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thread: Breastfeeding friendly dummy

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth
    3,268

    Breastfeeding friendly dummy

    Hubby, DD and I will be travelling long distance a bit this year (flying) to visit family. I'm looking into getting a dummy in case DD plays up during the flights- I don't use one typically and I know she may not take one but she is a comfort sucker so it might come in handy. What types or brands should I look into?

    LL

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Oct 2009
    Bonbeach, Melbourne
    7,177

    I've tried lots and my favourite so far have been NUK brand. I went on a very short flight with DD and fed her before take off, and she slept the whole way (only 2 hour flight). Obviously for a long flight you can't be feeding the whole time though

  3. #3
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jan 2006
    11,633

    I'm not sure there's a breastfeeding friendly one - you may find she has particular preferences or may not take one at all Your breasts are excellent pacifiers also.
    Getting daddy to walk around the plane with little ones is quite helpful when they get restless

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jul 2005
    Sydney
    7,896

    I used the cheapest, easiest to find dummy with DD1 as she loved to comfort suck on her wrists (not my bbs). DD2 likes to comfort suck at night after a feed for a little while but will not take a dummy at all.

    I guess my point is that no one brand of any dummy is more or less bfing friendly (despite marketing). The only issue is not introducing a dummy too early in order to not interfere with bfing (ie using a dummy when baby is hungry or not allowing comfort sucking at the breast in the first six weeks to stimulate supply).

    You can give a dummy a go but I'd encourage you to try at home once bfing is properly established as if she doesn't like it she will possibly create more fuss. don't wait until the plane!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth
    3,268

    Good idea re trying at home. My BF journey hasn't been 100% easy but is now mostly settled but baby is only five and a half weeks so I'm conscious of not doing anything to set us back at square one. Just planning ahead!

  6. #6
    2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Apr 2010
    In the mad house at loopy land
    1,230

    We also use NUK always have.

    sent from my galaxcy so please excuse the spelling

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    Newcastle, NSW
    4,219

    We used Gumdrop pacifiers. You can buy them on eBay. They're brilliant.


    This post was brought to you by Lisa's iPhone. Keeping Lisa sane since 2011.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jun 2005
    USA
    3,991

    I was told the cherry shaped dummies are more BFing friendly than the orthodontic ones. If you haven't used a dummy before though I don't think you need one now. My youngest doesn't have a dummy and when flying I just fed him during take off and landing and then whenever else he needed it.

    My oldest son has a dummy and we buy the ummy brand as they are made from natural rubber so they don't have chemicals in them.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth
    3,686

    I had a rough start to breastfeeding with both my girls (a variety of issues such a staph, tongue tie, vasospasm, low supply, dermatitis to name a few - lol!) and both took dummies well from a young age and there was no nipple confusion at all.

    DD1 used (and still does randomly! ) the orthodontic teats and it had to be the Avent ones - the most expensive She used Nuby a bit but Avent was by far her faves. I BF her until 11.5 months

    DD2 took to dummies in hospital and this time I offered the cherry teats and she loved them. Initially it was Happy Baby and Heinz Baby Basics but her faves are Tommee Tippee. Our BF relationship is excellent.

    Different babies, different tastes. You may need to try a few so maybe just start with the cheap and cheerful cherry ones first.

    I totally agree with trying them out well before your trip. I personally think it's a great idea as much as breast are SO handy on a flight comfort sucking can wear thin quickly. One of my best friends was BF her eldest when she flew to the UK on her own and she said his comfort sucking was horrendous on the flights, she felt very 'over touched' (IYKWIM) when she finally got there. She didn't sleep much at all (less than a couple of hours) and her nipples were very sore on arrival.

    Good luck!

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    NSW Central Coast
    5,301

    All of my kids were 'sucky' babies and have had dummies from very early on. I was told by several professionals, that the cherry shaped ones are the best. I can't remember why though! I usually just buy the tommee tippee ones or the happy baby ones.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth
    3,268

    Hmm, so I bought a Pidgeon and a Nuby each for DD to try and she is not into them at all. In fact when I gently placed a dummy at her lips then when she opened her mouth put the dummy in, she thought it was a game and started smiling the biggest open-mouthed smile every time I tried...so of course with a gaping open mouth there was no sucking going on. The few times she did close her mouth over it, she just held it there for a moment then let it fall out. I'm glad I didn't wait until we were actually flying!

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Sep 2007
    Brisbane
    5,729

    My DD1 liked the cherry teats. They were really cheap too . 3 for $2 at kmart.

  13. #13
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    My DD3 knew the difference between breast & dummy. The feeling or the smell, I'm not sure, but she knew when I was trying to cheat
    She occasionally took one & only took the cheapo servo cherry shaped ones. She wouldn't take the slightly more expensive cherry shaped chemist (tommee tippee??) ones coz the teat was hardeer

    DS was the same & liked the soft cheapo's. DD1 was a NUK/orthodontic dummy girl.

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth
    3,268

    The Nuby was from Coles and a cherry but it seems awfully large for a tiny mouth. The Pidgeon looks like a cross between a round and flat teat.

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth
    3,686

    Hmm, so I bought a Pidgeon and a Nuby each for DD to try and she is not into them at all. In fact when I gently placed a dummy at her lips then when she opened her mouth put the dummy in, she thought it was a game and started smiling the biggest open-mouthed smile every time I tried...so of course with a gaping open mouth there was no sucking going on. The few times she did close her mouth over it, she just held it there for a moment then let it fall out. I'm glad I didn't wait until we were actually flying!
    You will need to try when she's sleepy. DD2 is a dummy girl but mainly when she's sleepy otherwise she does the same as your DD, just spits it out and grins! She also spits it out when she's hungry and I'm trying to stall her. Smart little things

    DD2 loves her dummy to nod off though and it can fall out several times before she goes to sleep. It's a PITA to have to keep putting it in but she settles so well with it I'm happy to do that. A lot of the time she manages to hold onto it fine as she goes to sleep.

    Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say if you want to really test if she likes a dummy then give it a go when she's sleepy. Even in your arms so you can pop it back in easily if it falls out. Babies often push dummies out initially as they know it's a foreign object but many love them once they realise it's a comforter. Obviously don't force it though if she's really not interested or distressed by it.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Feb 2006
    NSW Central Coast
    5,301

    Maybe it will just take her a bit to get used to it, a little bit of practice? It's probably a new way of sucking for her.

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth
    3,268

    I think she will have to learn how to suck on it as so far in her little life all she's had to suck is my boob, my little finger and her hands. And this is an entirely different thing. She's so funny with it- I praise her when she takes it into her mouth and she's so obviously proud and happy she starts grinning even more and gurgling, rather than sucking. Very entertaining for her mama!

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Jan 2011
    Perth
    3,268

    Oh and good advice Taurean. I'll try when she's sleepy for sure.

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