ok i have a 3 week old baby. Im breastfeeding. and im going back to work the first week of april and im concerned about comforting her when im not there. I tried a pacifier tonight and she took it for only comfort. i read on the internet that it is basically a bad thing to give a breastfed baby a pacifier. :( but if she wants me at daycare and i cant be there i dont want her crying for hours, i want something to comfort her you know. so i guess what im asking is if its ok to give a breastfed baby a pacifier and if she'll get nipple confusion and not want to breastfeed anymore.
2007-03-08 14:58:29 · 17 answers · asked by Nicki08 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
its great you made it 3 weeks without a pacifier. If she has the nursing down I see no harm in giving her a pacifier. It is for comfort anyhow. Make sure you express when your breast are full to keep up the supply.
2007-03-08 15:06:11 · answer #1 · answered by momof3 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Let her have the pacifier. There are MANY things you will hear from others that you shouldn't do, but don't worry. For example, my baby is 1 1/2 and he's still drinking a bottle 3 times a day. No biggie. He never liked the pacifier or sucked his thumb. They're all different! Enjoy her!!! The first 6 months are pretty boring, then she'll get to be a lot of fun!!
2007-03-08 15:02:25 · answer #2 · answered by Steenskees 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on the baby. My daughter was breastfed and it didn't hurt her a bit to have her pacifier. She ate just fine, and when she wasn't eating she liked her nuk.
I know a lot of people are now saying that nipple confusion is a myth.
I'm also pretty sure I heard something about putting a baby to bed with a pacifier reducing the risk of SIDS. Don't have the info to back it up though. I can't remember where I read it.
It's up to you if you want to take that chance. Whatever you decide, Good luck to you!
2007-03-08 15:06:45 · answer #3 · answered by Bookshelf cat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both of my daughters nursed past their first birthdays. I went back to work when each was 8 weeks old, and I gave them pacifiers from day 1. We never had any issues with nipple confusion or anything like that. Plus, your daughter will have to take a bottle while you're gone, so she's going to have to get used to something other than the breast, pacifier or no.
I say don't make it a problem until you're actually faced with it. It may not be an issue for you at all. And if it becomes a problem, a lactation consultant can help you straighten it out.
The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that babies have pacifiers, at least to sleep.
So don't sweat it. :)
2007-03-08 15:05:38 · answer #4 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A pacifier is not a bad thing. People are always quick to say things like that but the reality of the situation is, that you are doing the best you can. As my pediatrician once said, "he is not going to school with a pacifier in his mouth".
You are very right not to want her to feel unattended and at daycare they only have so many hands and children are not all the center of attention they should be.
When it is time for them to get rid of the pacifier they will due to peer pressure.
Also, I think a pacifier will only strengthen her sucking reflexes.
You might look into a breast pump and pumping her some bottles of milk she can take whilst you are at work.
God bless, Momma and little Angel
2007-03-08 15:03:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
just recently like the past 8 months it is actually recomended that u use a pacifier now, even breastfed babies. it helps reduce the risk of SIDS, so try a pacifier w/out guilt! (at one time my now 11 mon. old took a pacifier,breastfed and took bottles all w/out nipple confusion!she only liked the pacifier for about 3 months.)
2007-03-12 13:50:42 · answer #6 · answered by Stacey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your baby will be fine. there are so many studies out there with different conclusion. the only way is to try. i don't think we give babies enough credit. if you give your baby a pacifier. she will be able to tell the difference because the passe does not smell like you and there is no milk coming from it. mothers back in the day did not have all this research to confess them, they just went with there gut and from what the elders had to say. basically what i am trying to say is try it for yourself your baby will know the difference and get use to the passe. use it if you think it will work and comfort your baby when you are away. good luck. and use your maternal instinct it will never lead you wrong no matter what any research says
2007-03-08 15:10:46 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are so many types of pacifiers out in the market right now, check them out, I am sure that since your child will be bottle fed while you re at work that the use of a pacifier will not confuser her anymore than the bottle, my niece breast fed and her child used a pacifier, he developed just fine and their was no confusion what so ever.
2007-03-08 15:04:07 · answer #8 · answered by reshadow31 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We gave our baby daughter a pacifier and she was breast fed as well. It is absolutely OK to do both. The pacifier is way better than thumb sucking. We breast fed and did the breast pump when my wife went back to work. Her nookie helped her relax and fall asleep. We eventually took it away by about the time she was 2. Its perfectly normal to use a pacifier.
2007-03-08 15:07:27 · answer #9 · answered by fastfingersalvin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is okay to introduce the pacifier after 3 weeks
2007-03-08 15:03:57 · answer #10 · answered by destiny 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