overusing the pacifier - what to do?

[Anonymous]

My son is 5 weeks old and going through an extremely fussy time. I've tried not to use the pacifier too much, but there are days that it has to stay in all the time, unless he's eating or sleeping.

I've tried to resist and calm his cries on my own, but the paci is like magic. It soothes him instantly.

Should I worry about overusing it during this fussy time? He's eating and gaining fine. I actually think I try and feed him too much, because i'm having difficulty reading his cues and that doesn't help his mood at all.

[Anonymous]

At 5 weeks I wouldn't even be close to worrying. They have a natural need to suck on things at that point. Many Moms take the pacifier away at 6 months, 12 months or 18 months. Personally, I started limiting the pacifier use at 12 months. My daughter is now 16 months and only uses it when she sleeps, sometimes when she naps also. She is also allowed to use it in public if she's teething (she got teeth on the later side and it helps her). Since she only has it when she's sleeping, she is starting to realize the pacifier makes her sleepy, so she's refusing it. My sisters twins did the same thing. I think if we hadn't have limited it then she would have just not realized it was doing anything. It doesn't work for everyone, but it keeps her from sucking her thumb, which I did do as a baby, and it's much worse. Pacifier use in the early months is fine. When my oldest nephew was born, my sister was worried about it and my Mom used to say "Be happy you have a child that takes a pacifier, some cry and refuse to take it!"

[Anonymous]

When I saw your subject heading, I thought you had a 9 month old!! Please don't worry, you have months before this would be a problem. Congratulations on your newborn!

[Anonymous]

Please girl. My 4 yo uses one at night as well as my 17 mos. old. you are good....

[Anonymous]

Use it! AAP recommends pacifier use to prevent SIDS. It is a natural need at this age to suck. You can wean later, when it seems appropriate. My DD still sometimes "needs" the pacifier when she is upset or sick. It is like magic. Not an every day thing, but good to have as a soothing remedy.

[Anonymous]

I think that you should be more concerned that you are referring to it as a 'paci' - it's a paciFER!

On a less catty note, let the kid use it as much as DC would like it at this age. Babies like to suck and it makes for a happier baby and parents.

[Anonymous]

I say give that sweet newborn the paci and dont worry about it until before his first birthday, if at all...if it soothes him and stops the crying, it's good for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that you should be more concerned that you are referring to it as a 'paci' - it's a paciFER!

On a less catty note, let the kid use it as much as DC would like it at this age. Babies like to suck and it makes for a happier baby and parents.

I don't like the term paci, either, but if you're going to go to the effort to correct someone you should do it correctly. It's a pacifier.

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone being so rude here??

It's normal to have questions with your first child. Just because you have more experience, is no reason to give a nervous new mother an increased feeling that she's doing a bad job.

Isn't a forum like this the place where you should feel comfortable voicing any questions or concerns you might have?

To the OP, feel free to give your child the pacifier. I understand the question though. With my first, he had a need to suck all the time and it was tough to know when he was hungry and when he just needed to suck. It often led to me always trying to feed him and him getting frustrated and fussy. When he was going through his growth spurt he was fussy all the time, so it was just a tough time for all of us.

Just know that it will get easier to read his cues. If he's gaining well, then just know that he's not going to starve if you accidentally give him the pacifier and he's actually hungry. He will let you know that it's time to eat.

Good luck. It will get easier.