Pacifiers

shines721 · March 2017

Not sure if this belongs in another thread? Let me know if it does!

Im curious what everyone else is doing in regards to pacifiers. I didn't use one with my son and he became a thumb sucker. I was also terrified about nipple confusion. Now with this baby, I had told myself to be ok with it more because there were definitely times my first just needed to suck but wasn't hungry.

Anyways, all of a sudden, I feel like we've created a terrible habit of needing it to sleep and I'm terrified what it will be like when he's not next to me in the rock n play where I can just pop it back in. He doesn't use it during wake time and I'm hoping to keep it that way at least...

Advice? Past experiences? Anyone else using them? Anyone have a baby take it initially and turn into a thumb sucker?

Burrberrymum · March 2017

I didn't use one with my oldest but she ended up comfort nursing like crazy and this took my sanity for 2 years. I didn't really want to introduce one this time but after 2 full all nighters in a row I decided to try it in the middle of the night and it has helped a little. I've only used it as a last resort when she's in a suckling for comfort mood. Not sure if I will keep up with it but it's helping during the night in my "heal the nipples" stage lol

wintersong · March 2017

I never used one with my first....I WISH he would have sucked his thumb, lol, but he never did. He was a boob maniac all the way. Is there a particular reason why your worried about this kiddo becoming a thumb sucker? I mean, it's pretty normal baby behavior and way more convenient than a binky, lol. (though a harder habit to break I grant you)

marshmallowfarts · March 2017

Our first son never wanted one and never liked his thumb. This baby does need it to comfort suckle. He usually doesn't need it for hours at a time or anything. The wubba nubba things help it stay in a place and not fall out so easily and if they do detach it still stays in a centered spot. And as for pacifiers I'm all for anything that's going to allow me to have some sleep. That being said they've found pacifiers decrease risk for sids too so there is an upside to them.

Good luck on whichever route you choose!

anonellis · March 2017

I was stressed out about it because I read it would cause nipple confusion if I introduced one too early. But both of my twins are using them and started probably before they were 10 days old. There has been no confusion, they're still good latchers when they breast feed, and they have been life savers. Our pediatrician said he only views them as a problem if they're still using them way down the line. I'm a FTM so what do I know, but they calm the babies down SO much so I have no regrets.

direwolfmini · March 2017

They gave my twins soothie pacifiers in the nicu, so that decision was kind of made for me.

That being said, They have been a lifesaver. They will still comfort nurse sometimes (we mostly bottle feed due to low supply and latch issues when they were so little), there has been no nipple confusion. We bought them wubbanubs (the soothie pacifiers with stuffed animals attached) and those are even more soothing for them. The one will stroke his stuffed animal while he sucks and it calms him down. Those are nice because if the paci falls out they can find it by grabbing the stuffed animal. I'm not sure if they're really that safe for sleep, though.

shines721 · March 2017

longliveregina said:

I never used one with my first....I WISH he would have sucked his thumb, lol, but he never did. He was a boob maniac all the way. Is there a particular reason why your worried about this kiddo becoming a thumb sucker? I mean, it's pretty normal baby behavior and way more convenient than a binky, lol. (though a harder habit to break I grant you)

I would LOVE for him to become a thumb sucker... I'm way more concerned with this binky love.

motherofdragons-2 · March 2017

My first wouldn't take one and began to suck on her two first fingers at 4 mo. to soothe herself and still does it occasionally now at 3yo. My doc says its only an issue when their adult teeth have come in but I doubt she will be a sucker for that long. My son however was so colicky and impossible to keep asleep for longer than 4 hours for the first 9 months of his life so we gave him binkies starting at 3mo. He is almost 2 now and only needs one to sleep or if I just need some quiet from him, haha and we are slowly weaning him off. Just follow babys cues and don't feel guilty! I don't think its a horrible habit. Some babies need to suck but mama can't sit there with her boob hanging out for hours! Keeping it as a bedtime prop is great- I simply don't offer it but once in a blue moon if its not sleep time and my son does just fine!

nursemama-2 · March 2017

All my kids use soothers. My son nursed until 18 months and this baby has no had any confusion. My kids have never had issues keeping them in once they go to their crib. We are using the wubbanub because it is weighted and helps keep it in. I love soothers.

pandalily · March 2017

When did you start introducing them @NurseMama? I haven't yet but just for future reference.

kjd291 · March 2017

I tried to get DD1 to use a pacifier! She never took to it, and wasn't a thumb sucker either! Just boob and toddlerhood was a blanket comfort object instead of a paci.

datalover13 · March 2017

Our oldest used his until he was about 2. The last several months it was only nap and bedtime, but he was a really anxious kid and his paci helped calm him down. This LO seems to be on the same path - loves his wubanub, even if he has trouble keeping it in right now. Honestly, for us pacis were lifesavers sometimes.

