How do you feel about dummies?

[SophieRose]

Hi all, was wondering what everyones opinions were on using dummies?

I'm not really into the idea of using one but Dp says their lifesavers at times. So i'm reluctantly agreeing to try them.

Why do you like/dislike dummies? What are your experiences and why do you use/not use dummies??

Thanks xxx

[mrscricket]

SR - before we had DS, we were very anti-dummy. My sister gave us one as part of a gift basket when he was born and we laughed and said "Not for us!". Well...... DS had reflux very badly for the first 13months of his life and the dummy was a lifesaver in that regard. Sucking took away the pain, and it was either me or the dummy - so praise the dummy!
Now, at almost 2, we have limited it to strictly bedtime or long car trips. He has always slept well and I don't know if that is due to the dummy but I'm not going to mess with a good thing. We are happy for him to have it for sleeping but both hate the sight of older kids at the supermarket with them (although I will not judge, because it might be me one day!). We think we will wait until he is a little older and can understand that the Dummy Fairy (or Dummy Action Man ) has come to take his dummy away.
I guess my opinion on dummies now is they are a useful tool but not strictly necessary. Some babies will love them, others refuse to take to them.

[SamiH]

My name is Sam, and I am a user .... or rather my kids are/have been.

Honestly I believe dummies do have their place - some babies like them some don't, some find something else to settle them, some just ruddy cry!!!

If you intend on b/f I would honestly try and hold off for the first few weeks until all the feeding is established. Also, I think if you are going to use one, think about what your boundaries will be.

For example - my child won't have a dummy when they are up and happily playing and we won't just keep trying to put it in like a plug everytime they make a noise

My boundary has been when they go to bed, are sick it can help settle them if they feel lousy, but never when jusst walking around at the shops. That was me - but as I said think about what boundaries you want to try and put in place first.

Enjoy this time, how magical

Oh, and don't buy a $10 dummy first time round like I did with my first, then he would only take the NUk super duper one, and never the $2 Happy Baby ones . Stick with the basics if you can!

[ss_storm]

I have a couple stashed away...never thought about buying any, but mum suggested that I might like to get just a couple as they were a lifesaver for her...and the last thing you want is wishing you had a dummy to help soothe a screaming baby but it's 2am in the morning and nothing is open! So I thought better to be safe than sorry and it was only a few dollars so if we don't end up using them it's no biggie.

[maz]

I always made sure I had a few on hand with all the kids

N spat his at 8 month
W never took it
V STILL HAS IT and its doing my friggen head in!!!!
M had one for 2 months and decided my nipple wasmuch better

[Floweryfields]

Personally hate them, but I don't have children yet! I think it all depends on what age you get rid of them at. I have a theory that dummy suckers are more likely to get ear infections (just from my observations), speech difficulties (where allowed past one) and a variety of other things. Plus I've seen many parents who just can't get rid of them - toddlers with dummies in all day long are a real pet hate with me - especially when the child tries to talk with the dummy shoved in.

[SophieRose]

Ok, so i'm willing to try them, with boundaries. Now the question is, at what age should i take it off him??

[SamiH]

Personally hate them, but I don't have children yet! I think it all depends on what age you get rid of them at. I have a theory that dummy suckers are more likely to get ear infections (just from my observations), speech difficulties (where allowed past one) and a variety of other things. Plus I've seen many parents who just can't get rid of them - toddlers with dummies in all day long are a real pet hate with me - especially when the child tries to talk with the dummy shoved in.

Hun, in the wee hours of the morning when your 4 week old bubba has a pain and wont stop crying - you will try anything to help them get some relief.

I don't agree with your theory whatsoever, and have had 3 kids. If it is based on a medical observation (I dont know your background) - I must be one of the lucky ones.

SophieRose - you try and reduce or take it off him when you think he is ready and able to cope or find comfort in other ways, or perhaps doesnt even want it!! - you can help him cuddle teddies instead, or have a special blankie etc - that bit is entirely up to you and your child.

