Breastfeeding Support Group

They say you should delay introducing a pacifier if you are breastfeeding so your baby doesn't have problems with nipple confusion. I breastfed my son until he was a little over 2, but he would never take a pacifier. I also breastfed my 8 year old daughter until she was a little over 2 (she never took a bottle or any formula) and she was in love with her pacifier. We had a "bye-bye binky party" when she was 3, but her teeth are perfect anyway. My baby is 5 weeks old and has just started with a pacifier this week. It's hard to tell if she will stick with it or not. She is a very good breastfeeder so I am not concerned with that, but it's hard to tell how much she likes it. They now say pacifier use may reduce the risk of SIDS. I would much rather see my kids use a pacifier when they are young than suck their thumbs since pacifiers are easier to get rid of down the road.

I have heard the same thing as sadbelly. You should delay the introduction until BF is well established.. For us I did give DD a paci in the hospital when I was DESPERATE once waiting on the LC to come see us... then of course the LC jumped me for giving it to her (long story there) but other wise DD was 3.5 weeks before i gave it to her again and only then cause we never had any BF problems... She is now 7 weeks and tries sooo hard to suck her hand/thumb... so I am trying to prevent that by giving the paci but she doesn't really know how to keep it in her mouth but when she does I think she likes it.. GL

Literature will say that introducing a pacifier early can cause nipple confusion. It does affect some babies, but not all. We gave our little one a pacifier at 3 days, a bottle of breast milk at 4 weeks and nursed for 14 months. She never had any confusion, but like I said, some babies do.

My son is still BFing at 9 months and we don't go anywhere without his paci. Use caution, and do some research nipple confusion, but I think I might have lost my sanity without one!

Our little guy used a binky at about 3 weeks after our peditrician said that he was doing well with breastfeeding. After about three months he has no more interest. It was really helpful for dad to help calm him down, but I rarely used it with him, except when I had to take a shower!

my twins didn't take a pacifier but the nicu had to give Elly because she would get so upset and turn blue. She was given a bottle first and then I was able to breastfeed. So thankfully with her having those two other things first she was in no way confused. So like others have suggested try not to at first but if you have too it's not the end of the world.

I breastfeed my daughter with no issues and she was given a pacificer by the nurse at the hospital about an hour after she was born. We never had any issues with nipple confusion.

The bottom line is that a pcaifier can interfere with bf...because normally, if the baby does not ahve a paci, and stats to get hungry, he will show signs...like eating his hands and fingers, trying to latch onto any body part of you, and so forth. That is the clue for the mom to give the breast. If the baby has a paci though, a new mom cannot necessarily read her baby's cues and bf on demand.

Onlyifyou bf on demand can you be sure to have enough milk. If you ever try to put your baby on a schedule, you will have problems with milk supply.

SO, if you really think your baby must have a paci, do not introduce it before 6 weeks,at the earliest. The best is to never even give one.

WHy? Because it ends up being a whole can of worms. You may have problems weaning the baby from a paci later...u know, the 4 yr olds you see running around with one? They also cause cavities, orthodontic problems, and are suseceptible to makingbaby sick, because they can carry bacteria, esp. if they fall on the floor and are not disinfected properly.

BTW, you should not'disinfect' one by sucking on it first, and then giving it to baby. THat will actually introduce a special kind of bacteria into baby's mouth, which cause tooth decay!

Like many 1st time moms, I also did think a paci was essential...and introduced my first one son to one (waiting for 6 weeks though). However, even though it was 6 wks, it interfered with b in the following way. He would stir, hungry, and normally would have awoken to bf...but the paci was already there in his mouth, so he would suck on it, and comfort-suckhimself to sleep. I was tiered, and happy to let it go...which resulted in him 'failing to thrive' necessitating an ER visit, bf clinic visit, and so forth. I was to stupikd to do away with it then. I did chuck it thoug, at 1 yr of age, flushing down the toilet...bye bye.

I never introduced a paci with my second. My third did have one for some time during his hospitalisation. At 4mths when we got home from the hospital, I was able to finally fullynurse on demadn 24-7, and he started to refuse the paci, much to the dismay of his brothers, who had until then enjoyed givign it to him!

Now, just because you do give a paci, does not mean that there willbe problems with bf, or that there will be nipple confusion, etc...but, keep in mind that it is a very real risk.BF is already a challenge, so it is better to just avoid any potential problems, imo.

I guess the other side of that is that some babies will start to suck their thumbs which can be very difficult to stop. My daughter's dentist said thumb sucking is much worse because you can't take away the child's thumb but you can take away the paci. Some babies need non-nutritive sucking, some don't. As for walking around with it, that is a parenting issue, not a kid issue.. you just need to set parameters around when a kid is allowed to have a paci. I only let my kids have them when they were in bed and they all gave them up willingly at age 3. I have friends whose kids suck their thumbs at 6 or 7 years old. With my 5 week old, we use it sparingly (when she is upset in the car for example or when she is upset and wants to suck but not bf).

I had heard the same thing. I was a little upset when I got to the NICU & found a paci in my daughter's mouth. However, I have had no problems (thank goodness) with my daughter latching on, nursing, or going back & forth with the breast/paci/or bottle for that matter. I do think my daughter has a very easy disposition & I am so lucky to have a baby that will go back & forth with ease. I wish you the best of luck.