catybug820 · March 2017

I tried to get DD to use one when she was a baby, but she wasn't interested. The only time she used one was if she fell asleep nursing, then it was the only way to sneak her off the boob. We used the soothie ones, and she did like to chew on the side of them, and liked the wubbanub ones especially because it was like a teether and a stuffy for her. I would have killed for her to take a pacifier in the more traditional way, because she was a challenging baby. She cried for about 6 months straight, and comfort nursed all the time.
This time around, LO loves the binky. I started it while he was still in the hospital, and it actually helped him get better at sucking. He was getting tired out trying to stay latched on, but the pacifier seemed to help. We use the smoothies, and he is also a big fan of the wubbanub ones. He snuggles onto the stuffed animal, and it keeps the pacifier from falling out so easy.

nursemama-2 · March 2017

Umm like day 2 with all of them haha

wintersong · March 2017

I will say the wubanub is a great choice because even if your little doesn't take a pacifier, they make great shuffles/comfort objects.

Gators&BoSox · March 2017

DS never took one.. and trust me I tried during car freak outs.. he never sucked his thumb either. I will say I'm happy that I don't have that habit to break him of later but it would have saved me some seriously sanity early on. hoping to take the same route with this one. I will say I'd personally prefer a binky over thumb since it's kind of hard to take an appendage away

Jilliants · March 2017

I am so glad you started this thread @shines721 my husband and I literally had this conversation after spending night two with baby attached to me! Thanks for sharing all your experiences ladies!

EnglishTeacherMama · March 2017

Ah the lactation consultant in the hospital made me feel so guilty for using a soothie, but a nurse had introduced it when they wheeled him away for his circumcision and he took to it right away. He is literally immediately soothed by it (and still eats like a champ, so it hasn't ruined anything). I find it helpful to differentiate between when he's just upset versus when he's actually hungry, which has helped my sore nipples so much! This thread makes me feel better.

kaylaef · March 2017

Once breastfeeding was established we used a soother with my son. He's 17 months old now and health pretty much self weaned off it. Only uses it when he's not feeling well. He didn't really comfort nurse but he was a great eater. I will likely do the same once this stubborn babe decides they want to be born.

kiyamurph · March 2017

My oldest son was a NICU baby and they used pacifiers right out the gate. He breastfed until 2 and never had any nipple confusion. I was so thankful he used a pacifier because he for sure loved the boob and I didn't want him to use me as a pacifier. If I hadn't eventually weaned him he would've kept breastfeeding. My 2 day old has been using a pacifier periodically and he'll suckle for a little bit, but he's nowhere addicted to it.

Foersty · March 2017

I did not want to give DS a pacifier at first because I wanted to breastfeed and was worried about nipple confusion, but at the birth hospital they gave him one to comfort him after his circumcision. Then, in the NICU they gave him the soothie pacifier and I truly gave in out of mama guilt for everything my baby was going through there with the surgery and all. He still loves his pacifier, but I had some trouble because every time he fell asleep and the paci fell out of his mouth, it would wake him and he would cry. To combat this, I try to get him to fall asleep at night without the paci and just use it sometimes during the daytime for comfort.

shines721 · April 2017

Ugh... bringing this thread back up because I've created a monster!

datalover13 · April 2017

Paci lover here too! And unfortunately his latch isn't great and he can't hold on to the stupid thing for anything.

Spartanrd4 · April 2017

Yes she keeps dropping it or spitting it out and here I am putting it back in to get her to calm or go to sleep....I swear she is playing a game with me lol.

shines721 · April 2017

It. Is. Terrible.

I never offered one to DS1 and did for my "sanity" this time around but now I'm regretting it. I should have known from the beginning. I know some people would die to have their LO take it because all they want to do is nurse but this habit is killer. It is so easy to just pop in during the day that now it i seeming to turn into a real issue with naps and now at bedtime.

To tonight I had a meltdown. Like sitting there sobbing. I finally go to bed once he falls asleep and wouldn't you know, 30 minutes later he is crying searching for it. I ended up nursing and hoping it will work as a dreamfeed. He's also so passed out Now that I can't get him to burp and he's a spitter so he will be soaked and/or super grunty when I put him down.

Sorry for the vent but I'm about to go insane.

kjd291 · April 2017

Sorry the paci addicts are having trouble

We've had no luck here! I want her to take one so I can have a few minutes extra here and there to help DD1 when she's upset at the same time, but no! Oh well... I'll try to look at the positive sides of having a kid who doesn't have one.

jenny0228 · April 2017

Sorry it's such a hard time for you @shines721- I hope it gets better!!

