was a life saver the first three months and now we almost never use it. I never let him sleep with it because I didn't want to have issues having to keep put it back in his mouth or with weaning it out. I really didn't want a three year old with a paci!!

 

[monte3375]

Mam, no problem with latch.

 

[lunawaffles]

The LC told me not to use pacifiers, but the other nurses in the NICU got him used to them and I was okay with it anyway. I still give him one at bedtime, on car rides, or even sometimes when he's eaten plenty but just needs some extra soothing, and occasionally he doesn't really want a pacifier anyway. Also, there's a study that shows the use of a pacifier at bedtime reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndome. I haven't had a problem with them so far. I say if you like to use them, go for it. Ask your pediatrician what they think if you're not sure.

 

[Bubsta]

Yep, we use a pacifier. We had to try a few different ones before we found one that our son would use. Tommee Tippee Miomee Orthodontic. I haven't seen a dummy like it before. I think it resembles what a nipple would be like if it was squished while feeding. I think that might be why he accepts it. It hasn't interfered with feeding.

 

[lunawaffles]

I use the MAM brand pacifiers, and also the ones from AVENT cos they're orthodontic and good for their teeth or something, but he definitely prefers the MAM ones.

 

[countryblonde]

been using an event soothie since we brought our son home from the hospital.. have had no problems bf... at first we didn't give it to him much.. but he uses it more now... still only to soothe or fall asleep( he loves to suck).. its been a lifesaver oe he'd be on my boob at the time

 

[DaisyAnne]

I think people have differing opinions and experiences with pacifiers, so I believe it's up to your decision and what you feel is working well for your little one. I tried to use a pacifier, but he never really took one until he was 6 months old. He sort of took one for a little bit, but never had any nipple confusion (he had a bottle for a little bit, too, and never had any nipple confusion there). He just didn't like them and would make him angry if you gave him one- and I tried at least 5 kinds.

Try it if you want- and try different kinds until you come upon one your LO likes- or skip them if you want...or just see what your baby wants! I just ended up always letting Matthew do his comfort sucking on me. No two experiences are the same, so we can't tell you what's best for you and your baby

 

[TheNewMrs]

Pacis are usually fine. It is recommended to WAIT till 6-8 weeks though because babies hunger ques might be missed by sucking on the paci. Also some babies would be contented by the sucking motion and accept that huger is a normal sensation to come with feeding (because they think they are feeding) which leads to weight gain issues because baby no longer assosiates feeding with feeling "full". Its a personal call but I'd suggest researching the do's and don'ts first.

 

[nevernormal]

I wanted to wait until 6 weeks, but had to take him out with me alone and gave in at 3 weeks. Now we mostly use one if I'm out alone, or we're at church in the middle of service.

However, we've gotten to where we will offer it at home. He's not very partial to a pacifier in general (we use mam & some fisher price ones, I've offered both from the beginning as I'm hoping he doesn't get attached to only one kind and create issues if we lose them or something), and usually just spits it out. However I try to always offer the boob first if possible, and I can usually tell if he just wants to comfort suck as he won't stay latched on, but will keep taking it, suck a few seconds, pop off, fuss, latch on again, etc. He would happily suck on my (clean) pinky finger, and in the end I decided that really wasn't any different than a paci. Both are a nipple substitute.

I haven't noticed it affecting BF or his latch or anything. Like I said, sometimes he takes it, sometimes he doesn't. If he won't take it and is still fussing, then I offer the boob again.

If he falls asleep with it, I remove it from his mouth as I don't want him getting used to waking up and having it. Overall DH and I both hate pacifiers, especially seeing toddlers with them, but we happen to have a high-sucking-needs baby, so what can we do? My mom used pacifiers with all of us but said we were off of them by 6 months, so 6 months is what I'm shooting for too. I've read that often the need to suck as much diminishes when they start solids (or at 6 months maybe? I can't remember which, but I plan to start solids at 6 months so it's the same to me) so hopefully I can do that

 

[jen435]

Thank you! My baby is currently gaining weight 7oz at week two weigh in and a 1 1/2oz first week. Shes two weeks. I always offer my boob first but she pulls off and screams when not hungry sge gave herself a hicky on arm and it looks terrible i cried.

Dh tried avent soothe one playtex most like moms so far she sucks and spits right out. Trying mam 0+ today when i know all her day feeds are in.hoping she doesnt hurt herself anymore

 

[iwantabub]

Just out of advice as my little man is 4 weeks today... I think it may screw with their growth spurt to have a dummy this little? He was suckling 24 hours the last few days and not drinking just suckling to I crease my supply if he had a dummy it wouldn't work?

 

[jen435]

Iwantabub supply and demand. Luckly the growth spurts are to help our supply. I had one angry frustrated baby that aggressively feed almost all day yesterday then cried when i was empty on a side ... I told Dh i felt like human pacifer but she was sukling deep guessence shes demanding more?? I noticed she onlu flicks n plays about a minute or two before falling off.