To dummy or not to dummy??

[stripeycat5]

DD is 4 weeks old and has been unsettled in the evenings since birth. She has been better with Infacol and doesn't show any signs of reflux or colic just wind in the evenings. However I have noticed that whenever she is awake unless she is feeding she is pretty grumpy! She will tolerate maybe five mins on the floor on her mat and again in the swing but not much more. She sleeps in 4-5 hour stretches at night which is brilliant and doesn't need much soothing for her to go back to sleep at nighttime. However in the day whenever she is awake all she does is grizzle and as I am trying to look after DS at the same time it can be a nightmare!

She has had a dummy a few times now and it seems to soothe her but not for naps and sleeping at bedtime as she settles quite well after being fed. I am just wondering if it is on to keep on giving her dummy when she is grizzling or if that is counter productive and if I should be finding other ways to soothe her?

I didn't have to use one with DS and he was always such a placid baby this diva behaviour has come as a bit of shock tbh 😉 x

 

[RaspberryK]

I'd try "baby wearing" before the dummy as it's likely that she just wants to be held.
Xx

 

[whigfield]

No other experience as only one baby here, but we went through absolute colic hell and no amount of babywearing, holding, cuddling etc made a difference. Dummies were a small lifesaver and he still uses one now. It was around 5 weeks when I first started giving him one. He still settles to sleep without one just fine too!

 

[MrsMandy]

My little boy is very much the same. If he's not feeding or sleeping he's grumpy and crying.
We have discovered he settles if offered a finger to suck on so my hubby keeps mentioning about a dummy but I'm reluctant to use one as he had issues latching on from birth and also our health visitor explained that not only could it cause nipple confusion but also it can cause delays and issues with speech and language development.
Hope you find something that works. It's sooo hard when all they do is cry all day isn't it! (or all night which I find even harder to deal with) xx

 

[stripeycat5]

Thank you for all your your advice ladies. She hasn't been as keen on the dummy today so she may be making her mind up for me on that one! I tried putting her in the moby yesterday but I think she could smell boobs so wasn't having any of it! Hopefully it is just a fussy stage fingers crossed x

 

[Becky1987]

I used a dummy for my son until he was 18 months and we ditched it cold turkey. He has no issues re speech and language and his teeth were not affected as we took it away before it became an issue. He would not settle when little without it and used to really take comfort from it. He did not have it 24:7 but when he was unsettled. I think some babies just love a dummy and others don't. I won't hesitate in giving this baby one if needed like I did with my first. I remember feeling I had failed because I gave him a dummy but he needed it! I would do what's best for you and your family. X

 

[Bunnikins]

Dummy all the way! I had my views on them not having one before i had a baby, but if it makes them happy go for it! Both my little ladies have had one and theyve been lifesavers! Ill even say that even now, as im trying to wean my youngest off hers now shes trying to talk x

 

[RosieRosieP]

DD had awful colic too and she started using her thumb to self soothe which was fine until the skin cracked and it got infected so I ended up giving the dummy.

She likes it for five mins before naps/bed time and tends to spit out once done. I was very anti dummy until I had DD but it works for us for now.

Do what is best for you and your LO if she gets a bit of comfor then great x

 

[whigfield]

DD had awful colic too and she started using her thumb to self soothe which was fine until the skin cracked and it got infected so I ended up giving the dummy.

She likes it for five mins before naps/bed time and tends to spit out once done. I was very anti dummy until I had DD but it works for us for now.

Do what is best for you and your LO if she gets a bit of comfor then great x

Oh, I forgot this! This was another reason we gave a dummy. He did the same thing with his thumb, and the health visitor argued: "isn't it better to get him sucking on something you can take away and wean him off?" which we agreed with.

 

[CaptainMummy]

All of mine have/had a dummy. My 20 month and 7 month still have one.
It never affected my 4yr olds teeth or speech, and hasnt affected my 20 month either (her speech is ridiculous, and her teeth are perfect..
I try to keep them for naps/bedtime, which usually works... But I have no Issues giving them to calm my girls down if they just need to settle a bit.

 

[mayacat]

DD had awful colic too and she started using her thumb to self soothe which was fine until the skin cracked and it got infected so I ended up giving the dummy.

She likes it for five mins before naps/bed time and tends to spit out once done. I was very anti dummy until I had DD but it works for us for now.

Do what is best for you and your LO if she gets a bit of comfor then great x

Oh, I forgot this! This was another reason we gave a dummy. He did the same thing with his thumb, and the health visitor argued: "isn't it better to get him sucking on something you can take away and wean him off?" which we agreed with.

This is what I'm thinking too. Right now DD sucks on our fingers a lot to calm down. We're trying to offer her a soother as an alternative but she hates them. Will only sometimes take it and if it comes out, she gets really mad. She hasn't yet been able to get her own thumb in her mouth much but at least we can remove the soother! I'm hoping she takes it eventually because she loves sucking to get calm.

 

[Button#]

I found dummies really useful with DS and he's had no problems because of it.

I wish DD would take a dummy as she's a grump like yours, but she's not interested.