DD is 7 weeks old. Just fed for almost 2 hours yet is still bringing hands up to mouth to suck. The baby whisperer book says if they've been fed in last 2.5-3 hours that is not a sign of hunger but of the need to suckle. She won't take a dummy to suck. She had a decent chuck which says to me that she had enough food. What else can I do? I'm beginning to realize that I have been misreading her signs and are taking steps to rectify, focusing on trying to get her to settle before she gets spaced out but early days for that. Is there a particular brand of dummies that people have had success with?
Any ideas gratefully received!
Aw, your post is making me all clucky
First, totally normal behaviour. Babies do ask for the breast to feed, drink, settle, comfort, etc, etc. And this age is about the time they have a big developmental leap - also known as a wonder week. My advice would be to try and ride it out - give it a week or so and see. And be kind to yourself at this time if you are feeling overwhelmed - call in help and let some housework etc go.
Just remember -t hat book is written by someone who has never met your baby and your baby hasn't read it so probably won't do what she says in there. It actually is normal for young babies to feed more often than 2.5-3 hours. cluster feeding is totally normal, typical newborn behaviour. It does tend to have a payoff - it's great for their development (the sucking is important for their mental/psychological development and a dummy doesn't have the same effect) and sometimes it means they will then go to sleep and have a longer break between feeds (which is always nice for mummy).
Aside from a dummy, another thing you can try is wearing your baby in a sling/wrap. sometimes just feeling close to mummy is enough.
So would I be better at leaving our initial attempts at self-settling once the wonder week had passed? She is so wired with exhaustion because she is not sleeping during the day (Monday was 8am awake and 12 midnight finally asleep!). She is sleeping brilliantly overnight. Just questioning my abilities at this stage because any patterns we had going are out the window (sign of wonder week, I know). Not the best thing to do, I know, but am doing it anyway!
No need to question your abilities MM - you learn and adapt as you go. Babies are developing and growing so fast, they do not stay in one pattern for long. Felixibility is key (and be realistic with yourself too, ok? You won't always have it 100% totally together and that's ok)
Get a sling or carrier. They are brilliant and just what most babies really need. Do you have something? Need a recommendation? A stretchy wrap is about the best thing for newborns - hug-a-bub, sleepy wrap, moby.... lots to choose from. Or even a close carrier. Or a ring sling.
My 2c - forget about self settling. She'll do it when she's ready. That's great you're getting good sleep overnight.
Hey Munchkin's Mum It's tough not to question your abilities hey? But I bet you're doing a brilliant job - and if there's one thing I've found it's that this is a learn as you go job, and no two days are the same!
My DD has never taken a dummy either, she just doesn't like them. I can understand why, they're a poor replica of a nipple lol. I also found that she does not follow any routine set out in any of the books. At 7 weeks she was definitely feeding more often than every 2-3 hours, and even now at 6 months she generally only goes 2.5 hours between feeds. She also likes to suckle for comfort, which while in the beginning can be tiring because you feel like you're constantly sat down with a baby on your breast, becomes a blessing. Now if DD is upset (like at vaccinations or teething or something) I can calm and relax her with a quick feed. It's easy and she knows that when she's upset I'm there to fix it for her.
As for patterns, 7 weeks was a real learning curve for me - I thought I knew everything about DD and it went completely out the window. Absolutely everything changed. I really just learnt to go with whatever she wanted at the time. If she wanted to feed or comfort suck I settled down with a book and the tv remote. I also bought a sling so I could actually get some housework done, because even when she wasn't feeding she liked to be held. It makes sense I guess, when only 7 weeks ago she'd been all tucked up nice and warm inside
If you do want her to take a dummy to give yourself a break, the only thing that worked for us is when DH would sit on the couch with her, he'd fold a U-pillow in half and prop her in there, sing to her and rest a finger on the dummy gently. She'd suck away and fall asleep - this was bliss for when I was feeling completely 'touched out' and just needed a break. She still won't have one on her own though. She spits it out or just chews on it.
As for self-settling, 7 weeks might be a bit early. She'll get there, but for now she probably needs cuddles
MM - DS2 use to do this too. It was foriegn to me as DS1 never did it so I though he was hungry all the time. I worked out quickly that it was his tired sign. He did this when he was really tired. He started doing this when he was two days old and grew out of it by around 12 weeks (from memory)
my DS always refused a dummy as well - but never the breast sometimes in those early weeks he would suck on a little (clean obviously!) finger for DP (although not for me).
with the benefit of hindsight, i can say that they change sooooo often in the early months & just when you think they've fallen into a pattern, they change again! in the end i found it easiest to go with the flow
i think a sling/carrier is a great idea & wish i'd had one with DS - i've already bought one for number 2 though!!
sounds like you're doing great the book might say differently, but it's okay to help them settle to sleep...it won't cause a bad habit & it'll help through those wonder weeks!
Won't take dummy
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sometimes in those early weeks he would suck on a little (clean obviously!) finger for DP (although not for me). 
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