Pacifiers for newborns when breastfeeding

rachel10488

What the deal? My nipples are dying and my son (4 days old) is clearly using me as a pacifier a lot of times so a few people have suggested giving him a pacifier. I haven't read much on it but a quick Google search came up with a lot of negative info about needing your supply to establish first and so on. I gave him a pacifier for a minute earlier when he was fussing and would only suck on me for a minute and not latch so clearly not hungry I guess? Anyways I gave the pacifier to him and he was super into it, but then I wasn't feeling good about it so took it away.
What are everyone's experiences and/or opinions on this?

caityleigh92

I am a huge lover of pacifiers. Don't feel sad or guilty. They come in handy, if he's using you to just suck and not to feed then definitely consider using one. There are tons out there. Find the one that you feel is best for him :-)

bbymaely

I'm breastfeeding my baby she will be 2 weeks tomorrow and I haven't gave her a pacifier the hospital told me to wait a month Since I'm breastfeeding.

Mizuiro007

Some babies need the non-nutritive sucking. My feeling is if baby is full but still insists on sucking then it's better to give a pacifier for a short while than to overfeed and/or cause an over supply. This was my experience with my first and his doctor told us straight out to let him have one as much as he wanted as long as he was still being fed regularly as he should. We were both much happier for it. *If baby's latch is good, there aren't any issues with feeding, and you want to give a pacifier then give one and don't feel guilty.

kristib1027

Please look back a few pages. Another mom made a post titled "pacifiers" where a lot of women brought up great points and personal experiences!

kepoole

Mizuiro007 said:

Some babies need the non-nutritive sucking. My feeling is if baby is full but still insists on sucking then it's better to give a pacifier for a short while than to overfeed and/or cause an over supply. This was my experience with my first and his doctor told us straight out to let him have one as much as he wanted as long as he was still being fed regularly as he should. We were both much happier for it. *If baby's latch is good, there aren't any issues with feeding, and you want to give a pacifier then give one and don't feel guilty.

^^this. Perfectly stated. My girl will use me as a paci after feeding to soothe and so ill give her the paci and she sleeps soundly after. Whereas I don't give it to her ALL the time, because I want her to be able to self soothe without it as well, it has been a blessing for sure to both of us!

OP do NOT let anyone make you feel bad or guilty over the paci. It is a personal choice that you have to make and there is no shame in that choice.

redfallon

I don't go in for the "nipple confusion" idea for not using a pacifier. I did when my daughter was born, but that changed the first night she wouldn't go to sleep at all. The night nurse came in and asked us if we wanted to use a pacifier and we gave her one and she was out pretty quickly. Some babies need that non-nutritive sucking. It doesn't mean it's going to interfere with breastfeeding. If it does, then you can not give it any longer. With this LO, we'll not hesitate to give him one if he needs it.

Gingermom15

I hated the thought of using a pacifier but my son likes to comfort suck when he's gassy or tired. When he is hungry he spits it right back out and screams in betrayal. he was a week old before we gave him one only because he never fussed or cried the first week. He does very well switching between the pacifier, the bottle and breast. I'm not dispelling nipple confusion, but it certainly isn't universal to all babies.

He also comfort sucks when he has a burp that won't come out. Just pay attention to the hunger cues and your supply will be fine.

Edited to finish post

violetigerlily

The hospital I delivered at is "baby friendly" and also suggested waiting a month. BUT a nurse offered me a paci for the drive home since our ride was longish.  I asked about nipple confusion and she said that the hospital advice not to give one was actually more to help mom's recognize hunger cues and encourage them to feed enough on demand so their supply comes in and the baby gets enough to eat.  Essentially they worry that mom's will unintentionally use the paci when their baby really needs to eat.   

My LO wasn't peeing enough for his first 4 days (while waiting for my milk to come in) and my pediatrician actually recommended swaddling him a lot tighter so his arms wouldn't pop out and using a paci when it was clear that he wasn't actually hungry. Apparently he'd touch his face with his hands which would trigger the automatic rooting reflex and make me try to feed him.  Since I'd have him at breast for 6 hours straight, the pediatrician thought he was losing calories with non-nutritive sucking.  Since swaddling him, he cues every 1.5-4 hours and he's gained a lot more weight with my milk coming in.  We never had latch issues but the paci hasn't affected his latch.  I'd say go for it unless you're having other BF issues.

Ccat1977

I've been using one too with no issues. He's 6 days old. He's stay latched on forever if he could and sometimes my nipples need a break. As long as he's still nursing good I see no issue with it.

missamiissssaa

I'm breastfeeding and in the hospital after using the huge hard green hospital pacifier I had issues getting LO to latch (she was latching with no problem before). However she really likes to suckle after she's done feeding and when she is falling asleep. I had such a hard time trying to soothe her with my own nipples as they were extremely sore. I remembered I had gotten a "MAM" pacifier as a sample gift from target. With this being more "natural", a lot smaller and softer than the hospital one, I gave it a try. LO has had no problems latching and is a much happier baby because of it. I have been using the MAM pacifier since Dec 6th (she was born Dec 3) with no problems. Do what works for you and your LO, everyone and every LO is different and need different things 

satindawl83

Yes! MAM pacifier saved us. As soon as we got home from the hospital, we were frantically trying out all the pacifiers we received as samples and gifts, the MAM was the only one she took to.

soccsm13

With my son, I didn't give him a pacifier at first for the same reasons. He loved to suckle and my nipples were sore but I was stubborn. Around 6 weeks he was getting super fussy, I desperately needed a break and he was spitting up so I finally gave in. And I was so upset with myself for waiting so long! He also loved the MAM pacifiers, so I already have some for this baby and will be using them much sooner if needed.

