Introducing pacifiers to breast fed babies.

Katd678 · August 2012

Hey everyone! My twins will be two weeks old tomorrow! They are doing well with breast feeding and lactation services said to not to introduce an artificial nipple until they were three or four weeks to prevent nipple confusion . Any opinions?

bsmead · August 2012

No real opinion except that my boys had a pacifier from day one and are still nursing over one year later.

Good Luck and Take it easy on yourself. I would also see if you can find a LC who has some experience with twins. Its easy to pass off advice if you havent been through the trenches

Mrs.Paws · August 2012

I started my DD on a paci right at two weeks. We were at the end of her rope. She was screaming about 12 hours a day. Anyways, no nipple confusion. She nursed successfully until 14 months.

angelfire02 · August 2012

My babies did breast, nuk, and bottle from day one. No issues.

I think 4 weeks is a nice thought....thought being the key word.

leapgirl8 · August 2012

We made it 2.5 weeks. They were both good nursers and, in retrospect, there was really no reason to wait that long. Zero issues.

Rynleigh · August 2012

Binkies have been given a terribly unjustified bad reputation. Not only do they have zero evidence of causing nipple confusion, they also have been shown to help babies develop stronger and better latching and sucking habits... not to mention the huge benefits to preventing thumb sucking. You can take the binky one day.... can't cut their thumbs off.

Stock up and wave your pacis with pride.

Reilly626 · August 2012

Pacifiers reduce the risk of SIDS- I would so use them!

Kelli&Jed · August 2012

Do what you feel is right. Here's our pacifier/bottle story. I was going to BF so I was going to do the no pacifier thing until 1month...emphasis on the was part of that. Son#1 got a pacifier at 3 weeks and due to circumstances a formula bottle 1-2 times a day. Son #2 was sent directly to NICU where he was at some point given a pacifier without my consent but I let it slide because of mommy guilt figuring it was his only comfort at that time. And for 10days he was bottle fed (stupid NICU for not telling me and stupid me for not insisting on BFing while I visited). Here's the interesting part, all along Son#1 wasn't too attached to the pacifier and gave it up rather easily when it came time. Son#2 had a horrible time giving it up. Neither had nipple confusion. I BF'd for 9 months with 1-2 formula bottles a day or night so daddy could help out. I think every baby is different but if it feels right do it.

trish3905 · August 2012

angelfire02:
My babies did breast, nuk, and bottle from day one. No issues. I think 4 weeks is a nice thought....thought being the key word.

This!

tarajayne · August 2012

I can't remember when we started paci's though they both came back from their circs with one and I was not going to complain because they just went through that! O is the only one who ever really took one though, and he was the better BF'er. A never took a paci and had a horrible time latching.

MuseumMaven · August 2012

We used a paci from day one - my boys really needed to suck to soothe themselves. We had all kinds of latch issues, but I honestly don't think it had anything to do with pacis, it had to do with tiny mouths and huge boobs. I was using nipple shields, anyway. They both figured out nursing, though, and we're still nursing at 14 months.

Venus04d · August 2012

With my DD, she got a paci on day 2 and has no problems breast feeding. She started getting a bottle of breastmilk a few times a day by day five or six as well. She never had any nipple confusion and actually after a few weeks had no interest in the pacifier.

besu-chan · August 2012

Rynleigh:

Binkies have been given a terribly unjustified bad reputation. Not only do they have zero evidence of causing nipple confusion, they also have been shown to help babies develop stronger and better latching and sucking habits... not to mention the huge benefits to preventing thumb sucking. You can take the binky one day.... can't cut their thumbs off.

Stock up and wave your pacis with pride.

This. I was sooo scared to use them at first but it did not affect their latches at all and it totally changed my Baby B who just needed to suck all. the. time. I wish I had started sooner. Now at 7.5 months I have taken them away no problem. It's not always like that but I wouldn't worry about the nipple confusion issue. When I actually read up on it (after the fact) I found out that it is EXTREMELY rare.

nikinikinine · August 2012

My LC told me the same thing. We waited until 4 weeks for pacis and 6 weeks for bottles. It worked for us, so I'll do it again with #3. But I know people who offer them from birth and have no issues and others who introduced a rubber nipple early and had latch problems after. I don't know if there is a connection at all, but it scared me enough to just listen to what the LC's said!

MelleTX · August 2012

I just went to my breastfeeding class on Wednesday night. The LC there said nipple confusion is only an issue with babies that do not develop a good latch. She said if your baby develops a good latch from the beginning and is successful with breastfeeding, then there is no problem introducing pacis or bottles. However, if the baby is not having an easy time with breastfeeding, then it is possible they may like the paci or the bottle better because it is easier.

I have no first-hand knowledge of this yet, but it sounded logical and made sense to me.

Angelina2010 · August 2012

I haven't had any type of nipple confusion with any of my kids I did however get a good pattern going with the breast feeding before offering a paci (maam's).

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