I saw an artical in a baby mag saying that giving your newborn a dummy could help prevent cot death. I am totaly againts dummies especially when I see 4 year olds unable to communicate properly. I was torn with the idea that if I do not give my baby (due in feb08) a dummy i could be adding to risk that they coloud die. After seeing Bringing up Baby, I am now convinced that I will go with the continuum method, WHY? because they have access to the breast which is more healthier and a natural way of substituting the dummy. Maybe this is why we have the unexplained cot death in our society. We are not providing babies with the actual inate respose that they need. I think we all really need to step back and think why we are having children and if we can give them the time that they need. If not, stay on the pill. The 2 sets of parents who needed their lives to get back asap mentored by Claire Verity, really wound me up, will those children ever really feel that they fit in and that they are loved and most importantly.. understood. I hope others have taken insperation to act differently that will produce special, confident and grounded individuals.
dummies are not recommended for excl. bf babies, mainly because they interfere with the baby's intake of milk at the breast (thereby possibly reducing the mum's supply too). dummies muck around with nature. they are also extremely bad for teeth alignmnet. many of the children or adults you see walking around with badly aligned teeth have either been bottle fed or had dummies, or sucked their fingers as children, pushing their teeth forward.
i have never seen a bf toddler sucking his fingers because the sucking instinct has been satisfied at the breast.
a well-known study was done by a dentist confirming the alignment of teeth and bf theory. he looked at 1000 skulls from I believe the 1400's or 1500's (when formula and dummies were not available) and found that almost all the skulls had perfectly formed, aligned teeth. He also noted that one of the major reasons in an increase in tooth decay in children has been the advent of formula feeding as formula milk pools in the mouth and around teeth and is high in artficials sugars.
I breastfeed and my son has a dummy and has had since he was newborn. He has not been confused by dummy and breast at nearly 1 he still breastfeeds and has his dummy occasionally, usually when someone else has him to help him to sleep.
My baby has had a dummy since he was 5 days old and it has not interfered with breastfeeding.... we are fully breastfeeding and baby does not struggle to latch on and is putting on good amounts of weight (is now nearly 2 months old. He is not stupid... if he is hungry he will let me know, he won't just suck on his dummy and let himself starve!!! And with regards to the teeth .. I sucked my thumb until I was 15 years old (!!) and my teeth are straight - never needed a brace. Maybe some babies/people just have a stronger desire to suck and if this makes you feel good and you are otherwise healthy and developing so what? It is other people who have the problem with dummies and thumb sucking by being so judgemental. There is alot of this judgemental and prescriptive attitude on this site, mums should be more supportive of each other and stop trying to win mummy of the year prizes.
Oh god here we go again ! If you wish to bury your head in the sand do, go right ahead. If you don't like SCIENCE don't read these sorts of forums because you will always find one or two really really annoying parents who will give you facts you won't like.
Yes olivegreen, you are right that there are one or two really annoying parents on this site. The ones who dominate every thread and suggest to new members that they are not welcome and SHOUT at them. And I suggest that if you want SCIENCE you should go to the website of a peer reviewed journal rather than a television forum. Oh and I noticed that you used an anecdotal story in your post (never seen bf child sucking fingers) so what are you getting on your high horse about? I just don't think that parents should be made to feel guilty all the time, especially about something like giving child a dummy. And I wanted to share my experience with the origional member who was confused about the dummy issue.
i have never seen a bf toddler sucking his fingers because the sucking instinct has been satisfied at the breast.
My baby does. I never wanted her to use a dummy I bought one just in case. I've been breastfeeding my baby since the moment was born in the labour ward.
She feeds on demand (3 months will be next week)I don't have problems to choose formula or breastfeed because she hates the bottles doesn't matter if I express my own milk. If my milk is in a bottle she rejects it, so she is attached at myself most of the time. And still she sucks her thombs.
As she never cries was the way I had to know she was hungry. But now, after beign satisfied and full with breastfeed when I put her in her moses basket she awakes and suck her fingers. Sometimes she spits my nipple and puts her thumb in her mouth to sleep. I always joke about that saying I feel rejected. lol
So, yes. Breastfeeding babies sucks their thombs. Mayeb not all of them but some do.
She rejects also the dummies. Now I rather prefered she used a dummy instead her thumb, because some of them are orthodontic and more easy to make them stopp using it later one (as example giving it to Santa), meanwhile she will have always her fingers adn would be more difficult to make her stopp.
I came to this forum beacuse I am sick and tired of other parents colluding with the likes of Ch. 4 to give out outdated and unscientific advice which may lead to someone trying to bf to go down the path of formula feeding. As I have said elsewhere, if you wish to bury your heads in the sand, you are welcome, go right ahead.
melianteas - yes I agree babies put their hands/fingers in their mouths. My baby son used to do this, sometimes you would see him with a whole fist in his mouth, it was a cue to feed him. He has never sucked his fingers as a toddler though.