Also, I was nervous about giving him a pacifier and having him be that kid with the pacifier forever, but around 10 months he started throwing it out of his crib so I just stopped giving them to him and we never looked back. I was tempted to keep trying to use them because they did help sooth a bit still, but he was fine and I was really glad I did it then before he got to the toddler stage! Every kid is different though.

taykerslake

Lurker from N15. My LO is 5 weeks and has had a paci since his second night due to his gas making him super fussy. I cracked and gave it to him. My supply came in fine and I'm still over producing. He doesn't need it 24/7 but it's a life saver when he wants the comfort and he's never had any nipple confusion either. As long as you're not ignoring his hunger cues then I see no issue in it. Some babies just need the comfort.

ksrkim

Like many who already posted, I am using a pacifier and nursing. He has not been "confused" yet and has been using it since he was 2 days old. He will not accept it if he wants food. Do not feel guilty, try what works for you!

cmcweeney

I am nursing as well and our hospital was very anti pacifier so I was avoiding it. When we got home I realized quite a few times my baby girl was using me as a pacifier so I decided to try it. She now takes it for sleep time and it has not had any negative effects on her nursing!

Daphneh28

DD is three weeks today and has been diriving me bonkers. At first I though she was cluster feeding but nooooo she was spitting up all her milk. I wasn't planning on exclusively pumping but now I pretty much am so I have no issue with latching or not. Today we cracked and gave her the MAM paci that came as a gift from Target and she is falling asleep by herself. SO said his first loved his paci but wouldn't leave it till he was 5! So we have to find a way to wean her off it. But now I am a believer. Funny thing is I thought I only had the MAM one turns out I have like 10 pacis (Dr. Browns and NuKs, more MAM) I received as gifts so I figure we can rotate brands and make sure she doesn't develop a dependency on only one brand. 

ammnam14

I was pretty anti pacifiers because it wasn't recommended. But those darn things are our saving grace! I'm not worried about weaning or anything. Just taking it day by day. I'm pumping/supplementing because I have funky nipples and she can't get a good latch. Do whatever works for you!

celainev

The nurses at my hospital actually suggested I use a pacifier! My LO was having problems learning how to suck, so the pacifier saved my nipples so that he could exercise the motion on them, not me. I'm currently needing to feed him every 2 hours due to his borderline bilirubin levels, so he doesn't use the pacifier nearly as much as in the beginning, but he breast feeds like a champ. And I use the pacifier when out or when he has been on the breast for over 50 minutes and I need a break.
Of course, I have flat nipples (tmi?) and so I have to use a nipple shield, probably permanently, so this could be a bit different.

teachmegs817

The hospital that I delivered at does not supply pacifiers for moms, unless the baby is born preemie and needs to go to NICU.  In that case, they do give pacifiers, because they encourage/watch baby's sucking pattern, etc.  My son was born 6 weeks early, so they gave him a pacifier right away.  I'm not against them by any means, but I did worry slightly, because I had yet to even try to breast feed him and see how he'd latch onto my breast.  I also use a nipple shield at this point for feeding, because he has an immature sucking/swallowing pattern being that he is preemie, that he does not latch onto my breast comfortably and he only lasts a minute or two, before becoming quite fussy.  They told me that by my actual due date, which would have been 1/24 to start weening him off of the shield and try to encourage latching onto my breast alone without the support.  We will see how that goes. 

teachmegs817

@chaelaniev I feel like you took the words right out of my mouth.  My son is the same exact way.  I too have to use the shield and he feeds just about every 2 hours from me, because of the slightly elevated bilirubin levels.  

theawc42

I'm glad I'm not the only one with concerns but reading everyone's responses makes me feel better that a paci is ok. As a FTM, my girl is a week old and had started to suckle like she's hungry EVERY hour. There's no way! She just wants something to suck on for comfort, so I'm giving in and giving her the pacifier . It's working !

rachel10488

I've also started giving it to my son when it really seems like he's just looking for comfort and it seems to work sometimes. Definitely hasn't deterred him from wanting my boob 24/7 haha

So thank you all for your advice!

sarahjulypsu

I have exclusively breastfeed 2 kids and this LO is number three. I have always used pacis from the start with out a problem. So far I have had the best luck with mams.

groovylocks

We've been using one because our little kid is a sucker. And for that matter, we've also been using bottles alongside breastfeeding since i have had breastfeeding challenges - these challenges are getting better but not so much that we are exclusively bfing yet. 

We are not seeing any signs of confusion. At all. She loves to nurse. She appreciates the bottle when she gets it. She loves her pacifier. 

lalg28

I gave my guy a paci when he was 2 days and regretted it. He became confused and used my nipple as fish food for three days so awful. We got our groove back but definitely won't try it again until at least 6 weeks.

Taylovesbrad

I broke down day 4 and gave him one and am so glad I did. He has not had any nipple confusion and it soothes him. I can easily tell when he's hungry because he does the normal cues. My nips are not a binky! Mam works best for us

Gingermom15

My son despises Avent and Mam so I'm kind of surprised to see everybody's babies like them. I'm not sure why, maybe they are too big and his mouth is too small. He is still on a preemie nipple because he can't take the 0+ yet without gas and the occasional gagging/choking. He loves Dr. Brown's and I think the other he likes is Nuk and they are smaller. Just putting that out there for anyone with a preemie baby.

missphil

My son is 3 1/2 weeks- my nipples were extremely sore from his poor latch when he starts comfort sucking (latch is fine for feeding). He rejected the paci a couple of times but today he took it and it gave my poor nips a well-deserved break. I also felt guilty giving it to him at first (it almost feels like tricking him) but I don't think it will hurt once in a while. He took the paci for a couple of minutes, fell asleep and it fell out of his mouth. Saves me from overfeeding him as well