Should I Allow A Pacifier?

[argecash]

DS is 11 weeks old and eats about 9 times a day for about 45 minutes at a time. I have come to realize that most of that 45 min. is just him hanging out on the breast. Lately it seems that the only way to settle him down or get him to sleep is on the breast. This has made things diffucult for me and DH b/c I am constantly the soother and DH can't do anything to calm him down. When I try to take DS off the breast after I know he is done eating he often gets upset b/c he wants to keep sucking. I don't know what to do. I have been resistant to pacifiers b/c his latch still needs improvement, but this situation is causing us to be tense and exhausted. I don't want DS to resent me if I take his sucking time away but we also need to be healthy. DH's mother said he was very dependent on his pacifier as a baby and the hospital staff told us our DS was a "big sucker". Maybe he needs something else to suck on? Help!

[moonphishers]

How has his weight gain been? Most often a paci isn't suggested for new babes as it can interfere with good milk production as well as nipple confusion... etc. But your child is "older" so the next thing would be a concern with weight gain.

If you're not either of those things this link might help you better decide

[mommy_have_it]

I EBF all of my LO and they have all had a paci...since day 1. Never a problem with confusion when nursing Now a bottle on the other hand...well that's a whole nother thread

[ojessesue]

I've also heard some mamas say that the pacifier can help to improve latch as they practice sucking. I think it definitely did in our case. I think giving the pacifier differs from child to child and it's hard to stick to one principle for all children. I found mine needed it to comfort. Maybe it will be a battle later but it can be a lifesaver now. Just like co-sleeping I suppose

[kikkiagouti]

I had the same concerns but it was getting too uncomfrotable for me to allow DS to just suck so I introduced a pacifier (it took us forever to find one he likes). But we haven't had any problems with latching or confusion what so ever at all. He doesn't like it all that time mostly in the car and only sometimes when hes sleepy. But it is the only thing that will keep him happy in the car!

[jess&claire]

i had to use a paci or dd would have sreaded me to bits she would nurse and fall asleep and i would slip the paci in a she wound sleep for a couple hours and get up to nurse. she would only take it while she was sleeping now she likes it b/c she is teething. dd has a hard time warming up to my dh, iam the only one that can comfort her neven if she doesnot want to nurse. hanng in there the first year is tuff.

[rlabelson]

My DD was EBF and we also gave a pacifier. We had no problems at all. I suggest the soothies brand. They were originally made for babies in the NICU since they are similar to a breast. We like those and the Avent pacis.

Do not feel guilty, you need to have somethign to keep you sane. And with your DS being old enough, his latch is already etablish so it shuold not cause confusion.

Good luck!

[myakylemom]

IMO some babies need to suck! Both mine have had pacis since in the hospital.

[kristenkan52]

I would definitely encourage you to try the paci. For me, there were times that my LO did not want to suck on the breast (after he had eaten) and would be fussy there but would calm right down with the paci. It really helps with DH being able to be a soother too. We had no trouble with nipple confusion and introduced it pretty early (like first week or two). Once he turned 6 months we started limiting it to just naps and bedtime and we'll go from there. If we had not introduced the paci, he definitely would have been a thumbsucker (we fought that one hard so he wouldn't suck his thumb for the rest of his life). So yeah, I'm a big fan.

[myfrugalfunlife]

My girls refused pacis but my son took one in the hospital (LOVE those green hospital ones that you can't buy in stores ), he eats like a champ, haven't had any problems at all sara