Pacifier while breast feeding?

Question

is it ok? WIC said it can make it harder for her to latch on.

Answer 1

I'm still exclusively breastfeeding at 5 and a half months, my second daughter, and have been using a pacifier from a couple of weeks. There have been no problems.

I was happy to nurse her whenever she wanted, but after on evening of screaming when she wasn't hungry and would pull off my boob after a few sucks, I tried a dummy and she had a few sucks and fell instantly asleep. It soon became clear that she often wanted to suck, but didn't want anything going into her mouth when she did so.

It quickly became clear that she will *only* nurse if she is hungry and won't do it for comfort at all - actively refuses. But she has her dummy for sleeping and, although I didn't want to, i do use it for keeping her happy sometimes during the day if i need to get something done and can't be with her :-/

It hasn't affected her feeding at all, as far as I can see, in that, any problems we have had I have put down to something else and/or have rectified.

Apparently, as i investigated this when we first used the dummy, it is rare for use of one to negatively affect breastfeeding - the main issue is, use of it may mask feeding cues and baby may lose weight, your supply might drop, if baby is relying on the pacifier when they should be feeding.

Here's some info from a great source:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/concerns/pacifier.html

Answer 2

I was totally against giving my new son a pacifier when he was born. But I found out that some babies just need something to suck on. My son had a good latch from the beginning, but when he's tired and not hungry he'd rather have his pacifier (which he's had since day one). I don't see anything wrong with giving a baby a pacifier, but the decision is up to you. Remember, babies suck pacifiers and suckle the breast and your child will know the difference.

Answer 3

i became instructed to attend six weeks till now giving my newborn a pacifier. if certainty be told my community scientific institution incredibly used to offer out pacifiers to the hot dad and mom yet now no longer do it anymore subsequently. I rebelled nonetheless and gave my 3 women a pacifier from day one. infant one had latch matters and ended up being switched to a bottle some weeks later, infant 2 additionally had latch matters yet we worked by using it with a nipple safeguard and infant 3 did no longer have matters. I do think of pacifiers reason nipple confusion, yet from my adventure it is not all little ones. attempt it, and in case you initiate noticing latch matters then positioned them away for some weeks.

Answer 4

My first didn't want her dummy anymore past 3 mths and I was breastfeeding but my son had his till 2yrs and I breastfed him till 8mths with no problems.
It depends on the dummy too. You can buy all sorts of dummies so try different ones till you get it right.

But my best advice would be Don't use one if you can, as it was really hard to get my son off his and a pain in the neck if we couldn't find it or lost it at the shops. They are also a pain in the nighttime when they lose them and start crying because they want their dum-dum!

But they are a lifesaver too so do what fits your family! More people than not use them.

Answer 5

I have a bub and I also breastfeed and use a pacifier, there has been no problems. She definitely does not prefer it over breastfeeding. I usually just use the pacifier to soothe her to sleep.

Answer 6

Not in the early weeks. Our baby refused one and she is breastfed. Now, she willl take one at nap and bedtime because she loves to suck- but it's only at those 2 times and it stays in our room on the end table. She started to take it at about 7 months old.

We got an ortho paci and it's worked well for us because it is shaped most like mommy's nipple.

Answer 7

If you are breastfeeding do not use a pacifier. You don't want to make it any harder for yourself and your baby.

You can use your breast to soothe baby, this is the joys of breastfeeding.

Answer 8

NO! Dummies will make your milk supply go down. You need to be baby's pacifier. Baby will prefer the fake nipple over yours and will have issues eating and might even get nipple confusion.

Answer 9

my pediatrician said to wait until my son was 3 months old to introduce a pacifier to avoid nipple confusion.

Answer 10

using a pacifier would help u control the timing of ur baby's feedings, specially at night si u wouldnt wake up feeling exhausted from waking up continuously at night, it will help ur baby also to get accustomed to being fed on a regular and stable basisi not whenever he feels a hunger snap.