At the end of the day, all kids get weaned off a dummy eventually. Do what you gotta do to survive.

For your own health I think you need to keep trying the dummy. My eldest took a dummy immediately and it was very such a comfort to him, however my youngest didn’t take it so well but on difficult nights or days it did the job once I persisted. Good luck

It is better to give your baby a dummy than to allow finger sucking. It will be a lot easier. You can start by letting your baby having as needed, then later only at bed time, then either make it day sleep only or night. Some little ones will gradually stop using the dummy of their own accord. When you actually stop giving the dummy you may have a few bad nights. I suggest a Friday night start when you don’t have to get up early for work the next day, or if one of you do shift work you may decide to start at a time that less sleep is lost. If your child throws it away a couple of times, maybe the last time give your little one a warning that if it happens again the dummy is lost for good. If it is close to Christmas or Easter you may be able to work out an excuse……Back to finger sucking!! If that persists for too long the teeth can come through out of alignment; then often the permanent ones do too, which can mean a lot of dental treatment which can be painful.

It’s got to be what works for you, the hospital gave my daughter a dummy and it’s been fine. I ended up using jollypops, just keep putting it in bubs mouth, bub will eventually take it

If you think it will benefit you, then go ahead and do it. Introduce a good quality dummy. There are ones that supposedly do less damage. But then again, lots of babies are given dummies and grow up to have no troubles what so ever!

try giving him your pinky to suck. DON’T INTRODUCE THE DUMMY IF YOU CAN AVOID IT AS IT REALLLYYYYY IS A PAIN TO DUMP. Dummy use can have effects on his mouth and speech development. No offense to anyone, but in my personal experience, all of my friends who have let their child use a dummy, their children have speech impediments to some degree

My first son was like this and I was determined not to give him a dummy…much to my detriment. If I had my chance again I would have, as I too had so much pain, was so tired and did not get a rest from it. My youngest is now 4 and always sucked his thumb – and still does at times, when all his friends who had dummies have given them up!

Do what is right for YOU – it does not matter what anyone else thinks – just do what you need to to get through, and take care of yourself. You might also like to try Rite Aid breast gel discs to help soothe your nipples if you haven’t already – they are brilliant! (Around $8 for 12 from chemist discount stores and pharmacies)

You might be better finding a way to settle him that doesn’t involve suckling – probably better in the long run, though it won’t be easy initially.

Some babies have a stronger suck reflex. We introduced one and it’s saved my nipples! bub just likes to suck. I’ve researched nipple confusion but once feeding is established it seems there is no research to support any claims of issues. My concern is also taking it away. My SIL did a trade at 2… she turned 2 and the dummy was going to disappear and be replaced with presents. I want to wean off it earlier but that’s my plan if all else fails. Also the dentist said teeth issues don’t occur unless they have it quit late… that’s worth finding out before assuming damage is happening now, I think it was after 2 or 3 and using it often past then… can’t remember.
If you want to then introduce it, many babies have them with no issue. So don’t feel any mummy guilt!

Have you tried Lansinoh for your nipples by the way? If not, try using some to help heal them but if you feel the dummy will give you a break, try it, bub doesn’t have to use it all the time.

Like some other Mom’s I was anti the dummy and then after weeks of being incredibly unsettled(bub) and sore(me)…..a dummy! It was a life saver and it was easy to remove too. It did not impact on breast feeding. Again; ensure the dummy is the size and shape of the nipple.

my kids never took the dummy. don’t give up breastfeeding!

I was flat out against dummies but it has been a life saver. My reflux Bub needed comfort and for her this was it. I couldn’t handle constant breast sucking. She took to the cherry ones ( happy baby brand old schools type dummies) after a few days. The paed at the children’s said these were the best for development in ways that it wouldn’t affect there mouth and teeth development. Everything new always takes a while. Just persist if you can.

I can only tell you what I did.. After weeks of screaming I decided to introduce a dummy. I didn’t want to but I was exhausted. Then about 3 weeks later he spat it out. He has not asked for it any day since and every time I’ve tried to give it to him he turns his head away. I got through those few hard weeks thanks to the dummy but am also glad that it was gone a few weeks later. Maybe try just using it when you desperately need to give your nipples a break so that you get a rest and he gets his soother but doesn’t get attached..

Reluctantly I introduced a dummy after my baby wouldnt settle and seemed over stimulated. Sids and kids recommend them under their safe sleeping guide. It teaches them to breathe through their nose. A speech therapist recommended the following to me: dummies are for sleep only, they stay in the bed – ie dont chain them onto their clothing and let them walk around during the day like some people do. If you dont go ahead with a dummy, your baby might find their thumb. The benefit of the dummy over the thumb is the dummy can be removed whereas children can end up being school aged and still sucking their thumb. Both have potential to cause damage to their teeth through the sucking action

my answer is YES! I struggled in pain and exhaustion for 6 months with my daughter. She would fed every hour of the day…she wasn’t hungry but was looking for comfort…I had a 2 year old and was suffering PND so all I could do is just fed her to keep her happy.
At 6 months, I ended up at a Mother/Baby unit and the nurses there persisted with her until she took a dummy (it took a few days- she was very stubborn! lol)
After that she was much more content- I thank goodness every day for those nurses!
I ended up having to fight with her to get rid of it at 2 1/2! hehe

Some babies need comfort and need to suckle. They do wean off dummies when they need too. Baby getting comfort and you getting a break is important too. Try a dummy that has a similar shape to the nipple.

I introduced dummies for both my kids. After 2 months they both weaned themself off completely. I think.yeah go for it. its kinda catch 22.

Yes do it, my little man needed to have something to suck to settle for a while, it gave my boobs a rest and he had something else to help with wind pain. Just because you introduce it it doesn’t meN he will need or want it forever my son stopped using it at 6 months- his choice

To be honest dummys get a bad wrap, but mostly due to those parents who allow their child to suck it past an appropriate age. I needed to introduce a dummy to my daughter for this reason, we tried a few different types (she took one with a slanted back) before she accepted one. My son when I had him refused a dummy until 5 months when he seemed to like cherry shaped dummys. Introduce one for your own sake, I suggest buying a few different styles (latex and silicone, cherry and slanted and flat). She will take it eventually. If you are worried about the effects later on do what I did with my daughter, at 18 months she placed all her dummies in a bag and hung it on the tree for the “Dummy Fairy”, the fairy swapped it for a toy overnight and she never worried about the dummies again. Also never put anything on the dummy. It might also help to buy nipple guards (I had to at one point) to help your nipples heal.