Are you going to introduce the pacifier?

iris427 · March 2011

Lisa Frank:
meimsx:
iris427:
I'm kind of indifferent here. We introduced a paci to Iris in the hospital. It never interfered with her ability to breastfeed. But she just didn't like it. She wanted to suck on me. So I let her and it was a rough first couple months. There were definitely times when I wished she would take a paci and there have been times when I'm glad she didn't learn to depend on them. So I guess I'm just going to play it by ear this time around.

This is the scenario that I'm talking about. If my baby has no interest then I'm not going to force it. Will it be harder on me? Yes. Will it be easier on me when they are 2 or 3 years old and I would have to deal with weaning? Yes.
Or you wean them at 6 months to a year and don't struggle at all. I've had a few friends go that route and they had no issues at all getting their LO's to stop using it.

This is what I would try to do too. It's a lot easier to wean a 6-12 month old off of something than a 2-3 year old. I night weaned Iris from breastfeeding at 11 months and it was a tough couple weeks but then it was done and everything was fine. I imagine that weaning from a paci would be similar.

Meimsx I see what you're saying, but I don't think it's hard to understand why someone would feel differently. Being your baby's pacifier is physically and emotionally draining for some people. And if you're struggling with sore nipples or PPD, it's even harder. I hated it. I really resented her at times for it. It was really hard.

iris427 · March 2011

Oh and for the record, my daughter was not a thumb-sucker either. It was boobs or nothing.

UndecidedChange · March 2011

Mute button? Sure!

bnicoledavis · March 2011

I definitely plan on using a pacifier to soothe. DH comes from a family of thumbsuckers (sucking until like 11 or so). I really do not want my DD to have bunny teeth if I can help it. Also, in one sonogram we have already caught here sucking her thumb. Btw DH was born sucking his thumb!! Yep that's right he came out with his thumb in his mouth.

adellel · March 2011

I totally am!

It helps sooth the baby. That being said, I am not leaving him on it forever. I cannot understand people that have kids at 4 with the pacifier.

ToBeMrsC6907 · March 2011

iris427:
Oh and for the record, my daughter was not a thumb-sucker either. It was boobs or nothing.

Ditto my DS! You have no idea how hard it is until you are a human-pacifier. If LO #2 accepts a paci and derives comfort from it, so be it. I'm not going to force the issue, but trust me- I was pretty desperate to find something to help DS to self-soothe other than my boobs.

I would also plan to wean from the paci sooner than later. I weaned DS from the breast at 18 months (probably could have sooner) and it was harder on me by that point than it was on him! 2 days and he was fine.

pinkflipflops44 · March 2011

Lisa Frank:
meimsx:
iris427:

I'm kind of indifferent here. We introduced a paci to Iris in the hospital. It never interfered with her ability to breastfeed. But she just didn't like it. She wanted to suck on me. So I let her and it was a rough first couple months. There were definitely times when I wished she would take a paci and there have been times when I'm glad she didn't learn to depend on them. So I guess I'm just going to play it by ear this time around.

This is the scenario that I'm talking about. If my baby has no interest then I'm not going to force it. Will it be harder on me? Yes. Will it be easier on me when they are 2 or 3 years old and I would have to deal with weaning? Yes.

Or you wean them at 6 months to a year and don't struggle at all. I've had a few friends go that route and they had no issues at all getting their LO's to stop using it.

ding ding ding! Yes

MrsDL · March 2011

I've read breast feeding patterns should be established first - after that if he wants one - I'll give him one. If not, then I won't have to worry about taking it away later.

carissa_danielle · March 2011

With DD#1, I wrote in my birth plan that I did NOT want a paci to be given to her, but she came into my room with one in her mouth. She wasn't really dependent on it. She used it to soothe and that's about it. I threw it away on her first birthday. It wasn't that bad because she didn't absolutely NEED it. I plan on trying the same thing this time around.

AMYRENEE27 · March 2011

DS never took to one and we are not going to give them to the twins.

EJensify · March 2011

Absolutely we are.

DD took one after a few weeks and the silence was golden. At 2, we took it away during the day, and shortly after we took them away completely with no problems.

Hoping DS mirrors his sister's behavior with them.

amandabrooke81 · March 2011

meimsx:

Yes. But if she doesn't want it then I'm not going to force it. I'm also not going to keep trying. I'm also not going to freak out if she doesn't have it with her at all times.

