Using a dummy can be associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding particularly if the mother is experiencing breastfeeding problems anyway and this will have health disadvantages for mother and baby. 3 4 5 Pacifiers and problems, which came first? Whether your baby is breastfed or not, the perfect pacifier is out there for your little one, and we want to help you find it! According to Basis, an evidence-based resource on baby sleep, the UK Department of Health does not currently recommend dummies as a way of reducing the risk of SIDS. However some SIDS prevention organisations still do recommend them. This is primarily because it's thought that babies with a dummy are less likely to roll onto their front, it keeps their tongue forward, and they tend to lie more still and therefore not be at risk of smothering from blankets.

Dummy for Breastfed Baby Australia: Our Top 10 Picks Best Dummy for Breastfed Baby Australia: Our Top 10 Picks

With my DD, now 4, we gave in and gave her a dummy at a few weeks old, because she was so fretful. My OH and I just didnt see the sense in letting a LO struggle, when comfort was at hand! However, it is of course down to personnal choice and how much stress from crying you can tolerate!?!

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Babies should learn to soothe themselves without a dummy so they're more able to sleep as they get older. As with any comfort object such as a cuddly toy or favourite blanket, a baby may become overly attached to a pacifier as their main comforter when used long term. The long term health implicationsof turning to a dummy or other inanimate object instead of a mother’s arms and breast are unclear. AskDrSears explains: Excerpt from Giving Pacifiers, AskDrSears, 2018 It canbe trial and error to findthe right shape and size that works for you and your baby.A baby’s individual mouth size and mother’s nipple and breast size will need to be taken into account.To accommodate nipple variations, a mother may need different sizes for each breast. We believe in offering the most flexible solutions for expressing breast milk, which is why our electric breast pumps also come with the manual attachment, and are compatible with our full bottle range. La Leche League GB. (2019) Dummies and breastfeeding. Available at: https://www.laleche.org.uk/dummies-and-breastfeeding/ [Accessed 19th September 2019]

nipple shield with a breastfed baby - ABM Using a nipple shield with a breastfed baby - ABM

Hi. It's recommended a dummy should not be introduced to a breastfeed baby before 4 weeks. This is because it can interfere with establishing breastfeeding, you can miss the signs of hunger which can leave you with a cranky over hungry baby. Whilst baby is so tiny they are getting to grips with feeding, your body is adjusting to the babies needs and the best thing you can do is feed on demand. In the U.K., the standard sizes are 16mm (small), 20mm (medium) and 24mm (large). A larger 28mm size is available online but can be difficult to find.

What are the disadvantages of using a dummy?

According to the Lullaby Trust, the use of a dummy during sleep can help prevent SIDS, so it's definitely okay to offer your baby a dummy while they sleep at night. Adair SM. (2003) Pacifier use in children: a review of recent literature. Pediatric Dentistry. 25(5):449-458. To use a dummy safely and to minimise any dummy risks, there are a few steps to take. Don't tie the newborn dummy to your baby with strings or ribbons which could get tangled around your baby, and never dip it in sugar or foods of any kind. To feed from your breast, your baby must first open his mouth wide to latch on. Then he’ll need to use about 40 muscles in his face, which he’ll work constantly, to get his tummy full of milk (Sanches 2004). Ask your LLL Leader about the technique of breast compression which has been found to encourage babies to continue breastfeeding actively for longer.