Breastfeeding and a pacifer

jkfranklin · December 2009

So in the baby bag post below I noticed a few people said they were going to bring a pacifier to the hospital. So my question is, if you are breastfeeding do you plan on using a pacifer?

Me: I know that they say that you are supposed to wait 2 weeks before introducing a pacifer so that LO doesn't get nipple confusion, but I think that it is the baby's natural instinct to suck and I would much rather have LO sucking on a silcone nipple than on mine (when LO isn't hugry that is).

Lynn1980 · December 2009

I used a pacifer with my first from day one and he never had any problems brestfeeding!

amber&patrick · December 2009

I am thinking about introducing a pacifier early too because I don't want him to start sucking his thumb. But I'm curious to hear what others think.

NiniJ55 · December 2009

I plan to breastfeed. but I really don't have a plan to use or not to use one - I guess we will just see how things go and if I feel he could use one. I am not taking it with me to the hospital though.

susanlovestexas · December 2009

I've heard of waiting 2 weeks to feed from a bottle to prevent nipple confusion, but I didn't know it applied to pacifiers. DD used a pacifier in the hospital (they'll give them one in the nursery) and she bf'd like a champ from the very first try. We always used pacifiers at home with no issues!

aggielauren · December 2009

I'm going to try to wait a few weeks, but we'll see.

Sheeks88 · December 2009

Lynn1980:
I used a pacifer with my first from day one and he never had any problems brestfeeding!

Same with me. I plan on doing it with this LO as well.

phinx99 · December 2009

My son had a pacifier after he was 24 hours old and breastfed for 13 months. Not one single problem happened because of the pacifier and it kept him from using my nipple as one which is extremely painful! Do what you feel is right for your baby!

CJ2008 · December 2009

we are going to have one just in case she wants to suck on something, but I'm not sure how much a newborn will even be awake to use it. If she wants it, I'll give it to her, I'm not that worried. IMO its more important to wait on the bottle, b/c she can actually get milk from that and might not want to switch back to me, but she won't be getting anything but soothing from her paci.

melaniebeth · December 2009

Never had any problems with nipple confusion- both of my DDs breastfed without issue, took breastmilk from a bottle and had a pacifier for soothing from day one.

lilbit923 · December 2009

I plan on breastfeeding (please co-operate LO) and using a pacifier as well. I am buying the soothie pacifiers to give to Emma when she wants one and isn't nursing.

Abinormal · December 2009

Everytime we've had an u/s done this little one is sucking her thumb. I don't want her to be a thumb sucker and so I will probably introduce the pacifier early on. However, I am not taking any pacifiers to the hospital. I figure we can make it without them for the first couple days and if she really needs one the hospital has them for the baby.

Sheeks88 · December 2009

jkfranklin:

So in the baby bag post below I noticed a few people said they were going to bring a pacifier to the hospital. So my question is, if you are breastfeeding do you plan on using a pacifer?

Me: I know that they say that you are supposed to wait 2 weeks before introducing a pacifer so that LO doesn't get nipple confusion, but I think that it is the baby's natural instinct to suck and I would much rather have LO sucking on a silcone nipple than on mine (when LO isn't hugry that is).

Babies love to BFing. I BF my son even when I knew he wasn't hungry. It was very comforting for him. When he was upset I just fed him and most of the time he was 100% better.

saracaceres · December 2009

i got a pacifier that was recommended for breast feeding moms, so that way there wasn't any nipple confusion. i have it packed in the bag, but not sure if we will be giving it to him in the hospital. i guess its just one of those wait and see things.

AdamsWife08 · December 2009

I plan to take one to the hospital with us, whether we use it or not all depends on baby. I strongly suggest taking one if there's a possiblity that you'll give your baby one. The hospital where I work, we charge $10 for one pacifier. Why pay that when you can bring one from home for way cheaper than that.

Meli0604 · December 2009

I don't plan on using a paci unless absolutely necessary, so I don't plan on packing one. We never used one with my little sister and she never sucked her thumb either. I think it really depends on the baby.

jkfranklin · December 2009

And I just realized that I spelled pacifier wrong in my post. I really need to start paying better attention.

littlemaybaby · December 2009

Both these links jive with what our pediatrician told us:

https://www.pamf.org/children/newborns/feeding/pacifiers.html https://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/concerns/pacifier.html

I think the nipple confusion issue that can happen with bottles has been mis-applied to pacifiers. It seems like the theory with pacifiers is that until your milk supply is well established, you want the baby's sucking reflex to be used to stimulate milk supply. I think that we will try to avoid pacifiers until my milk comes in and I see what my supply is like - but if LO needs to suck 24/7, I may change my mind quickly!

JandB07 · December 2009

Just as a sanity saver take one to the hospital with you just in case. We didn't with my first because we assumed they would have them and when my LO only wanted to suck on something and we asked for one they didn't have them. I spent my second night in the hospital with my finger in her mouth to soothe her sucking reflex (we were having breastfeeding issues, she absolutely would not latch and we had to cup feed her) until we could get home and give her a paci. We are definitely taking one this time!

tnpjuly04 · December 2009

I breastfed both of my other children. DD#1 used a pacifier from day one and never had any nipple confusion. DD#2 hated the paci, preferred her thumb, never had any problems.

emmyloustu · December 2009

littlemaybaby:
Both these links jive with what our pediatrician told us:
https://www.pamf.org/children/newborns/feeding/pacifiers.html https://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/concerns/pacifier.html
I think the nipple confusion issue that can happen with bottles has been mis-applied to pacifiers. It seems like the theory with pacifiers is that until your milk supply is well established, you want the baby's sucking reflex to be used to stimulate milk supply. I think that we will try to avoid pacifiers until my milk comes in and I see what my supply is like - but if LO needs to suck 24/7, I may change my mind quickly!

Great links! That is what we were told in our BFing class as well. I do not plan to use one for the first 2-4wks, but we shall see.

NaHoku · December 2009

We didn't bring one to the hospital, but we introduced one to DS on his first night at home with us. He was BF and never had any nipple confusion - but all babies are different!

nadiarl · December 2009

I think the point of waiting is that you don't want the baby to get "lazy" and learn to suck on the paci in way that isn't good for BFing and then not latch or suck correctly on the breast. It is best to wait so that BFing is well established.

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