Baby Talk - Party I - Soothers or No Soothers?

[Marty]

Here's the question. Some of you might know we just had a baby boy... My question for you experienced parents

- do you give a kid a soother or not ? If so, when do you start ?

[littlefrog]

A pacifier? We called them 'binkies'.

I don't think there is any harm in it, as long as it isn't an excuse to not feed the poor infant. Some babies don't like them. But if it helps, go for it. Our daughter outgrew the binky by a year old. My niece wanted hers until she was three... That is probably not so good.

If an infant wants to suck on something, she will find her thumb or fingers if you don't give her a pacifier... It is a lot easier to take away the pacifier later.

[Marty]

That's exactly what I think. Breaking the habit of thumb sucking will be much harder later. Our boy wants to suck on anything and everything, starting from his fingers, blanket, etc

Once you give him the 'binkie' it's instant peace - until he spits it out that is. I just don't want to get him used where it becomes a necessity. We only give it to him when he's fussing after feeding, never as a boob substitute :-)

Lately I noticed he fusses, just because he wants the pacifier/binky in his mouth.

[justatypn]

Great question and will get many different opinions. Both my boys used a "binkie", yes, mean ole' Mr Moon took them away. I had worked for a pediatrician in the past and he had a logical analogy ... when babies come into the world, its a very over whelming world and if their waking hours are with consistant nurturing, showing them off, having them sit up on your lap and letting them look around (just a few examples) they become overloaded on what they have focus on trying to take it all in and they are searching for a way to settle themselves down. Binkies are a good thing, rocking is a good, patting them on the back (just a few examples). Yep mine loved to suck its soothing for them, mommy had only so much milk to give than I had to go to the cereal spiked formula .. .. There is not a thing wrong with a binky and before you know it they will either love it more or give it up.

As for the thumb and or finger, they never go away, they are part of the package and so much harder to divert a child when the thumb or finger is at arms reach, no punn intended. It's very settling and soothing for a child as long as it is not used for a substitute.

[Tikva]

We had 2 kids. One loved her pacifier (she called it "fabble") and we decided to wean her gently off of it while I was pregnant with my son since I appreciated it with my first - the peace, the boobie breaks..... It was also difficult to have because she would wake in the night having lost it. ALL of the time. We ended up tying it to a VERY VERY Short string to her favorite baby - harder to lose.
Anyway, my son choked on his in the hospital - he was so tiny and it was so large. He never needed a pacifier ('cept mommy *ugh*)
All in all, I vote yes! It's easier to wean off a "fabble" than a finger - I say this because I was PAID to stop sucking my finger at 9 years old - at the airport on the way to Disney World ;c) hehehe!!!

[Oscarman]

So many great points. Yes to a soother. Helps baby when they are having sensory overload. Helps keep the thumb out of the mouth and a soother is way easier to loose. Helps with getting up and going to bed transitions.

Need some ways to wean the little tyke off it:
- make them sit down when they want it, kids are dying to play and move...they will lose it fast.
- poke a hole in it and the sucking/soothing function is compromised.
- gradually cut the rubber part, make it shorter and shorter until there is nothing left to suck on.