I have never seen a bf toddler sucking its fingers or thumbs and believe me I see many bf toddlers of friends.
So, I wasn't talking about babies putting fingers in their mouths, I was talking about toddlers, i.e. children who are walking.
I'd just like to say that yes, giving a breast feeding baby a dummy can, sometimes, confuse a baby. The reason for this is that the sucking action a baby needs to feed from the breast is very strong and giving a baby a dummy before he/she is used to the technique needed for breast feeding can confuse it.
However, once you have established a breast feeding routine and your baby latches on fully (with most of the areola in the mouth, rather than just the nipple)giving a baby a dummy will do very little harm.
As for damage to the teeth, it depends upon the type of dummy you use, select one which does NOT have a round stalk (the shape of the teat doesn't matter as it doesn't come into contact with the teeth). The dummies with the flatter stalks allow the gums to meet whilst sucking and therefore do not distort natural tooth and jaw development.
To be honest with you I would prefer for a child to suck on a dummy as you can control when the baby or child has access to it, rather than it's fingers or thumb which are impossible to take away.
Modern baby formula does no damage to a childs teeth, yes a bottle will cause any liquid to pool in the mouth and around the teeth, but todays baby formula is not acidic or sugary. What usually happens in cases of early tooth decay is that parents give them juice in a bottle rather than using a cup and this does cause decay due to the acidic and sugary nature of juice. Nothing but milk or water should be given in a bottle.
My own daughter was breast fed for 9 months and she had a dummy, she is now 3 years old and still uses a dummy at bedtime, I stopped day time dummy use just after her first birthday and this system works fine for us. She does not have perfectly straight teeth, our dentist tells us that at least 60% of children have overcrowded teeth and once they get their adult teeth this usually rectify itself.
Don't feel guilty about giving your child a dummy, a parent cannot be permanently attached to a child 24/7 and if you use a dummy to give you a little peace and quiet you shouldn't feel bad about it, just make sure you use the right kind of dummy. Studies have shown that babies who have a dummy have a reduced risk of cot death (as the dummy stops the nose being completely engulfed by the pillow/mattress should it turn over on to it's front in the night) and that sucking releases happy endorphins, so basically it makes them happier babies.
If your children are happy and healthy then your doing a good job.
How are we burying our heads in the sand? We are not telling people to give their baby a dummy, simply that our babies have been using dummies and are still breastfeeding successfully. I am aware that the advice for a breastfeeding mother is to avoid dummy use and adhered to this for first five days but my husband gave baby a dummy when he came home from work and found baby screaming and me sobbing. If he hadn't done that I may have given up breastfeeding as I was so overwrought and would have been tempted to use formula so that I could be relieved of some of the feeds. As it is the baby settled, I had a cup of tea and relaxed and then we could carry on. And how are we colluding with channel four? You are in danger of sounding insane, like a religious zealot. I think the BUB show was appalling as it did not inform viewers of important safety advice and guidelines from DoH and WHO and essentially used babies as a form of entertainment. That was why I looked at this site....However I think all the personal attacks and the guilt tripping on this site is also appalling. I also don't understand the constant need to go on and on about breastfeeding as if you are doing something unique. At my post natal group there is only one mum who formula feeds (don't know her reason) everyone else breastfeeds and don't feel the need to rant on about it constantly like martyrs - we just get on with it. I feel proud that I am feeding my baby myself but it doesn't make me feel superior. And the health professionals are also very supportive of breastfeeding. I think you have just been unlucky with the health care trust in your area when you had your baby and this lack of funding is the real issue.
Hi silly cat it was nice to read your post, you sound like a rational human being. I am hoping that I can help my son to give up the dummy when he is a bit older as my long term thumb sucking was hard to give up (like you said the thumb is always there) and I ended up with a skin problem on my right thumb and a wound that wouldn't heal. Thanks for the advice about dummy 'stalks'.
dont even get me started on dummies, i never had a dummy my brother never had a dummy even tho he had his thumb, vertually every baby in my family didnt have a dummy. im expectin my 1st child n have already said to everyone if i see a dummy in my babies mouth then i will kick up a storm, its jus so un natural n i agree can make it more difficult for the child to communicate, my brother sucked his thumb n altho had no problems communicatin ended up with jim carrey like teeth(massive chompers). and as for breast feedin, there is nothin wrong with it, it saves time on makin bottles up unless ur goin out but also saves money and u dont have to worry about runnin out coz its always on tap and i cant wait to breast feed, after watchin bringin up baby i cant wait to try al sorts of methods.
