How do you feel about dummies?

[sydney moose]

DD came out of the wonb wanting to suck everything in her sight, including the humidi-crib she was put into for the first 30 minutes of her life! LOL My DH was sooooo anti-dummy, it wasn't even funny. We were both thumb suckers but in the end, one night, she just would not settle and DH wasn't home so I stuck a dummy in her mouth and ***HAAAAALLEILUIYA** she settled in 5 seconds! So I said to DH, look if YOU want to spend the next 3 hours settling her all the time, be my guest but I am using it. At 3 months, Sammy stopped taking it and is now an avid finger/thumb sucker.

I say, have one on hand, but let your bubba guide whether he wants one or not. You may not have a choice! ;-) As for the horror stories re dental work, I am pretty sure you haven't got to worry about that until the 2nd set of teeth comes through. One bonus of finger sucking over dummy...you never have to look for it or forget it, drop it, etc...this is also a downfall as you cannot take it away either I say keep your mind open and go with the flow

[Fleur]

I used dummies with DD & DS1...DS2 wouldn't take one but I sure hope this bub does.

Like Maz & Leasha's bubs, DS2 preferred me as the dummy...I don't want to do that again!

DD got one very early on because she was a thumb sucker, and I figured easier to get rid of a dummy than a thumb.

Interesting that both DD & DS1 had other 'security' items as well that they absolutely refused to sleep without and were much more attached to than the dummy...they went at about the same time. In DS2's case he was happy as long as he had a nipple nearby...

Both DD & DS1 gave them up with a bit of gentle encouragement at about two and a half - I know this will horrify some people but they were ready, it wasn't a drama, no tears or tantrums and 6 months later, it's such a non-issue, let alone years down the track!

I would like to see it gone earlier... we will see what happens this time.

And FWIW I understand that people think it's ugly or whatever, I tend to agree, but really it's such a little thing compared to all the other issues that parenting raises...just do what works for you

[Doing my best]

I think it is up to the child.. I know I wouldn't like it if someone said I couldn't have my pillow which I use for comfort, LOL...

We had different types when DD was a baby and she just wouldn't accept them.. Have since given them away, and have bought some more in case this baby wants one..

[briggsy's girl]

i was hoping to not need to use them - but i wasn't anti-dummy to the point of making me or my girl suffer! she is definitely a comfort sucker - and it was getting to the point where she was ending up overfull from sucking on me, and couldn't sleep without breast. so we introduced a dummy a couple of weeks ago - she only uses it for comfort to go to sleep if she doesn't go into a deep sleep while i'm feeding her. i can't see that putting her on the breast when she's just fed JUST to put her to sleep again is healthy for her so i give her a dummy. most of the time she spits it out when she's asleep properly and we find it in her bed when she wakes up a couple of hours later

[Olive]

DD1 was a huge thumb sucker and it was fantastic! she slept extremely well very early on, self settled etc..loved loved loved the thumb, we stopped her quiet easily by taping her thumb with sports tape for a few weeks, the first few days were hard but she got over it pretty quickly and hasnt looked back!
DD2 takes a dummy but is self weaning off it, she doesnt seem to need it as much any more, she prefers to talk herself to sleep.
i agree they certainly have there place, sucking creates more saliva which helps digest the milk which is why reflux babies like them!
never say never!

[Daffodil Mumma]

When I was pregnant I didnt want to do the whole dummy thing....but I bought a two-pack anyway just incase. I was big on buying a heap of "just in case" stuff (even had formula and bottles in the cupboard just in case lol) DS loved his dummy and settled really well with it for afew weeks...then he had his first head cold and constantly spat it out (I guess it bothered his breathing). Now he will take it sometimes but most often he will prefer his thumb or fist!

Could be worse tho....he could be a toe sucker like I apparently was lol

[Nadine216]

Best thing since the toaster

[SophieRose]

I guess it all just boils down to what Bub decides he wants huh.
I should be ok with him using one to get to sleep, but i don't like the idea of using one everytime he makes any kind of noise. Like a kind of plug the noise asap sort of thing.

I hope he doesn't suck his thumb, as i said earlier, thumbsucking really screwed up my sisters teeth. Plus as you guys have said, i can actually take away a dummy, can't take a thumb. (that would be a little psycho :S)

I told Dp if i catch him plugging a dummy into Bub's mouth everytime he makes a noise, there will be huge trouble.
I think my problem is with dummies is that people who use it when it's not needed (after any kind of noise is made, be it a cry or a gurgle) i just see that as being lazy (don't mean to offend anyone, sorry if i have, just my personal opinion) I would rather take the time to settle him than to just "plug" up the problem. I guess thats just me. Plus i would so much rather see the little baby lip pout than have a bit of plastic covering it. Hehe.

But i have to say, you ladies have at least gotten me ok with using dummies. Dp will be ecstatic. Haha

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I found with DD (and other parents have told me) bubs don't like the orthodontic ones. I have no idea why but I keep hearing from other parents that their bubs, like mine, would only go for the cherry shaped. Personally I wouldn't bother paying lots of money for dummies, believe me they will get lost! We like to joke that they run off together and breed because we'll struggle to find any for weeks and all of a sudden we look under the bed and there's 10 of them LOL!

[bon]

We like to joke that they run off together and breed because we'll struggle to find any for weeks and all of a sudden we look under the bed and there's 10 of them LOL!

LOL our 2 yo DD was a classic for this. She would be down to one dummy after losing all the others, then she would disappear into one of the bedrooms and reappear with a new one!

I was finally prompted to get rid of them for good after she had once again lost them all and the dog chewed the last one. It was surprisingly easy - I told her that the dog had chewed her dummy so we have to throw it away, but to sweeten the deal the 'dummy fairy' left her a little present for being a big girl and saying goodbye to her dummies.

When my babies were newborn I would buy the more expensive ones, as they don't tend to lose them that easily when they are so small. But as they got older I would just buy the cheap 3 pack of tommee tippee cherry soothers. My kids didn't like the happy baby ones because they would always deflate.

[Malyna]

DS doesn't like dummies at all. I have tried putting something sweet on the end of it (I used maple syrup) and he sucked it off and spat the dummy out. He doesn't like bottles either. I've tried all the shapes etc, and he just doesn't like it.