My daugher is almost 4 months old. Ever since she was born she hated the pacifer, which suprised the nurses because she had great sucking ability. She now sucks her fingers, but refuses any kind of nuks and spits them out. We even tried putting formula on the end of the nipple to trick her, but it only worked for a second. Is there anyway a baby can learn to like a pacifer? It would be so much easier on me since sucking really calms her down.
2007-02-16 15:32:49 · 25 answers · asked by radical_92 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
To those of you that are questioning why I want my daughter to take a pacifer... First reason is ... Its much more sanitary then childrens dirty fingers that are full of bacteria. Second of all she is a fussy baby who wants to suck all the time and is much calmer when she is sucking. Perhaps this is the beginning of teething? I thought that maybe a nuk would sooth her better...
2007-02-16 15:51:29 · update #1
I have the same exact problem with my son who is also 4 months old. It is so frustrating! He wants something in his mouth to suck on, but has a hard time getting his hand in there and has yet to find his thumb. I keep thinking the paci is the answer, but have tried several (since he was born) and he hates them. He does, however, like to suck on a cloth diaper. I give it to him and he puts part of it in his mouth and sucks away. I watch him to make sure he doesn't stick too much of it in there, but he seems to do just fine and it definitely helps to calm him.
2007-02-16 16:07:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes the nipple is the trick. Some babies hate the pacifiers that have the "bulb" nipple, and enjoy the ones that are designed flat on the bottom and raised slightly on the top to fit the roof of the mouth better. I'm not sure if you tried this already though. Another suggestion is giving it to her when she is sleeping with her mouth slightly open, this may encourage her to use her natural sucking reflex on the pacifier. The texture of the pacifier can make all the difference as well: latex vs. silicone. I know that in the past parent's were told to dip the pacifier in honey, but this is not OK now since honey is not good for babies. I don't see a problem with dipping the pacifier in baby cereal, or condensed milk (since it's thicker than formula and will stay on better). I have run out of ideas, try entering in "pacifiers" or "pacifier help" in a website search engine.....good luck! I hope your baby learns to like the paci!!l:)
2007-02-16 15:57:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only thing I would know to suggest, is to try different shaped ones. I know both of my kids would only take 1 certain one. Have you tried the soothie one. It's the one green one that alot of hospitals give out. They didn't use to sell them at the stores but now they do. I bought some at Wal-mart. I'm on the same page as you. I would rather give my baby a pacifier than let her suck on her thumb. At least I can take the pacifier away from her when I decide that she is getting too old for it. You can't do that with a thumb. My niece sucks her thumb, and she's 2 and her teeth are crooked because of it.
2007-02-16 18:09:19 · answer #3 · answered by mommyof2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try a teething ring (the ones that can be put in the fridge are great) or another soft toy she can 'chew' on. Don't worry too much about her sucking on her fingers- just try to keep them fairly clean (I'd suggest wiping her hands with a washcloth every time you change her diaper). Any germs or bacteria she has on her fingers won't do her any harm, they'll even help her build her immune system for later on.
2007-02-16 21:46:28 · answer #4 · answered by es_puro_instinto 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter is 5 1/2 months old and has Never liked a pacifier. Tried a few different kinds in the beginning just to offer them to her but she just doesn't like them and we get by without them just fine. Don't try to force a habit she doesn't want. You will find other things to comfort her and she will find her own ways to sooth herself. My daughter personally prefers to suck on the corner of a receiving blanket or soft toy or just to be snuggled. Every baby is different, just find what works best for her.
2007-02-16 15:52:57 · answer #5 · answered by abbersmomma 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son is the SAME way, will not take a pacifier to save his life, will suck on his fingers and toes until the cows come home....we never could make the pacifier work, but if you have any type of teething toys that she can hold in her hand, use those, she can hold them in her mouth and suck on them, they serve the same purpose as the pacifier and they she's not sucking on her fingers.
2007-02-17 03:27:37 · answer #6 · answered by Hayden's Mommy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you try different shapes? My kids were really specific about which soothers they would take, and oddly enough they both chose the same kind. I'd take her fingers out of her mouth when you see her sucking them, though. Our dentist told us horror stories (okay, a little exaggeration) of damage caused by thumb or finger sucking. If you can get away without her needing her fingers or her thumb or a soother, you'd be better off, because as the previous person said, it's one less habit to have to break later on.
2007-02-16 15:43:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try wrapping her with her hands towards her face that way she can suck on her hands. I wouldn't be so concerned about getting her to like a pacifier there are other ways of soothing a baby. My son is a thumb sucker I'd rather him do that ten on a pacifier!
ETA** All babies put there fingers or hands in their mouth at some point and sometimes that's all they like to do. So to your comment about bacteria, good luck on that one, you can't always prevent everything especially if they are doing it very 5 min. There is nothing wrong with that!!
2007-02-16 15:51:53 · answer #8 · answered by hopewishdream 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does sucking on her fingers calm her down...if so, than do not worry about it. Some kids just do not like the pacifier. However, if you are really wanting to do this than try putting sweet tasting on the pacifier...like from a sucker. Kids love sweet things!
Just be prepared from when this becomes a nasty habit that you'll have to break her from!
2007-02-16 15:39:58 · answer #9 · answered by September Sweetie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
some youngsters only dont prefer something to do with them. A pacifier is a coping device for a infant and each and each is diverse like some human beings jog while under pressure and a few human beings devour. i'd say its in all probability unlikely she would be in a position to settle for one. possibly she would be in a position to morph right into a thumb sucker.
2016-11-23 14:19:48 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