Will you be giving your baby a dummy/pacifier?

[xGeorgiax]

Hey ladies....thought I would start a poll as I have decided that my baby will not be having a dummy for lots of reasons...

Who will/wont be giving their baby a dummy and why? xxx

 

[bubbles19]

mmm i think i will but thats just a straight up desision. but then i've not really researched into the pro's and con's yet x

 

[Amelia Pond]

No, my other three children managed fine without, so shall this one

 

[Mindy_mini]

Hey ladies....thought I would start a poll as I have decided that my baby will not be having a dummy for lots of reasons...

Who will/wont be giving their baby a dummy and why? xxx

Hahahaha I said the same but one thing I've learnt as a parent is never say never.

We gave LO a dummy at 2wks because the ONLY way she would sleep was attached to a breast, with someones little finger in her mouth ... Or a dummy. She didn't use it for long (maybe 2-3wks) but as I say never say never

 

[Ashlee B x]

Oh god yes! My son cudnt sleep without a dummy and a muslin to twiddle in his fingers, we got rid of it on his 2nd bday which was really quite easy, ive already stocked up on pink dummies but the flatter teets as my son had cherry teets and i hated them lol. But for me, defo a must have!!!

 

[tiggerz]

I didn't vote as you haven't got a maybe answer With the other 2 they had a dummy as they would only sleep with my boob in their mouth - not really a practical solution lol so they got a tummy for comfort when necessary but I used to take it out when they'd fallen asleep. All babies are different and if this one doesn't need the comfort it will not get a tummy - time will tell!! One thing with a tummy is at least you can take it away later on but thumb suckers are very hard to break their habit x

 

[Nathyrra]

Depends, my first boy didn't have one for the first three months, after that he started suffering terribly from Reflux so we introduced one as a means to ease himself. I think it worked out well because he can live with or without it, he's not fussed. He just likes something to suck on sometimes if he's poorly. We use an orthodontic one.

This one we'll do the same thing, try without to start with. I'd like to hope I don't have two fluxing babies hehe.

 

[clairealfie]

I'm just going to see what happens, I don't really want to given him one if it's not necessary but I'm not that against them to say no outright.

 

[xGeorgiax]

Thanks everyone for repying im not gona say never, this is my first baby and maybe im just being naive and im not totally against them iv just read so many cons that affect baby for life that it puts me off ..hope I havent offended anyone! xxx

 

[Ashlee B x]

What cons have you heard? maybe we can correct if any seem far fetched?

 

[XxhappylassxX]

With this being my 1st baby i'll just see how i get on i'm not against giving bubs a dummy but if he/she doesnt need one then great! I've bought some anyways just incase

 

[youngmommy2]

I definitely will be

 

[SummerRocks]

Yes we will be

 

[dizzyangel]

No I wont be giving them one! Tbh i think they look horrible (just my opinion!) and I never had one as a child and I was ok

 

[xGeorgiax]

The disadvantages of using a dummy

* Speech problems - Sucking on a dummy during waking hours means that babies miss out on the essential babble and chatter that plays a vital role in their early speech development. Prolonged use can have serious implications for their speech development.

* Dental problems - Daily use also has implications for teeth development, particularly in older infants. Teeth can become deformed and may not grow properly, leading to problems that have to be corrected later on.

* Ear infections - There is some evidence that the frequent use of dummies can cause infections of the middle ear.

* Stomach bugs - Diarrhea, vomiting and other stomach-bug type infections are also more common with babies that frequently use dummies

* Nipple confusion - Use of dummies on a daily basis may also interfere with breast feeding, either by causing nipple confusion (whereby baby finds it difficult to adjust to suckling on their mother's nipple after an aesthetically shaped teat) or by reducing milk production in the mother as a result of less comfort feeding. Either way, the use of a dummy is associated with a likelihood to stop breastfeeding earlier.

Using a dummy may affect your baby's health in other ways too. Babies who use dummies seem to be prone to more chest infections and tummy upsets (Sexton and Natale 2009, Joanna Briggs Institute 2006). The exact cause hasn't been established, but using a dummy has been linked to an increase in:

* vomiting
* fever
* diarrhoea
* colic


The longer your baby uses a dummy, the more likely it is to cause changes in the way his teeth grow. This can result in an overbite or crossbite, where the top and bottom teeth don't meet properly.

Just some of the cons iv read up on, I know someone whos baby had a dummy until he was about 18 months and it has already affected his speech etc... Im not against anyone using a dummy what so ever, it is personal choice xx

 

[Louelle82]

I had a dummy when I was a little girl in fact my Dad had to con me into posting it to Father Christmas when I was about 5 becuase I wouldn't give it up. I am 100% healthy and my teeth are perfect (says my dentist!) never did me any harm!!

 

[Mindy_mini]

I think most of those "cons" are only a problem If you let it become a problem. I can see how it could affect speech if used 24/7 but we only offered it for sleeping, tummy bugs etc will happen if you don't wash/sterilise them, as for the teeth - our LO now sucks her thumb and I was worried about the same and my dentist assured me it would only be a problem if she did it past the age of 6 which most children dont.

Incidentally, I never had a dummy and had ear infection after ear infection so draw your own conclusions

As I say dot rule anything out. it might just save your sanity

 

[Peyre]

In principle, I prefer not to.

But once I see how the baby behaves, I may change my mind.

I'm also planning not to use nappies, but this may have to change.

The same goes with breast feeding. I would like to, but seeing my tiny pair of boobs, I may not be able, having to use formula.

I've got many plans that, once the baby is here, may be suitable for change.

 

[Gretaa]

i will be using it as i am planning on combined feeding and I read that there's more chances baby will get used to the bottle is through the dummy sucking. Me/my brother grew up with dummies and have healthy and straight teeth, no problems with mouth what so ever

 

[kristen77]

I was always a never, not a chance person - then I realised after being awake for 48 hrs (including giving birth) that if a dummy is what a newborn wants to comfort them & help them sleep then give them a freaking dummy! My son only took one for a couple of weeks but it really helped settle him.

The majority of the cons you listed would only happen if you allowed your child to have their dummy for a long time, ie speech & dental problems. If you make sure it is sterilised then vomiting etc won't be a problem.

And remember dummies reduce the risk of SIDS......