Help...should I use pacifier??

haylo33 · May 2014

My baby was born Friday. I have to use a nipple shield due to inverted nipples and he is doing great with nursing. The issue I am having is that after he eats, he still wants to suck. He will eat an entire hour every 2 hours and still cry after and try to put his hands in his mouth. He is having plenty of wet diapers and lots of poops. The lactation consultant watched him eat and he is swallowing frequently so he is getting colostrum when he feeds. The LC and doc both said it is for comfort. As long as he has something in his mouth after feeding, he is fine. He doesn't even suck... Just likes it in there. They recommended we use a clean or gloved pinky finger to let him suck. We do it and it works great but that means no sleep. I am soo tempted to use a pacifier. In my head, I'm already using a shield so it's not like I'm not already using an artificial nipple. If I still feed every 2-3 hours, is it really that bad? The doc confused me a bit because she said today "you can use a pacifier, we just worry about messing up supply" but then there was talk later about pacifiers after milk has come in. What should I do? We can't always have a finger in his mouth when he isn't eating,

CVislo · May 2014

I would just use the pacifier in all honesty. Because it's like you said, you can't always have a finger in his mouth.

yogasailmomma · May 2014

I have a 2 week old and use a pacifier for the same reason. We had to try a couple kinds to see which she would like best but I can't imagine our lives without it. We've been lucky and she goes between breast, bottle and pacifier with little trouble. Sometimes it takes her a bit longer to latch if she has just had the pacifier but it hasn't been much of an issue.

MrsT2008 · May 2014

I'm pro pacifier.

MissLadyTay · May 2014

We are using a pacifier with DS2 and used one with DS1 from night 2. My boobs need a break between nursing sessions. For all the talk I've seen online about "nipple confusion" we have never had trouble with either son going between boob and pacifier or boob and bottle. Both are good nursers and using a paci didn't change that.

blessedandhopeful · May 2014

MissLadyTay said:

We are using a pacifier with DS2 and used one with DS1 from night 2. My boobs need a break between nursing sessions. For all the talk I've seen online about "nipple confusion" we have never had trouble with either son going between boob and pacifier or boob and bottle. Both are good nursers and using a paci didn't change that.

Same here.

MrsT2008 · May 2014

I read somewhere that all the talk of nipple confusion is really just that, talk. That it's pretty rare that there is much of an issue. We never had issues with DD1 and used a paci from day 2 and same so far with DD2 (who is in her crib right now with her paci)

Lisababy14 · May 2014

I'm mobile, so don't have a link handy but was told at the hospital that it is now recommended (American Academy of Pediatrics, I'm pretty sure) to use a paci by 1 month of age to reduce risk of SIDS. We have been trying to get DS2 to use a paci, just haven't found one he likes yet.

ksyknelvr73 · May 2014

I would use a pacifier. We had a very similar issue with DS when he was born. He never had nipple confusion, it didn't mess with BFing.

Junebug060609 · May 2014

CVislo said:
I would just use the pacifier in all honesty. Because it's like you said, you can't always have a finger in his mouth.

This.

And as a fellow shield user I wanted to say hello!

jenb_99 · May 2014

I'm totally pro paci. While nipple preference is common, it usually only applies to bottles vs breasts; baby prefers the one that gives more milk at a faster rate - duh, who wouldn't? But actual confusion is rare. Babies aren't stupid. One who isn't hungry and just wants to suck will be perfectly content with a pacifier, and most moms find it easy to tell the difference.

daisyemerson · May 2014

If you're giving a finger to suck on, why is a pacifier any different? Aren't they both "artificial nipples" at that point?
Use the pacifier

mileswithmyles · May 2014

I am using a shield as well during some feedings and Myles does the same thing. I am considering using one to soothe him when trying to get him to sleep.

cnbean · May 2014

I am all for the pacifiers. We've used them with both our boys and never had any issue with it. And my boobs needed a break too.

bumpuser10194737 · May 2014

We are using one and started at about one week.

hbird0723 · May 2014

I started using the paci day one. Maybe I should of waited but they said it was for comfort and she has done fine with both. It's not worth losing more sleep because she needs something to suck on after she's done eating.

SMM1986 · May 2014

We've been using a paci since about week 2 (she wouldn't take it before then) and haven't had any issues. I'd go for it.

haylo33 · May 2014

Thanks all. We used it and it definitely helped. He still doesn't sleep too long but he isn't crying!

ho11yday · May 2014

Lisababy14 said:
I'm mobile, so don't have a link handy but was told at the hospital that it is now recommended (American Academy of Pediatrics, I'm pretty sure) to use a paci by 1 month of age to reduce risk of SIDS. We have been trying to get DS2 to use a paci, just haven't found one he likes yet.

this. I was anti-pacifier until I read that it reduces the risk of SIDS. With DS, he used it until about 4 months and then opted for his thumb.

krissy3435 · May 2014

ho11yday said:

Lisababy14 said:
I'm mobile, so don't have a link handy but was told at the hospital that it is now recommended (American Academy of Pediatrics, I'm pretty sure) to use a paci by 1 month of age to reduce risk of SIDS. We have been trying to get DS2 to use a paci, just haven't found one he likes yet.
this. I was anti-pacifier until I read that it reduces the risk of SIDS. With DS, he used it until about 4 months and then opted for his thumb.

This! My ped says yes to pacis. We break our kids of the habit around 18-20 months. Three sad nights and they forget all about it.

Marcella05 · May 2014

When I was in the hospital, the nurses kept giving me conflicting advice on pacifiers during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. Some were for and some were against. When baby boy was 5 days old, the day my milk finally came in, we introduced the pacifier to give my nipples a break. He had no problem going back to my nipple for feedings.

momthatlifts · May 2014

My hospital was totally pro paci. I didn't like how they were shoving it in her mouth to solve every problem though. But she never really took to it. I say, it could really help a tough situation and if you find relief from it then go for it!

iqwedding3 · May 2014

No stance on pacifier issue, however DD had the same problem the first week, after which she was able to sleep in the bassinet without issue. Good luck!

jschwind22 · May 2014

I don't have a problem with pacifiers, but honestly I'd wait until your milk comes in. I went through this exact same thing this weekend. He wouldn't leave my boob and when he did he was often difficult to sooth. From what I researched, being on the boob and sucking that often is what stimulates your milk to come in. Sure enough, it came in yesterday and since then he has backed off the frequent sucking and is content between feedings every 2-3 hours. So in a nutshell I'd wait until after your milk comes in to use the paci.

KBowen715 · May 2014

Viva la pacifier!

kb2bkk · May 2014

I used a sheild with DD1- she was tongue tied and couldn't get a proper latch. It took her until about 3 months to take a paci but once she did her latch improved and we were even able to drop the sheild.

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