Pacifiers

mrw2002

So I'm just wondering....How realistic is it to plan on not giving my child a pacifier?  I'm very against them, but I'd like to know what other moms think.

crackerjackprinter

It really just depends on the kid and how much time you have to devote to them.  DD was fine with comfort sucking as a little one so she nursed.  She would only take pacifiers occasionally in the car, never if being held.

DS would not comfort suck, even as a newborn so he had to use one, or he screamed.  He would require to be bounced on the exercise ball or walked in the moby for his entire nap, which at first was about 7 hours a day.  It was killing my back.  It also helped with his reflux.  He was SO dependent on it that I was worried but now he does well without it and is weaning himself off of it.  He will comfort suck now, sometimes.  

So I wouldn't go out and buy any, just don't be hesitant to do it once breastfeeding is established and you have no other game plan.

smurfetteinred

Honestly I think it really depends on the kid. Some are huge comfort suckers and some not so much. I have one who never wanted anything to do with a pacifier (although he's a finger sucker and that's way worse so consider that too) and my baby is a huge pacifier kid. If you have a comfort sucker and don't want them to have a pacifier then you'll have to dedicate your boob or your own fingers to the task so it really depends on how long you are willing to do that for at a stretch. I don't mind that she uses one because it gives me more peace of mind at night since they reduce the risk of SIDS. I can always take it away when I don't want her to have it anymore.

barnwife

I'm a soon-to-be mom who would, in an ideal world, not give my child a pacifier. However, I agree with the pp who said it depends on the child (and other things).

FWIW, I will be a mostly SAHM. Once LO is a month-ish I will be teaching a class at our church one night a week. I'll be out of the house for about 2 hours that night. Therefore, I decided to not return the 4 pacifiers we were given as gifts. If LO has a need/want to suck while I'm gone, I want DH to have a pacifier as an option.

blissfully_caffeinated

I think it depends on the kid. I didn't want to give my LO a pacifier. SO did. He tried but LO won't take them now. He would for a week or so early on but once he learned that pacifier does not equal milk he started hating them.

proudarmywife08

Totally depends on the kid. DD comfort sucked on me and on her thumb. DS doesn't like his thumb or comfort nursing (he spits the milk out!) so he has a pacifier. Not much I can do...that thing saves my sanity.

IrishBrideND

We barely use it. We use it when she is really overly tired and won't settle down. At those times, she gets angry if I offer her the boob as a pacifier. So we use paci and rock her until she falls asleep.

But other than that she doesn't use it.

 

I'm not anti though. They reduce SIDS so thats good. I'm just anti using them all the time.

Meg41208

I was really against pacifiers when I was 7 weeks pregnant too.  We ended up giving her one in the hospital.

Sassy_Cassie

Meg41208:

I was really against pacifiers when I was 7 weeks pregnant too.  We ended up giving her one in the hospital.

This.  Add it to my lists of "Things I Said I'd Never Do But Did."  He's had no problem with nipple confusion.  And he's actually starting to give it up on his own.  He only takes it at nap/bedtime now or if he's got low counts or something making him feel like doodie. 

Jennicap

My son is 12 weeks tomorrow and has never been given a pacifer. it hasn't been hard at all, honestly I don't understand what they are used for so maybe I'm missing something.

after reading the responses, I would say DS comfort sucks on me and I allow it so I guess i"m his human paci lol he is also a hand/finger sucker. He hasn't figured out how to use just his thumb so its usually his entire fist or one of our fingers. I'm in no way anti pacifer, except when the child is 3, 4 or whatever age beyond normal for using them.

thejennigirl

Jennicap:

My son is 12 weeks tomorrow and has never been given a pacifer. it hasn't been hard at all, honestly I don't understand what they are used for so maybe I'm missing something.

My first baby needed a prescribed pacifier to train his toungue to nurse, likely related to his birth at 35 weeks.  We used it for 6 weeks until latching wasn't an issue anymore, and I tossed them.

Baby #2 wanted my boob and only my boob.

Baby #3 wanted to suck, but was spitting up and gagging on my milk.  I spent hours every night the first few weeks of his life trying to comfort my baby who wanted to suck, but didn't want more milk.  We broke down and bought a pacifier.  That was it.  He stop screaming after feedings.  I'd nurse him and then give him his paci after burping, and he'd go right to sleep.  He was 9 months before he self weaned for his binks.

With my first baby, I was just like you.  What kind of parent just pops a bink in their kid's mouth?!  My answer now that I am older and wiser:  A parent who loves their child, and reconizes their child has a need.

Extended bink use is a little beyond me, but, how is any different than any other lovey?  If it comforts the child, then it comforts them.  As long as they aren't in school.  That's a little on the excessive side.

 

smurfetteinred

Thank you Jenni. I hate the "pacifiers equal lazy parents" syndrome since I can guarantee you that I am far from one. It's so easy to say "my baby never" while you're looking through the window into another persons life. 

thejennigirl

smurfetteinred:

Thank you Jenni. I hate the "pacifiers equal lazy parents" syndrome since I can guarantee you that I am far from one. It's so easy to say "my baby never" while you're looking through the window into another persons life. 

Remember when we lost Saxton's, and I couldn't get the brand local?  The EFFers saved my life.

Meg41208

smurfetteinred:

Thank you Jenni. I hate the "pacifiers equal lazy parents" syndrome since I can guarantee you that I am far from one. It's so easy to say "my baby never" while you're looking through the window into another persons life. 

I agree.  I also agree with Cassie - it's a lot easier to be against something in theory than it is in practice, especially when you haven't even had the baby yet.  I've had to eat some crow about things I said I'd never do in the parenting realm.  We all have to make it through the first year somehow.