Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

DS is 11 days old. I am currently EBF but I will be going back to work between 6-8 weeks so he will be getting pumped milk. He is a major sucker - loves loves loves to comfort suck and can suck for hours. He has regained and surpassed his birth weight and is feeding really well. He sleeps decently right now but sometimes seems to need a little extra soothing. The ped said it was okay to introduce it but just looking for other opinions. I have tried it twice now for short periods of time and he definitely enjoys it and has fallen asleep both times we used it. I put it in after a long feed so I knew he wasn't hungry, and he spit it out once he was fully asleep. I guess I'm just worried about nipple confusion or reading his cues wrong and using it when he's actually hungry. Anyone else BF and introduce a pacifier early? Tips?

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

I didnt but I think you have a good handle on his cues (and when in doubt, just nurse!) and he will be fine!

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

i EBF and didnt pump until ds was about 2 weeks - about the same time we introduced the paci. I had no issues, i do think every baby is different though!

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

you seem to know what ds needs - and as long as hes not hungry go ahead and give him the pacifier.
we gave it to DD around 5 days old if i remember correctly - bc it seemed just wanted the comfort of sucking
she took it for a while and it was great - we would leave them in her crib and around 4 months she would find it in the middle of the night and put it in her mouth - which allowed us to stay in bed. shes now 8+ months and rarely takes it.
she never had any nipple confusion or anything.

Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

DS had a paci in the hospital. Never really took to it. Each baby is different so you really never know. The paci will never take the place of boob or bottle if they are hungry so you don't have to worry about that.

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

Each baby is different. I'm personally all over the place with squishy. I introduced it on about day 3. I had to formula feed till my milk came in. Then he wouldn't latch.

Now I pump during the day and only nurse for 10 min total at night/early am.

He's fine with all 3. He'll take it, but def doesn't rely on it.

Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

DD was EBF until she went to daycare at 3mo (that's just when we introduced bottles, she still is BF at 11 mo), we left the hospital with a pacifier and never looked back. No nipple confusion whatsoever. I wasn't thrilled with giving it to her, but I couldn't have her attached to me 24/7. I fully understand that you have to nurse a lot the first few months, but DD literally would've been attached at the boob every minute of every day in the beginning if we didn't give her a pacifier

It sounds like you are definitely in tune to your little man's needs, so if you think he'd do well with a pacifier, try it out.

Message edited 10/30/2013 1:52:30 PM.

Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

I gave on 3 or 4 just to see if she would take it and I thought it looked cute. We are still breast feeding at 14 months. She had no issues. She gets it now at night and nap time or if she's screaming like a maniac in the car.

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

Both of my boys were very comforted by sucking. I had to introduce the pacifier with DS1 when he ended up in the NICU at 2 days old. I also introduced the pacifier right away with DS2. I had no issues with BFing. It actually gave me a bit of a break because they wanted toto suck forafter comfort after eating.

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

DS was EBF. We introduced the pacifier in the hospital after a nurse told me some babies have an intense need to suck (which he did). I needed relief because if you let him him, he would nurse the ENTIRE day. He was a champ eater and never had nipple confusion.

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

My DD got a paci really early and was EBF. She never had any nipple confusion or any problems nursing. She never took to a bottle, but her paci soothed her sooo much, so it worked out well for us.

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

I tried to not give a paci but caved and gave one by day 3. He never had any problems BF'ing and nursed for over 2 years.

Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

It will be fiine--I think they make a HUGE deal out of nipple confusion but I don't really know anyone that experienced it.

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

DS was EBF & he got a pacifier the second night in the hospital. Thankfully never any problems with nursing.

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

The LC I worked with has yet to see a case of nipple confusion in her almost 40 year career. She actually said it only exists on the internet, haha.

DD had a paci from day 1, the hospital didn't even ask me (which I was annoyed at, but whatever).

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

We used one from day 3 on...the first 2 days were hell hehe.EBF or gave pumped bottles till he weaned @13 months

Re: Thoughts on introducing pacifier early?

DD 's first day home, she was 2 days old. She was fussy and crying and my cousin, who's a dr and going to be her godmother, asked why we weren't giving her a pacifier. I made this big production of not wanting her to get used to it and rely on it, blah, blah. Yeah, right. A few sleepless nights later and stuck one in her mouth and it's been a godsend.