So, I'm just curious...

What are your thoughts on pacifiers? Do you use them? If so, when did you start? If not, did your LO use something else to soothe him/herself? If you used a paci and breastfed, did it interfere at all?


Grace has been quite fussy the last week or so. In the last few days I cut out dairy and chocolate (EEK! My most favorite things!) and we're watching to see how that helps. But sometimes she roots and shows signs of hunger or wanting to suck (even sucks on her hands). When I put her at the breast, she pushes away and cries and doesn't want to be there. It could be gas... a bubble that hurts when I lay her down (sometimes she'll let that gas out a bit after and then go to the breast). Or it could be she just isn't hungry, right?

I am a bit nervous that if we try a paci, then she'll just get her sucking satisfaction from that and not want to eat as much. Is that just a first time mom paranoia? And I do want to BF for at least year... and i thought I read that pacifiers can interfere in long term BFing.


OK... sorry for the novel! Would love your thoughts on the issue! Thanks!

I can say my kiddos used the paci from the hospital. Not long term, like 3 weeks :-D I personal didn't want to use it.
I know when I BF I watched what I ate cause I did notice they would fuss with certain foods. I'd gradually add a new food [whatwacko]
One thing I didn't do was feed on a scheduel, I let them eat when they wanted to :mrgreen: Worked for us

my eldest had a dummy and i breast feed with no probs till she was 12 months then i decided to wean her off, plus she was already on 3 meals a day it was just morning and night feeds , with my second was gonna use one but she got thrush in her mouth from being a week old to 3 months by then she wouldn't accept it , we tried a comfort blanket but she didn't want it.

I am a bit nervous that if we try a paci, then she'll just get her sucking satisfaction from that and not want to eat as much. Is that just a first time mom paranoia? And I do want to BF for at least year... and i thought I read that pacifiers can interfere in long term BFing.

All our Goobs were BF'd. The boys hated pacifiers so never took to them. Our DD was a paci baby and BF'd for 14 months without issue and self-weaned.

And I understand you are a new Momma and SO many people can offer advice (solicited or not) and it can get VERY confusing. Follow your heart, follow your baby's lead and whatever you and DH decide...it is THE best for YOUR family. ;) Blessings on whatever you decide.

def becareful!!! I used a paci with ds with no issues since he didn't really like it. No probs with BFing.

BUT, with dd, it was a dif story! I didn't give it to her right away so my milk supply was established. I ended up using the paci WAY TOO MUCH. Then my milk supply diminished and I almost had to start supplementing with formula. So, I got on here and called a La Leche League rep and found many ideas to increase my supply. I took a while, but it eventually got back to where it should be. I was quite relieved!

It sounds like it may be ok for her to try, esp if she's not hungry. But, be ever so careful esp if you want to BF for a year+.

:-)

I agree with Kate...be careful. I also agree with Kerri..follow your heart.

I have frequent nursers. That's just how it is. They like to nurse, a lot! In those early days it CAN get very overwhelming and you long for a bit of relief. "Just 20 minutes...please!?!!" ;)

I'm pretty much a non-paci kind of person. But as I said, there are those moments where you feel on edge and just need a moment. In those moments I have offered a pacifier. None of my kids have taken them. Of course, I didn't *push* the issue, so there was no trying to make them like it, kind of period. I just tried it when I needed a moment and thought they'd take it. But none ever really did. My last one did for a moment here and there, but nothing substantial. Which is fine by me...really...as we refer back to point number one...being careful.

I didn't want anything to jeopardize my nursing relationship with my babies. I know some moms have bf and given pacis from day one, with no problems, but that just isn't *always* the case. Also, as I try to think about those I know who have used pacis while bf, those babies didn't nurse as long as the ones I know who didn't use pacis. (boy that sounded sloppy, I hope you followed LOL) Let me try to fix that....in my observation...paci bf babies have NOT nursed as long as non-paci bf babies. However I do know there have been exceptions...like there are to everything else ;)

Just..again...follow YOUR heart and be careful. :)

My concern about paci's (other than the fact that they get dirty and get lost) is that if a baby is not using mom for comfort sucking, that they will likely wean earlier, because they see the breast as a food object only rather than a source of comfort.

Other than a brief bit of experimenting with them, my daughter has not used paci's. She is still nursing at 3 y/o. My baby doesn't use a paci and he is 6 months old.

I figured that God gave the breasts for food and pacification, so we just nurse a lot. My daughter liked to nurse more for comfort a bit more than my son does, so it's doubly important to me that he not get a paci, because I minimally want to nurse him for at least 2 years.

That's just my personal experience though. :) Yours certainly may vary.

All 3 of mine used a paci to go to sleep sometimes. It did not interfere with breastfeeding. They usually eat every 2=3 hours. They spit the paci out when they don't want it or fall asleep. DD nursed to 16 months & Ds to 12 months. By then I was preg. both times.

I think it depends on baby. With our first Ds he just wanted to suck and would get so frustrated with my milk coming in and cry and cry. I finally tried a soother and it was glued in there so hard it left little red marks. He was happy. I just made sure to use it after nursing only when needed and never had a problem. He nursed for 2 yrs. Now with this new little one. He nurses a ton and soothes himself after nursing, but I notice he latches on but does not suck just rests. :-D With our other little munchkins it has been yo yo soother and it keeps popping out. You have to hold it in and it is usually more of a pain than it is worth. :-D

Thank you so much ladies for your insight!! It is realllllly helpful!!! :D

I am along the mindset that I would rather NOT use one. But it's hard, sometimes, when so many people around us use them and keep telling us it will help. I'm not sold on that idea though.

Ruth, I really like your thoughts on it - using the mother to soothe. That's the relationship part of BFing that I love and cherish. I can comfort and give so much to her... it's amazing actually!

So, we go to the doc on Friday and I'm going to ask her about it too. I think Grace has reflux though. So I'm going to work on feeding her more upright and avoiding all those "no-no" foods.

Thanks again!!!!!

Ruth, I really like your thoughts on it - using the mother to soothe. That's the relationship part of BFing that I love and cherish. I can comfort and give so much to her... it's amazing actually!


It is wonderful to be the baby's source of comfort. :D My daughter still, at 3 years old, if she bumps her head or gets hurt, immediately asks to nurse. It is so soothing to them!

If you don't want to use a paci (which it sounds like you don't, from your post), then don't let anyone talk you into it. Remember, you are the mom, no one else.

It sounds like you are doing a great job of tracking down other things that might be bothering her. And remember that there are many ways to soothe a baby other than sucking. One thing that my son liked as a newborn is me sitting on my exercise ball and bouncing him.

RE: following instincts. Despite the fact that it is not societally encouraged, I rarely leave my babies as infants and don't give bottles. They stay with me most of the time and nurse frequently as needed. They will only be babies once and this is how I want to do it. I won't let anyone talk me into doing something that doesn't feel right to me.