I cant figure DS out on this one. Sometimes he is all about it, sometimes he loathes it. When he loathes it he ejects it like a projectile missle. He likes the Mam- not into the soothie so far.

catybug820 · April 2017

We are enjoying our ride on the binky train! Last time around, DD wouldn't take one, and she was a terrible baby (seriously, she screamed for 6 months straight). This little guy needs some help keeping it in when he gets tired, but otherwise is good. He only takes the soothie pacifiers, and loves his wubbanub ones. Now that he is starting to grab onto the stuffed animal part, he pulls it out and tries to push it back in, but can't quite get it. When he is falling asleep he will lose it a few times and fuss, so I just pop it back in, and once he's all the way asleep and it falls out and he doesn't care. I'm pretty lucky now, but I'm pretty sure this kid is going to be taking the thing to college he loves it so much.

IloveAlbert · April 2017

My LO won't really take one either. I didn't offer until 4 weeks so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. At first she wouldn't take it at all...then she would a little bit but pushed it out of her mouth a lot. Now she won't take it at all. I wish she would at least a little because I think it might help in the car. She HATES the car seat so I was hoping it might calm her down in the car but it seems like that's not going to happen. I've tried soothie (on the Wubbanubb and not) and the Mam. DS used one for awhile but gave it up himself around 3 months.

kjd291 · April 2017

I'm wondering if her refusal has to do with oversupply... ?? Since she doesn't get to comfort nurse, just eat.

IloveAlbert · April 2017

Maybe...when I try to get her to take it she moves it around with her tongue and chomps on it or pushes it out. Can I just say again how frustrating oversupply can be?

MsTurney · April 2017

Kate sometimes takes it, sometimes not. I was scared of nipple confusion for so long so I waited till 3 weeks. She seemed to love it for like a day and then was like... wait a sec this thing sucks lol

kjd291 · April 2017

IloveAlbert said:

Maybe...when I try to get her to take it she moves it around with her tongue and chomps on it or pushes it out. Can I just say again how frustrating oversupply can be?

Super sucky. Still struggling over here-hitting 2mo, and blockfeeding hasn't done much.

Foersty · April 2017

DS is selective about when he wants his paci. I didn't want him to have one at first due to my fears of nipple confusion, but the birth hospital gave him one called the Jollypop when he was circumcised and I let him keep it because I felt bad that maybe he was in pain from the procedure. Then, at the children's hospital they used Soothies and gave him that. Those are the only kinds of pacifiers he will take now. I tried giving him the other kinds we received as samples (MAM, NUK, etc) but he won't have any but those two kinds. I try to get him to fall asleep without them because otherwise he wakes up when they fall out.

Ivorytower2 · April 2017

The oversupply is a big problem here too. Poor baby has been struggling with green poop, hiccups, choking, etc etc. today she spit up a LOT, which she has never done before.

Im going to try block feeding and see if it helps- it already seems better over past few feedings and DD wasn't taking much off the second side anyway.

@kjd291 do you pump the side you don't use? Or does your body eventually regulate that?

I'm gonna see an LC next week too...

wintersong · April 2017

kjd291 said:

IloveAlbert said:

Maybe...when I try to get her to take it she moves it around with her tongue and chomps on it or pushes it out. Can I just say again how frustrating oversupply can be?

Super sucky. Still struggling over here-hitting 2mo, and blockfeeding hasn't done much.

You know, sometimes blockading becomes the new normal. I remember when I went back to work at 6 months pp my son was seriously nursing every 45 minutes at night (reverse cycling). For my own sanity I just started doing all before midnight feeds on the left side and all post midnight on the right. Then I pumped right when I got to work to even out again, lol. I think that if your capacity is high you can go longer between feeds without affecting supply but I'm not sure if the mechanics of it.

I tried a pacifier and was thrilled when she took itm. I was less thrilled when I realized I had to sit there holding it. Nopenopenope

She's struggling to find her fingers, hopefully she gains control soon!

wintersong · April 2017

Ivorytower2 said:

The oversupply is a big problem here too. Poor baby has been struggling with green poop, hiccups, choking, etc etc. today she spit up a LOT, which she has never done before.

Im going to try block feeding and see if it helps- it already seems better over past few feedings and DD wasn't taking much off the second side anyway.

@kjd291 do you pump the side you don't use? Or does your body eventually regulate that?

I'm gonna see an LC next week too...

I didn't pump the other side, but if you need to create a stash fast it might be a good way. Generally you want the milk to sit around shui the hormones in it tell your body that your breasts aren't being emptied enough.

Ivorytower2 · April 2017

longliveregina said:

Ivorytower2 said:

The oversupply is a big problem here too. Poor baby has been struggling with green poop, hiccups, choking, etc etc. today she spit up a LOT, which she has never done before.

Im going to try block feeding and see if it helps- it already seems better over past few feedings and DD wasn't taking much off the second side anyway.

@kjd291 do you pump the side you don't use? Or does your body eventually regulate that?

I'm gonna see an LC next week too...

I didn't pump the other side, but if you need to create a stash fast it might be a good way. Generally you want the milk to sit around shui the hormones in it tell your body that your breasts aren't being emptied enough.

Right. But then playing a game of roulette with Mastitis? Fml.

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