soothers and sids

[marley2580]

Hi all, I've got a theory and was wondering what you all think about it. So the latest evidence suggests that using a dummy when your baby falls asleep can help reduce the risk of cot death. However, my theory is that the reason for this is because it mimics a baby falling asleep on the breast. This would mean that all these people who say that you shouldn't feed your baby to sleep would be wrong (I've never got the whole thing about not letting them fall asleep on the breast so taking them off and sticking a dummy in instead).

So what are people's thoughts?

 

[coz]

i didnt know you wasnt suppose to let your baby fall asleep whilst feeding mine allways does, you might be right though mine has a dummy it seems to settle him sometimes too xx

 

[sam's mum]

I hadn't heard about that...Sam doesn't have a dummy - maybe they're advising people to do it because it stops them from sleeping quite so deeply - same as putting them in the same room as you, as they'll hear any sounds you make. I really didn't want to give Sam a dummy at night as my friend is still getting up every half an hour through the night to put her son's dummy back in as he wakes up and screams when it falls out! x

 

[mickey]

in my opinion, dummys are a replacement for comfort sucking.

it's nonsense not to let them fall asleep on the breast, it's sth natural!

and as we both know, they stop anyway by themselves, as playing on the boob is far more entertaining

as well milk tooth are called milk tooth and get replaced for a reason, no?

it's just one of those "do nots" in our westernised society!

I bought the "no-cry-sleep-solution" yesterday, and teaching early "sleeping through" is e.g. an example of fitting your baby into your needs, as babys just don't sleep through for as long stretches as adults do!!!

 

[Tezzy]

i thought that you werent supposed to let your baby fall asleep at your breast/on you so that later on theyre not dependant on you to fall asleep (so you can put them down awake and they drift off by themselves) although Ffion sometimes has a dummie i wouldnt say it prevents SIDS

 

[~KACI~]

I've just looked this up as i've heard so many different views, i thought the dummies helped with SID's but HV said the advice is confusing as she was told that if a dummy is giving from birth that you then shouldn't take it away before the age of 1 because the baby has got used to it being there. This info should help for that to make sense

No one knows exactly why using a dummy helps protect against SIDS but a number of possible reasons have been suggested:

• the bulky external handle of the dummy may help keep your baby's nose and mouth clear of covers and soft bedding, and the sucking action may help improve the way your baby controls the upper airway

• use of a dummy may affect the sleeping position of your baby in a positive way that helps to prevent SIDS

• using a dummy may keep your baby in a state of greater arousal so they could be less likely to suffer from breathing or heart problems while asleep

I hope you understand what i mean?? x x

 

[Ragirl]

Interesting...I had never heard of this. We did both. I nursed my son to sleep and didn't see any harm in it. We started giving him a passy during the night as well when he was a few months old because he wanted to comfort nurse and I literally could not stay up ALL night while he did (as it was I was up every 2 hours to feed him). When he got older and started to wean himself, then I switched to nursing him a little earlier so he stayed awake and made a bedtime routine of bath, jammies, and reading a book. I know they say you aren't supposed to nurse them to sleep because they will become "dependent" on you, but it was just never an issue for us. He has been GREAT about falling asleep on his own (though he does still use a passy at night). In some ways I wonder if it hasn't been easier because I did let him nurse to sleep- he learned to suck himself to sleep from the start, regardless if it was nursing or a passy. Now I might feel differently when the day comes that we need to try and get rid of that nighttime passy! But since he ONLY uses at nighttime, I'm just not in a big rush. I'd rather he use that than suck his thumb!

 

[mickey]

nursing to sleep lowers the heart rate of the baby (scientifically proven), which takes breathing and all body function into a sleep mode, therefore baby can fall asleep on the breast easily! regular breathing, heart rate down prevents cot death...

dummys, if baby is used to take one, might do the same for the baby and therefore prevent cot death!

so as well in my opinion, the advice not nursing to sleep and dummy prevents cot death is contradictive!

 

[Ratty]

My little one never used the breast for comfort feeding. If there is no milk coming out, he ain't sucking it. He loves his dummy though.

In his case though having a dummy won't help SIDS as it normally drops out his mouth the moment he does into a deep sleep. He suffers from gas (mild colic) and I've been told that sucking the dummy will help. Its only when his stomach is giving him trouble or he has a bit of reflux that he needs his dummy to help him get to sleep.

 

[marley2580]

Apparently though, the dummy only needs to be sucked while they are dropping off to sleep.

The government recommended states that a dummy should be offered when baby is put down for a nap (be it in the day or evening) although it should not be forced or coated in anything sweet if the baby doesn't want to accept it. Dummies should not be introduced to breastfed babies until after they reach one month of age to ensure that breastfeeding has been properly established. Additionally, parents should not worry if their baby's dummy falls out whilst he or she is asleep.