can I overuse a dummy for a newborn?

DD is two and a half weeks old. She's healthy, doing all the right stuff, putting on weight at what I assume is a reasonable rate (350g in the last week, said the MHCN yesterday). She's breastfeeding fine, as far as I can tell (about 8 feeds a day, lots of wet nappies, the feeding is comfy for me).

Last night and today, though, she's cranky. I'm not particularly worried about it, I know babies have some good days and some bad days. Anyway, she slept really well last night - we both got 4 straight hours between 10pm and 2am, plus a couple of 2.5 hours stretches after that, so I am relatively rested and cheerful today.

What I'm wondering about is that last night, in the evening before she finally slept, she was cranky and crying, on and off, for hours. And the only thing we could find that would keep her from crying was the dummy. So she was sucking it for maybe a couple of hours in total. That seems like a lot to me.

Today she's cranky again. We've been out for a long walk and a coffee - she likes the motion of the pram, but I can't push it forever, esp as I'm recovering from a c/s and still easily tired. So back at home I have again resorted to the dummy to calm her down (and glory be, as I type she appears to be falling asleep, dummy in mouth).

So my question is this:

If a baby of this age is recently fed (big feed 40 minutes ago), has a dry nappy (20 minutes ago), is warm enough, has had lots of cuddles, and is still crying, can a dummy do her any harm, if that's what it takes to calm her down?

My thought at the moment is that she's more harmed by the crying and being upset than by the dummy. But I'm feeling guilty about it because I planned to only use the dummy at night and only when desperate, etc, and now here I am popping it in her mouth in the middle of the day, just to calm her down.

What do you think?

Nah dont worry I dont see the dummy doing any harm as long as she is still attaching to your breast correctly - i would not worry. My little girl had a dummy from day 1 they just like to comfort suck sometimes, its calming and relaxing for them and sometimes good for parents too. At about 6-8 weeks Georgia refused the dummy and hasnt had one since. No harm done to her. All the best

Your doing a great job. I think all you have to be sure is that your not using the dummy to replace a feed (like if she woke up in the night and you popped the dummy back in instead of feeding her) which you clearly aren't doing. Plus she is gaining weight beautifully so rest assured she is getting enough. You need to do what makes your life easier and if thats the dummy use it. Will be easier to take her dummy of her when she is older then her fingers. Babies such for comfort not just when they are hungry so I wouldn't feel bad about using it if it helps to comfort her.

No.

You can restrict it a bit more when she is a bit older and keep it for nights then. Zander has his for sleep (which he spits out after an hour at night anyway:rolleyes:) and sometimes in the car cos I cant stand a crying baby in the car .... if it is giving your daugther comfort and her feeding is fine - relax and use it..

Happy mothering and congratulations :)

Thanks everyone, that makes me feel better about it.

And indeed she slept quite well last night (4 hour + 3 hour + 2 hour stretches), with no need for the dummy at all. So she isn't hooked on it yet, at least.

Tenar, I have been doing the same with DS. He doesn't always need it, but if he's really unsettled and he's fed, dry etc I give him the dummy and that settles him. He usually spits it out after a short time anyway, but sometimes will hold on to it for a couple of hours.
When pregnant I decided I didn't really want to use one, but we got it out on our 2nd night at home (lucky I bought a couple just in case)!
I wouldn't imagine it would cause any problems apart from maybe attachment, but I haven't had issues with that.

I'd say it's no problem. That's what they are there for- as a comforter. Some babies just 'need' to suck and that's ok.

I love the Dummy!

Edison spits it out once he is asleep and sometimes is so content he doesn't need it at all. We use it for a comfort suck...

:)