Does excessive use of dummy/pacifier hamper a baby's intake of milk?

Tina - posted on 01/12/2009

Quoting Tina:

My oldest was teething since his first month and had his first four teeth at four months. He choose the paci over breast feeding, because it was too painful. So he saw the paci soothing and seen breast feeding as painful.

Cheryl - posted on 01/12/2009

I started noticing with my son the same thing but i was bf and could not gage exactly how much he was drinking. as soon as he didnt' want a paci any longer I couldnt' keep up, and had to switch to formula. I wondered the same thing, try limiting the use of dummy. have you ever heard of the gum reflex where adults who start chewing gum excessivly dont eat as much and loose lots of weight? could be the same thing with some children. there mind is telling them they don't need it!

Marlysa - posted on 01/11/2009

No not at all. The pacifier does just that. Your baby is using it because she and all babies are born with an innate need to suckle. When she is hungry, she will eat. Don't worry, she will not starve herself and she will let you know when she is hungry. I hope this helps a little.

Bekki - posted on 01/11/2009

I think its unlikely...there seem to be a lot of myths around dummies and how they cause problems!!! Both of my boys were breastfed until 4 months and formula fed after that. Both of them had dummies until they were around 3 years old. Neither of them had any problems food/drink wise. Is she taking any solids yet? I was advised by health officials to start small solids at around 4 and a half months because they were oviously hungry but not wanting much milk. I used to mix formula into any solid I could as that way they were still getting the milk nutrients they needed too. If solids are the answer, you could try getting baby rice or even apple puree and adding formula to it to ensure she doesn't miss out on the milk. My kids are affectionately nicknamed 'the vulture' and 'the gannet' as they are renowned for eating anything they can get hold of!!!

Jennifer - posted on 01/11/2009

My son is a big fan of the pacifier! He sometimes would deny the bottle too. It usually met that the sucking hurt him-so I would look for more signs from your child-does he rub his ear or it could be teething. My son teethed 6 months before we ever saw his first teeth. The good thing is-he won't starve, as long as you keep offering him food, he will take it if he is hungry. Just don't get frustrated and remember, "this too will pass". 

Elizabeth - posted on 01/11/2009

are you using the pacifier to take place of a hungry baby? pacifiers do just that, pacify. where is she on the doctors scale? underweight. babies grow in spurts, they will eat lots, stop and then grow over night. sometimes they have pacifiers and nipples in the same shape is that an option?  your baby should be eating solids too, that will change lots in eating and sleeping to a different level.

Ashly - posted on 01/11/2009

No. Babies are creatures of instinct. The pacifier might work to keep hunger at bay for a few minutes, in a pinch...but if a baby is hungry, she will realize soon that the paci is not filling her belly. If she's hungry, she'll eat. As long as your baby is gaining weight and is healthy, don't worry. I suggest only using a paci during certain times of the day, like naptime or bedtime. It makes it easier to wean them from it later. Also remember that babies have metabolisms also. Some babies don't require as much intake as others. As long as she's growing, that's your only concern. Good luck!

Amanda - posted on 01/11/2009

My son was breast and bottle fed from birth and had a dummy. It never hampered his feeding and now he eats for the whole of England at aged 14 months and uses the dummy constantly. Maybe she just doesn't like the formula, as someone has already said before me.

May - posted on 01/11/2009

My son had a pacifier until he was nearly 3 years old and he still ate and drank well - probably even more than he needed to! A baby will never let himself starve. If he's hungry, he'll eat!

Stephanie - posted on 01/11/2009

Wow that is interesting, I would look into changing the formula or something to maybe something she likes. I am no doctor, my son was breast fed until about 3 months and then we had to start mixing formula with breast milk. We tried one time to give him formula and he would not take it..I guess since he was used to the sweet breast milk, and formula is bitter. I hope she doesn't start losing weight but my son eats about 5 ounces just in one bottle. Are you feeding her gerbers? I don't think its the pacifier that is causing the problems though.