Does your baby use a pacifier?

xoxoxox · February 2012

If yes, do they EBF? I am considering trying a pacifer with my son because at night, he seems to want to comfort nurse for hours at a time but I don't want him to get nipple confusion. I have also heard you shouldn't introduce pacifiers for a few weeks - my baby is not even 2 weeks old yet... TIA for any input...

munchkinkid88 · February 2012

I'm a lurker, but thought I'd add my experience. My almost-3-week-old is EBF and has used a paci since birth, but will only take the straight nipple "gumdrop" kind. No nipple confusion issues at all, she nurses like a champ!

-Em

lorahbora · February 2012

I've used a pacifier since day one and I EBF. I make sure to never give her a pacifier if I know she's hungry. The times I use it are if she's being exceptionally fussy during a diaper or clothing change, if I know she's fed/changed/comfortable/held and is still fussy, or when she's in that inbetween phase of falling asleep and she keeps startling herself awake. If she ever won't take the pacifier, I'll still offer her the breast, though she doesn't comfort nurse nearly as much anymore as she did in the first week or two. She will often lie there sucking for a while after she's done eating, and if I break the latch she'll generally fall straight to sleep.

Since you aren't even 2 weeks in, I do think there's merit in letting him comfort nurse to a point. It helps your milk production and build that sense of trust between mother and baby. However, if it's going on for hours, then it's just not productive anymore. I was told by a lactation specialist that if you confirm they aren't actively nursing, it's fine to break the latch. Feel it out and if you notice any changes in your baby's breastfeeding after introducing the pacifier, stop using it right away.

xoxoxox · February 2012

i would let him comfort nurse if it didn't feel like a lil' mouse nibbling

isn't that awful? ugh i feel horrible. when he comfort nurses, he is not fully sucking so the sensation is just not good at all

Shawnee11507 · February 2012

They gave LO one in the hospital on the second day, when they took him for an ultrasound and then DH and MIL kept wanting to give him one when he gets fussy so I just went with it. LO likes the MAM ones. No nipple confusion. I am BF but also pumping and giving him a bottle 1-2x a day and he goes back and forth just fine.

lorahbora · February 2012

xoxoxox:
i would let him comfort nurse if it didn't feel like a lil' mouse nibbling isn't that awful? ugh i feel horrible. when he comfort nurses, he is not fully sucking so the sensation is just not good at all

Don't feel bad, I totally agree with you!!

secst26 · February 2012

We were assured by a LC at the hospital that the avent soothie they provided would actually teach LO how to put his tongue to have a good latch. We used those for about the first 2 weeks and then gave him a MAM, and now he won't go back to the soothie. We've also done minimal supplementing with formula, initially with an SNS because milk came in late and then moved to a bottle once a day which we are now weaning. He has had no latch problems or nipple confusion.

michelle_1221 · February 2012

I EBF, and she only takes a gumdrop. No issues with nipple confusion. And I'm with you on the comfort nursing. My pedi really stressed the importance of me getting rest to ensure I am able to take care of her and nurse, so I wouldn't feel bad. My only paci warning is that our LO has issues when it falls out, she'll awake and scream for it to be re-inserted. We try to avoid the paci at night because of this.

halo_tx · February 2012

DD has used a paci since birth. We use the Soothies kind that they had in the hospital. We only use it when DD wants to comfort nurse- I have oversupply so she still wants to suck but will start to fuss at the breast, then we offer the paci. We haven't had any nipple confusion issues.

kristin172429 · February 2012

We haven't given him a pacifier yet. He had one a couple of times in the hospital (they put the sugar water on it when doing blood draws and one nurse kept popping one in his mouth). Since I started off BF, we didn't want to create the nipple confusion. I have since switched to EPing, but we still don't use a pacifier. I guess he just doesn't get fussy enough that I felt that I have needed one. DH and I have been talking about it for bedtime since I hear it is supposed to reduce the risk of SIDS. Otherwise, he is so good about soothing with his hands, I haven't really worried about it.

OurJellybean · February 2012

My lO took one at first but we didn't offer it much... Now she flat out refuses that and bottles. When she did take them she would get confusion but she caught on fast. I say don't start too early but don't start too late either. I ebf

Melzig76 · February 2012

I EBF, and we use a paci--- or a dink as my DS calls it.She has had no nipple confusion and we also bottle feed when I pump. We use Soothies. DD comfort sucks and has since birth, and if it's not a nipple she will suck on her fingers. We gave the paci in hopes of removing the fingers from the equation. I figure we can always take her paci away, fingers not so much.

karleegirl · February 2012

Right now we give dd the soothie if were trying to hold her off for some reason( like were in the car at the dr. Etc). But both my boys used the mam pacifiers from day 1 with no trouble ( I ebf). My nipples are sore right now and she's eating every 2 hours so I couldn't do the comfort nursing.

mrsfowler1016 · February 2012

yes and yes she is EBF. She has used one since the beginning and it helps soothe her. Nothing is wrong with it and we have had no nipple confusion.

MrsT2008 · February 2012

DD got a pacifier our first night in the hospital - she was being super fussy so the nurse came and asked if we wanted her to have one and I said yes. She's also EBF and has also gotten a bottle of pumped milk since 3 weeks old and she's never had any nipple confusion

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