I wanted to flame a girl I saw on 0-3 because her post was "1 month and FINALLY taking a paci." I'm sorry but why force your child to become dependent on a pacifier? That doesn't make sense to me.

I'm going this route with DD {LO#2}.

With DS I was worried about nipple confusion so I didn't even try a paci until after a couple of weeks {which BTW, there are studies that reveal both outcomes... personally, now I don't think he would have had nipple confusion}. By 2 weeks, he wasn't interested in a paci at all and I didn't push it.

FWIW, I didn't have resentment towards him- I did often feel like a human pacifier/feeding machine, but I don't regret any of it one bit and am in hopes that BFing goes well with LO#2 and if she wants to pacify/soothe by nursing, then I'll be happy to stick the boob in her mouth.

rickandcaitlin · March 2011

iris427:
Lisa Frank:

rickandcaitlin:
No paci's here. Neither of my boys took one or ever sucked on anything. The hospital I has DS#2 at didnt even have them to offer parents. I dont get the point of them. I think a baby should be able to self sooth not have to constantly suck on something. But I am a CIO, non co-sleeping mom. Flame away!

Self soothing at 2 weeks old?? Yeah, right.

Yeah, good luck with that.

Man the rudeness at other people parenting cracks me up. I do have 2 other kids and yeah I am not saying they will self sooth at 2 weeks but dont see the need for a paci at all. At 2 weeks they are most likely crying for a reason and as I mom I think I should figure that out not stick a paci in their mouths. JMO. I have not said anything about them being bad, if you use them great. I just dont.

IU_baby · March 2011

It depends on our baby. If she is content without it, we will not introduce it. If she's not, I have no problem giving her a paci.

tokenhoser · March 2011

rickandcaitlin:
iris427:
Lisa Frank:

rickandcaitlin:
No paci's here. Neither of my boys took one or ever sucked on anything. The hospital I has DS#2 at didnt even have them to offer parents. I dont get the point of them. I think a baby should be able to self sooth not have to constantly suck on something. But I am a CIO, non co-sleeping mom. Flame away!

Self soothing at 2 weeks old?? Yeah, right.

Yeah, good luck with that.

Man the rudeness at other people parenting cracks me up. I do have 2 other kids and yeah I am not saying they will self sooth at 2 weeks but dont see the need for a paci at all. At 2 weeks they are most likely crying for a reason and as I mom I think I should figure that out not stick a paci in their mouths. JMO. I have not said anything about them being bad, if you use them great. I just dont.

No one was as rude to you as you are being to them.

Stephcara · March 2011

Yup!

LC specialist at the hospital after I had my first told me to. She said that the boob can often replace it and you want them to know food vs. soothe. Also, she gave me great advice, my dd will not walk down the aisle with it. I have weaned my dd off of it and now we are working on being pacifier free.

soon to be Mrs. Connolly · March 2011

We are not going to introduce our LO to a pacifier. OF my 7 nieces and nephews on my side of the family, none of them ever laid a hand on one and none of them are suckers now. They range in age from 2-10.

But if you plan on it, I did read that if you are BFing to wait till you are established with that until you do.

MaybeBaby2 · March 2011

Stephcara:
Yup!

LC specialist at the hospital after I had my first told me to. She said that the boob can often replace it and you want them to know food vs. soothe. Also, she gave me great advice, my dd will not walk down the aisle with it. I have weaned my dd off of it and now we are working on being pacifier free.

That sounds like great advice!

ETA: DD was just using the paci in the bed at 1YO. Then it was gone was completely by 2YO.

kacelle · March 2011

I probably will after one month. My child development professor (who has done extensive research in infancy and childhood) recommends a pacifier, as it can be a protective factor for SIDS. But I've also heard that parents should wait until after a month old to introduce a pacifier, so that it doesn't cause problems for breastfeeding.

kcnurse77 · March 2011

I am on baby #3. I exclusively breastfed and used a pacifier from the get to with my previous babies with no nipple confusion or breast feeding problems. I took it away from both right after they turned 1. I am not a fan of toddlers with pacifiers. I am a fan of infants with pacifiers - their desire to suck is undeniable.

Want a personalized experience?

Are you going to introduce the pacifier?

Re: Are you going to introduce the pacifier?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards