relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

I'm a first time mom with a 10 day old DD. Over the past two days I've broken down and started using a pacifier to soothe her when she's hysterical crying and I'm worried that she's becoming reliant on it to calm down. All day today she's been looking for it when she is upset, and I know I'm not mistaking this for a hunger cue because she even does it right after eating. It seems to work, and when she's asleep and it falls out she doesn't cry for it. Still I'm wondering if I've done something wrong by introducing it in the first place. Have I done an awful thing (because that's kind of how I'm feeling...) How do you soothe your DC when all they want to do is suck on something?

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

there is nothing wrong with the pacifier. you can take it away when she gets older.

do you swaddle? that might help her calm down too. she's very young, they are used to being very close and tight in the womb and having their fingers to suck on. being "outside" is scary for them!

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Posted by headoverheels

there is nothing wrong with the pacifier. you can take it away when she gets older.

do you swaddle? that might help her calm down too. she's very young, they are used to being very close and tight in the womb and having their fingers to suck on. being "outside" is scary for them!

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Babies have a suck reflex. I see nothing wrong with a pacifier.
My DD used one until 3 and she's perfectly fine.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

My DD looks for it sometimes too, and will drop it when she's cam or asleep.

ETA: You definitely haven't done an awful thing!

Message edited 10/18/2009 5:26:05 PM.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

DS will be 10 months old and the paci is our lifesaver! When the time comes that we feel he shouldn't use it anymore, we will deal with that. And I am sure like 1000's of babies before him, he'll be fine.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

My DD used it for about a month, she's only 3 months now and has no interest in it

Don't worry!

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Why is there something wrong with giving a pacifier? It's been proven to decrease the chance of SIDS in infants, so I'd think that's a good thing.
Don't ever feel guilty for doing something to make your newborn baby happy!

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

DS is 6 weeks old & uses a pacifier from time to time to soothe him. It is funny bc in the hospital they didn't give him one until the night before we were discharged. But DS will drop it out of his mouth as soon as he is calm or asleep. There are times that even the pacifier does not soothe him & rocking is the only answer.

I tried to swaddle him but he hated it. I find that rocking or even slightly bouncing him when he is upset will calm him down almost immediately

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

I see no problem with it and like a PP said it's thought to help decrease sids. No problems here-we just broker DD of her habit at 2. Out next we will try to drop it a little sooner, but that's about it.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

we are up sh!ts creek with out abbys donald (a ducky wubbanub) she is a very very fussy baby but as long as she had donald shes an angel.... like someone already posted its thought to help reduce sids. the peds never told me not to use it or to shy away from it. she loves her paci and i plan to use it as long as it works... now if shes 3 or 4 still looking for it by all means... the paci fairy needs to come and take it away!

give your baby the paci and you may notice its like a cork for the crying!

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

my ped actually told me to put baby to sleep with it in his mouth

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

I'm a 1st time mom with a 15 day old and I admit that we use the paci more than i would have liked. But, it calms him down and sometimes I don't know what else to do. He had it from day one at the hospital (they use soothies) and this is what we purchased also.

It does decrease the risk of SIDS. They way I see it, as he gets older and is able to soothe himself, I'll work on decreasing his dependence on the paci.

At this stage, everything seems to be a mystery to me. I wonder about things like changing first or feeding 1st, whether he sleeps too much, what to do with him when he's awake, etc. Best of luck and congrats!

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

There is nothing wrong with using a pacifier. My babies are almost 10 months and use them when they sleep.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

we all need to relax in some way...and for babies, its the pacifier that does it for some and they are fine (our hospital gave them it!)....both of my dd's used one - my 3 yr old just gave hers up a little before her last bday without a fight...she had only used it at night for over 2 yrs.....your dc will be fine, and you will find yourself more relaxed!

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by DRMom

The real reason I started doing this is because my kids would attack each other to steal the binkies

i am picturing this and

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

I gave my dc a paci , once he got close to 5 months I started weaning him from it, not giving it to him during the day. he was done by the time he was 6 months. I can't see my 2 year old w/ a paci so I took it away early. I gave it to him in the first place, bc they say it lowers sids risk.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Posted by SweetTooth

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by DRMom

The real reason I started doing this is because my kids would attack each other to steal the binkies

i am picturing this and

OMG mine do this too. They will take them out of each other's mouths; its like an obsession. They will do everything in their power to steal it from each other, even when they already have one.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

I HATEEEEEEEEEEEE the pacifier but we used it with all our kids b/c of SIDS. For all I know the paci could have saved my DD's life.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

it's okay! i felt the same way at first, but really at the end of the day, she is only 10 days old. she still has a very strong suck reflex. i felt the same with DD, but it soothed her so much, how could i not. she still uses her binkie at 3 months, but only when she is fussy and sometimes when she sleeps. it's soothing to her and she likes it. she doesn't need it all the time. also, it helps lower the SIDS risk.

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

Posted by DRMom

Posted by SweetTooth

Posted by headoverheels

Posted by DRMom

The real reason I started doing this is because my kids would attack each other to steal the binkies

i am picturing this and

OMG mine do this too. They will take them out of each other's mouths; its like an obsession. They will do everything in their power to steal it from each other, even when they already have one.

Oh I have pics AND I posted them.

Lauren mine too-they could have 52 binkies but they want what the other has

Re: relying on the pacifier...honest opinions needed

IMO... there is nothing wrong with using a paci. Do I think a 5yr old with one is a problem? Yes. My DD uses one, mainly right before sleeping and in the car. She just tuned one and we said by 18mos, we are going to TRY and get rid of it.

I think its personal preference. For me, I would rather her use a paci then suck her thumb. My personal opinion is that at least I can take the paci away... the thumb is there for good. In a perfect world, babies wouldnt need paci's and they wouldnt suck their thumbs. I dont know about you, but I dont live in a perfect world lol... far from it.

Like alot of things, you need to do what YOU think is best for your baby. Good luck...and congrats on your new DD!