Currently my #3 will take a dummy to go to bed, but if he wakes for a feed early hours, absolutely refuses it to go back to bed and self settled - weird hey!

[Taurean]

I too have bought a twin pack of newborn dummies to stash away *just in case*. I'd prefer to have them ready and waiting if we need them as a last resort in the middle of the night!

I myself didn't take to the dummy as a baby as I happily self-soothed from day dot by sucking my thumb instead. Much to my parents disgust (and mine too looking back at it!), I sucked my thumb until I was 10! At least a dummy can 'disappear', the same can't be said for the childs thumb! LOL!

PS: 6 years of orthodontic work during puberty finally fixed my teeth!

[Indadhanu]

When I was pregnant I was so anti-dummy it wasn't funny, and now there are days when I wish Jazz had taken the dummy! She did take it, once, when she was a few hours old, and has never taken it since (like Maz, she preferred the nipple... oh, sorry, thats past tense... she still prefers the nipple).

If it works for you, then run with it i think. Ignore other people and their ideas and just do whatever works for you and your little one.

[Reborn]

We used dummies for ds but about 2mths ago he decided he didnt want it anymore. Even when he's really upset he refuses it. He seems to think its much better to throw Anyway I dont have a problem with dummies. Sometimes babies just need that little extra comfort.

Just a thing about dummies. They slip out alot so we got one from Big W that closes over when it falls. So no yuckies get on the actual dummy part. HTH

[tellytubby]

DD never took the dummy and i always wished she did!

I would get jealous seeing other mums at the shops with a peaceful baby sucking the dummy! haha. The only way i could make dd peaceful was the put the nipple in her mouth!

GL! I hope your bub takes one, they're a godsend!
I'll be trying to give our bub the dummy again when she arrives!

[SamiH]

Just a thing about dummies. They slip out alot so we got one from Big W that closes over when it falls. So no yuckies get on the actual dummy part. HTH

#1 - you sterilise it nearly every day to start with
#2 - if it falls under the cot you give it a brush off, then think for a minute and get a clean one out cos you better wash it
#3 - argh, dirt is good for their immune systems


I always remember being told this and mebbe not to that extreme, but it is pretty true

[SophieRose]

I think my main problem with dummies is that alot of people i've known have always either been "if you have to use a dummy, your obviously not doing something right" or they have six year olds who still insist on having a dummy in their mouth 24hrs a day.

I'd probably be fine with letting bub have one as long as it was limited use. Like when it's my last resort cause he won't settle, and i can promise you he won't be one of those older kids who still use them constantly when they hit school. I don't want him to develop a dependance on it. I don't want to develop a dependance on them either. Lol.

SamiH- Although the $2 would be a whole lot cheaper, DP although he's fine with using a dummy, forbids us to use cheap ones. He's only ok with the two for $15 orthodontic ones. Lol. He's weird.

[visitor1]

I hate them.....DD2 a DS also hated them so 1 out of 3 children use a dummy.

DD1 is 31 months a im still trying to take it off her. I think being a 1st time mum i just assumed dummies were the way to go and now im kicking myself for allowing her to become so dependant on it.

[~clover~]

Jaz - had the dummy, but had enough at 6 months.
Bri - had colic, so needed it, but refused. I resorted to glycerine & she still only sucked that off & went back to screaming.
Jesse - Had it for sleep til about 4 months & turned into another nipple baby, lol.

BTW, DD1 preferred the exxy ones, had to be the right shape (flat on the bottom) DS refused anything but the cheap yellow coloured ones. Wouldn't take clear ones the same shape!

[BeautifulMadness]

Sometimes u have to give in to get ur kid to sleep lol i never used one for my first but my second needs one.

[bon]

Dummies are fine, I like them! All of my 3 have been dummy kids, they were always so much easier to settle with a dummy. My 2 yo DD just gave away her very last one to 'dummy fairy', just as her older brother and sister did, and she has been fine without it. I thought I might be in for a battle and some sleepless nights, because out of the three she was the most attached to her dummies, but it didn't eventuate so that was good! Could have had something to do with the dummy fairy giving her a present in return for her dummies.