Can i introduce a dummy to a EBF baby?

Posted in the breastfeeding group, but wondered if anyone here has some advice or has managed to introduce a baby to a dummy when breastfeeding without causing nipple confusion? Our baby is currently nine weeks old since around 7/8 weeks he stopped sleeping properly when put down at night. He is now not managing to sleep for more 30 minutes at a time at night unless he is lying on me or my partner. We’ve always done contact naps, and i notice even after falling asleep feeding he continues to make the sucking motion often sucking gently on my skin and it seems to comfort him, so i’m wondering if a dummy would help. I really wanted to hold off until he was a little bigger, and i had another health visitor appointment to get advice but he’s barely slept in his cot the past three nights and with my partner back at work i am worried about my lack of sleep😬
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I don't think it will cause confusion. I couldn't get either of my babies to take a dummy but I have introduced bottles early on. No problem. Though if you are still swaddling you might consider letting his arms out so he can find his hands a self-soothe. It's better imo as their hands are always there and then you don't have to play the pop the dummy back in game all night. My first sucked her thumb and stopped herself hasn't caused any issues. This baby seems to be finding his hands but doesn't completely self-settle with them yet.

@Tanya Thank you! We’ve actually never swaddled as he loves his hands and does suck on them, he’s just not quite coordinated enough yet that he can fall asleep with them up at his mouth so he gets quite frustrated by them.

We have used a dummy since around 1 week as I didn’t even really know of nipple confusion tbh 🙈 I worried it would then cause issues for us but she has still fed absolutely fine so no issues here despite starting with dummy so young xx

@Lauren thank you! I didn’t know about it either, i just saw other people speaking about it and it scared me off trying anything!

Yep you totally can! X

We’ve used a dummy since she was a couple weeks old and she feeds fine. It definitely helps us when she’s tired.

I introduced a dummy around 10 days & have had no issues with breastfeeding! I think the main worries with a dummy is ignoring hunger cues and nipple confusion, but 1. Baby will spit dummy out if hungry and 2. Breastfeeding is likely established at 9 weeks so not likely to cause confusion now! Hopefully this gives you a better night sleep Xxx

Also, it may take a few attempts at finding a dummy that they like. Luckily both my babies liked the first ones I bought which were mam dummies! I find they tend to gag on the longer thin ones x

@Naomi Thank you! If he doesn’t take to it, at least we will know we have tried!!

My baby is EBF and will take a dummy x

My son is EBF and has a dummy. We use the NUK ones are they are meant to be similar to nipple shape, apparently! But we've had no issues with nipple confusion x

My little one is 13 weeks, I gave in to a dummy while breast feeding around 2 weeks old. She just wanted to comfort feed all the time and the dummy was my life saver. She only uses it now to sleep 🥹xx

thank you everyone, we are going to give it a go tonight and see how he finds it x

My LO has used a dummy from about 5 weeks and they are EBF. She uses it for comfort if she’s fussy or in the car etc and usually spits it out once she’s settled. I use the Tommie tippee breast like dummy

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