Breastfeeding

On one hand a pacifier is easy to keep clean (easy, but annoying ;), easy to take away to ween (easy until the baby screams at you), and really does satisfy the need to suck. On the other hand, the pacifier can potentially create a habit whereas the baby cannot self soothe and must have the pacifier to calm, and some believe the use of a pacifier can create “nipple confusion” and really interferes with Breastfeeding.

Our decision was made for us when our baby’s pediatrician commented on his acid reflux and recommended the use of a pacifier to satisfy his need to suck, without overfilling his belly (*note* not that I’m not feeding on demand, which is crucial, but when the baby just wants to suck and not eat). We went ahead and sterilized some pacifiers and gave one to him, with me praying that this wouldn’t mean latch problems for breastfeeding.

I must say, I’ve been happy with the results. The baby has not experienced nipple confusion, and happily takes his pacifier. It does not interfere with his demand feeding as if he is hungry he will refuse the pacifier and I will nurse him instead He only gets the pacifier if I know he’s just been fed and has a very full belly. He also looks very cute while sucking on the pacifier

In the very early weeks of the baby’s birth, I read a book called “The Happiest Baby on the Block.” I really recommend the book, and the author advocates the use of a pacifier in the newborn stage, because you cannot really spoil a child in this stage nor can you form habits that you cannot break. He believes that you should ween the baby from the pacifier at 4 months of age as an older baby is able to self soothe whereas a newborn is not and therefor needs a pacifier or other soothing object. It’s a very interesting book!

I don’t feel like we *gave in*, I’m very pleased to know that our breastfeeding is going well, and I’m able to satisfy my baby’s need to suck when he needs to. Other moms are able to offer the breast to satisfy this need, but I have such an oversupply that I cannot do this (with overactive letdown it tends to gag the baby a bit, so excessive stimulation on my nipples aggravates the problem).