However, once you have established a breast feeding routine and your baby latches on fully (with most of the areola in the mouth, rather than just the nipple)giving a baby a dummy will do very little harm.
Excellent post - I agree absolutely. I gave my son a dummy at a few days old after my midwife told me 'off the record' that she saw no problem with limited use for the babies first year. She also felt from her own experience that it could help some breastfeeding mums succeed, especially if those with a 'very sucky' baby.
She suggested that you take the dummy away just after your babies 1st birthday, as it prevents them forming the same 'attachment' as toddlers get.
The reason I was considering a dummy at all was the evidence regarding decreased risk of cot death. I doted on my son, loved bf, and had him close to me 24/7. To me, using a dummy was another 'extra' step I could take to keep my baby as safe as possible!!
I read lots of research on dummies, and chose to use one with a flat stalk to prevent any developmental damage to his teeth or jaw, and have absolutely no qualms about using
My son certainly continued to bf successfully until 6 months without any confusion, and he still gave all the usual signs to alert me when he was hungry - without ever having to use crying!
I know this is only one individual midwifes opinion, but I wonder if there are others out there who share her views? It's difficult to know as midwifes are not allowed to offer their personal views on subjects like this,(Please don't lecture me on this point as I agree these policies need to be in place to ensure advice meets with NHS guidelines), but I am curious as to whether other midwifes would personally agree with her!!
Also, lets hear more on how much of a nuisance bottle feeding really is. I didn't do it until 6mnths, and couldn't believe how much of a pain in the as* it was to sterilise, make-up and warm bottles (especially on the move).
I think bottle feeding sounds like a right faff, and that is why I was so keen to breastfeed....The breast is best message got to me, but the ease of boobs versus bottles and the fact that it is free was also a big draw! My husband wants me to breast feed for two years though! not sure if that will happen.
18 month old daughter. Never had a dummy, never breastfed, never sucks her thumb or fingers, all she does when she is tired is stick her tongue out slightly and sucks on it.
too bloody true and most places arent even bottle friendly n dont have facilitys to help and u cant win with breast feedin as 50% of the country disgust at the thot of a lady breastfeedin her baby in public. all i can say is wat they starin at they proberbly had the breast wen they were babies and there only eatin theyre not causin any trouble. thank god for the new law that says its unlawfull to stop breast feedin mums.
This is the UNICEF statement on dummy use. Any one using or thinking of using a dummy should be aware of the risks of dummy use. Interestingly it says if you are using a dummy, in order to reduce SIDS you need to ensure that the dummy is used EVERY night. Infrequent use of dummies increases the risk of SIDS.
The overall conclusion is that dummies should not be used, esp. if you are bf.
The things is the dummy is replacing the mum. most babies are in cots alone and the dummy may be increasing their arousability (sleeping too long, too deep increases sids risk) and according to James McKenna is somehow affecting the air flow, their breathing is clearer. However if baby is in bed with you they are regularly nursing and suckling and the dummy isn't needed.
If you let your baby nurse when they need too, there is no need for a dummy. It's comfort, it's nutrition, it's security and also helps delay the return of periods for Mum. I would rather my children became atttached to me than inaminate objects.
I feel compelled to REPLY to OLIVEGREEN mainly but there are other people on this forum who seem to be very aggressive and inconsiderate of other peoples views. It seems they value the narrow minded view of 'my way or the highway'. Just as people's views on using a dummy, be it based on fact, biased sources,experiences, or just meerly an opinion, are vastly different, so are babies. You may be happy to state all these references about what is supposedly right and supposedly wrong and then ridicule other people who you disagree with, but this is how it is. There is no definite right way of doing things, and until you have walked a mile in another persons shoes, and seen how their baby acts, and what works or doesn't for that baby, then you have no place to judge. Just because you have strong, unbending views on this subject, doesnt mean that other people's experiences are wrong and do not count. It is people like you who can scare new mom's who want to breastfeed into not breastfeeding because your opinions can put serious doubts into the minds of new mom's. My point is to all readers experiencing the dummy dilemma is go with YOUR instinct and what YOU think is right. After all your baby has NOT read the articles, and YOU know what is best for YOUR baby.
Well said HalamW & Olivegreen, There is no right or wrong way to bring up your baby no expert can tell you what to do, The best guidence is your own instincts and want some advice your Mum or your friends, chuck these so called experts books in the bin. most special care units use dummies, they gave my friends son a bottle teat with cottonwool stuck in it, it keeps the air ways open & stops them getting distressed, Only reason i gave my son a dummy was because he was forceps and it stopped him getting distressed as he wasn't to well afterwards, and the other baby 2 were sucky babies , she was all scratched up trying to find her fingers to suck. They gave it up when they were 2 their teeth are fine and they language development was normal, do whats right for you!
