How Do You Use Pacifiers???

Hi there,

I have just started to use a pacifier with one of my boys. I wanted to hold off until that magic 6-week mark to establish breastfeeding and didn't really want to use them in the first place, but when you have 2 colicky babies that scream on and off every night for 4 hours, you kind of change your mind!! I had some infant "nuks" brand but they gag on those, so I found a "soothie" that we had from the hospital and Connor likes that one, which is why I only have the one. I plan on getting another one today hopefully.

Anyways, it's like a miracle - they are fussing and wailing around when you know dang well they are fed, changed, etc., and you put the paci in and it's instant calm and he starts to doze off. But I've noticed that a few times when he falls asleep and after a while it falls out of his mouth, he wakes up and starts to cry. I haven't put the paci back in, I've just soothed or rocked him back to sleep.

I haven't had a problem with having them wake up once I finally get them down in a deep sleep and don't want to have to go running into the room all the time if a paci falls out and they wake up and cry. Also, I don't want them to need the paci to fall asleep as they get older - does that ever become an issue? I don't mind using one now but I don't want it to be a crutch as the kiddos get older.

So how and when do you use your pacifiers? They are great babies during the day and just go insane at night, and I kind of only want to use them when they are throwing fits to calm them down - anyone else do this? Anyone have issues "weaning" them off of their pacifier?

 

Hi there,

I have just started to use a pacifier with one of my boys. I wanted to hold off until that magic 6-week mark to establish breastfeeding and didn't really want to use them in the first place, but when you have 2 colicky babies that scream on and off every night for 4 hours, you kind of change your mind!! I had some infant "nuks" brand but they gag on those, so I found a "soothie" that we had from the hospital and Connor likes that one, which is why I only have the one. I plan on getting another one today hopefully.

Anyways, it's like a miracle - they are fussing and wailing around when you know dang well they are fed, changed, etc., and you put the paci in and it's instant calm and he starts to doze off. But I've noticed that a few times when he falls asleep and after a while it falls out of his mouth, he wakes up and starts to cry. I haven't put the paci back in, I've just soothed or rocked him back to sleep.

I haven't had a problem with having them wake up once I finally get them down in a deep sleep and don't want to have to go running into the room all the time if a paci falls out and they wake up and cry. Also, I don't want them to need the paci to fall asleep as they get older - does that ever become an issue? I don't mind using one now but I don't want it to be a crutch as the kiddos get older.

So how and when do you use your pacifiers? They are great babies during the day and just go insane at night, and I kind of only want to use them when they are throwing fits to calm them down - anyone else do this? Anyone have issues "weaning" them off of their pacifier?

 

I haven't even began to wean the girls. We were those parents that were NOT going to give a paci, but in the hospital, they gave them one in the nursery, so guess what, now they get pacis. They have sort of lessened the amount of time that they need them on their own. I think they really had them around 6-8 weeks, during the day alot. But now, they only get it at night time and an occasional nap, when they just won't lay down. Sorry no advice here, just wanted to let you know that I think you have plenty of time to get them off since they aren't 2 months old yet.

GL

 

I would say if you don't want them to use them as a comfort, maybe they can get used to a soft blanket or something. Some babies like chewing on the end of a silk blanket.

If you give them the paci, then they will want the paci. KWIM?

 

I don't like giving mine pacis either, as I had one till I was five, then sucked my thumb till I was 10! WELL, that didn't happen as tehy use them in the NICU as training for eating by mouth. Still, they don't use them usually as they get frustrated when they spit them out and I'm not about to stand there all day and night holding the darn thing. The only time I offer it is when I'm feeding one and the other gets fussy. I can tandem feed, but I really like to feed them one at a time as they eat better; so the paci will hold one off for a few minutes. I agree that if they get used to it, it's a done deal!

 

We were determined not to use pacifiers, but when the boys came 9 weeks early and didn't know how to suck, they got pacifiers to help them. I hate pacifiers. However, we discovered something that helps the pacifier stay in and the twins to improve their small motor skills. There is a company called Trebco that makes the Wubbanub. It is a Soothie pacifier attached to a small stuffed animal. They have saved us so many times. The boys are now capable of holding their pacifiers in (as well as throwing them down when they don't need them). The Wubbanubs also prop easily so the boys get all the sucking out at bedtime before the pacifier does fall out. Now the boys are sucking on their fingers and outgrowing the pacifiers. It's also not uncommon to see the Wubbanub slung over their heads in sleep or simply clutched in their arms like regular stuffed animals.

 

I am probably in the minority here, but I absolutely believe in using pacifiers to soothe and for going to sleep. Just to watch my babies in the NICU when they would get upset and how about 3 sucks on a pacifier would settle them down proved to me that they're worth it. I would rather deal with them crying for a while when they're a year old because I'm taking the pacifier away than to watch them cry as tiny babies with no other way to soothe themselves. I've also read a lot of information lately that states that pacifier use while going to sleep greatly reduces the risk of SIDS.

We give them at nap time and bedtime and if they're really fussy; although, we've started giving a blanket or stuffed toy during the day if they're playing and start getting fussy, and that seems to work.

 

I wanted to use the paci because I was a thumb sucker for way too long. You can get rid of paci . . . you can't remove a thumb. We use ours for sleep and for fussy times. We went through a period where we were getting up constantly during the night to give pacis back. Now we may get up from 0-2 times per night. Giving a paci is much quicker and easier than feeding during the middle of the night.

Sometimes I get frustrated at my husband because he will just pop a paci in their mouth for no reason at all. I told him that if it continues it will be his responsibility to wean them at one. I think we're going to have to have a serious chat about this.

 

quote:
Originally posted by Stephanie M:
Sometimes I get frustrated at my husband because he will just pop a paci in their mouth for no reason at all. .

My husband is the same way!! He (along with my mom) adored the plug. Mom would actually hold it in when the baby wouldn't keep it in themselves. Now it is just in DD's crib. She knows that it doesn't come out. Can't wait to get rid of it!