Pacifiers...to give or not to give

I think this article is interesting about pacifiers...and I am really torn about whether or not to give our baby one...this points me to actually deciding to go with giving him one.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4509240.stm

I wanted to post this yesterday in the baby sleeping in your bedroom thread. In the UK they suggest that baby sleeps in the same room with you for the first six months...

The advice and care that we get in the UK is very different from what your doctors give you in the UK. For instance we have strictly midwife led care...we don't see any doctors at all unless there is a problem with your pregnancy or during your delivery.

No real point to this, but I am on maternity leave and have lots of thoughts going on in my head...

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

I gave all my 3 kids one and neither of them felt the need to continue to use one passed 7-9 months. Every child is different. Your baby may not have a need for one and be able to soothe him/herself in other ways.

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

After hearing about how pacifiers have been found to help prevent SIDS, I will be giving my baby one each time it napes/sleeps.

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

Well, if it comes down to it, I will give a pacifier. They make orthodontic ones now, so they are far better than the old ones. I also think a pacifier is better for a baby to have than getting into the habit of thumb sucking. You can take a pacifier away, you cannot take away their thumb!

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

I agree Rachel. I see how it calms my neice down.

In the UK, things are different- women don't work past the around the 7th month and I think 6 months is standard maternity leave. A friend of mine from London couldn't beleive that women here work until their 9th month and then only get 12 weeks off. She said in England, everyone would strike.

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

It depends on the children really...my son never had one, never wanted or needed it.... my daughter I don't know how I wouldn've lived without it.... It is very very calming for her.... I just don't want her to be too old and still using it

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

Shelley....

Part of that is true, I finished work this week at 37 weeks, most women finish at around 36-37 weeks, thats considered normal...we get good benefits, ie for me, I get 6 weeks at 90% pay and £106 a week for a further 20 weeks (thats like $175 a week) My job is safe for a year, so I don't have to be back at work until December 27 2006...which seems like a long way off at the moment. a long exciting way off.

I was debating the pacifier issue before reading this today, but bought some just in case...

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

Jared had one in the hospital and needed it for the first month or so...after that he didn't care about it.

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

My son was a sucker.. lol.. Literally. He would wake up to "feed" but it was really just to soothe. Hence all my boob problems and why I stopped trying to BF. The pacifier was my savior!! He was only on it till 10 mos, at the LATEST... and ONLY at his true bedtime. Half the time he would fall asleep after 10 mins. and it would fall out till about three.. he would wake up..nudge around, find it.. and we'd all go back to sleeping peacefully!

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

This is one of many decisions the baby will make for you. When I was pregnant I said "There is no way I am giving baby a pacifier until breastfeeding is well established!!!" Guess what? She ended up with one the second night of her life when after letting her **** on me for an hour and a half straight at 3 am I begged the nurse to get me one so I could get some sleep. It is great to be informed, but there is so little that we moms actually control imho!

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

I was undecided about this too. We have been giving it to her at night only.

The benefit really is for when they are sleeping- she spits it out as soon as she falls asleep.
We discussed it with the pediatrician, and he said there is not enough evidence to support the reduced risk of SIDS to be up all not popping it back in her mouth after she spits it out.

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

I was SOO against pacifiers when I was pregnant. Me and my sisters never used one and so I figured that I'd do the same with my child. However my mom sucessfully breastfed us, and breastfeeding provides a lot more suckling then bottlefeeding does. The baby has to work much harder. I had problems breastfeeding and we were never sucessful. Now there are times where nothing settles my daughter down without it. In the first few weeks it was just to settle her, and now if she fights sleep we use it. We certainly don't force it on her or even use it often, but at times it's necessary and so I do allow it at those times.

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

I really dont think this is a decision you can make...

Your child will let you know...

Ryan is most def. a binky baby, and Im glad he takes it after reading all the info about the sids...

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

My son had one for 2 years. I never thought of breaking the habit earlier. He seemed very happy with it and I Saw no problem with that. He used it at night and naps towards the end. When we attempted to phase them out, he never even asked for it, he was quite adaptable.

Re: Pacifiers...to give or not to give

I successfully breastfeed and bottle feed and my daughter has used a pacifier since day 1.
She uses it to fall asleep with - but that is really the only time. I can tell it does comfort her - so I figure why fight it.