Pacis for EBF babies - to use or not to use?

[Lydia'sMom]

I started out saying absolutely no pacies for dd but by the second night I knew something had to give. dd ended up using a paci until she was about 9 mos old. One day I noticed that when I'd put her down for nap or night she'd just pul it out and play with it and if I checked on her while sleeping, I'd find the thing on the floor. One day I decided to just 'try' putting her down without it and we've never looked back. When she was using one, she had a huge variety. I think she had one of almost every kind. The only ones she absolutely did not take ever were the formed silicone ones like Soothie or we tryed a orthodontic shaped playtex one. For some reason those were just too hard or heavy or something. She did end up using them as teething toys eventually but that was it.

[redneckmama]

DD is 5 months, EBF(no solids or bottles) and has taken a MAM since day 1. We have not had any confussion.

[greek4]

DS was EBF until he self weaned at 10 months. He used the Soothie pacifier that the hospital gave us and still has it plus more of the same kind. I was dead set on not having a thumbsucker so I pushed the pacifier and he never had nipple confusion.

[thirdbabyonway]

EBF both my older ones and they both had pacis form the start with no confusion.they also prefered the NUK.My third goes back and forth between the playtex and the NUK

[isaacsmum]

My son is 7 months and we BF, and never had nipple confusion problems. He started daycare at about 2 months, and we tried at that point to give him a pacifier so he'd have something to help him soothe at daycare. The only paci he'd even consider taking was the Soothie brand, and even then he had little interest. He quickly stopped sucking on it, and instead took to turning it sideways and chewing on it. I honesty don't think he sees the connection between the paci and nursing.

[tranmama]

I started giving DD a paci when she was about a month old. We had had a rock-solid EBF relationship since her birth, and I needed a little relief from being a human binky, so I decided to take my chances and give it a whirl. Fortunately, we encountered no nipple confusion at all. She would only take the Nuk orthodontic binkies. After a few months (definitely before 6 months of age) she herself decided they weren't for her anymore, and wouldn't take them anymore. So, I didn't have to worry about weaning her off of them.

I think that all babies are different, and every situation is different. Moms need to trust their instincts more, too. LLL recommends waiting until the nursing relationship is great before offering artificial nipples. Some will be ready earlier or later than others.

[mom2LBJ]

neither of my boys took to pacifiers, they wanted the real thing

[danner]

Try as he might, my husband could not get my daughter to take a pacifier of any type. Just as well, imo!

You're the mom- do what feels right.

[StAva2202]

First of all...congrats!!

We didnt offer Max a pacify until he was about 2mo. He never wanted anything to do with one. We even offered different types.

I was/am his paci. ;-)

[~Ryleigh's_Momma~]

My first daughter was given a Nuk paci in the hospital and refused to do anything but "nipple nurse" from that moment on. I ended up having to pump and bottle feed it for many weeks, until FINALLY (and thankfully) I got her to nurse again, though it was about 3-4 months before I'd say the latch was acceptable with no pain.

With my son, I had originally said no paci, but he ended up needing one and I waited a little while so it didn't interfere.

I say go ahead and give a paci, but wait until BFing is established and then just watch and take it away right away if you notice a problem emerging.

If you don't want them walking around with it, take it away by 9 months (and what I personally do, is keep the paci in the crib and leave it in there when not in use)