How do I get my 18 day old to take a pacifier? I am breastfeeding and she wont take one!!!

Cecilia - posted on 05/29/2010

HONEY IS SO Not good for babies under a year due to the bacteria in it. Do not use Honey! it has the pootential to cause life threatening illness!

Jeanni - posted on 05/29/2010

well i have a 3 and a half yr old now and i breast feed her and they have a special pacifer for that is for breastfed babies

Ashley - posted on 05/29/2010

at 18 days old she shouldn't want a paci. she should only want you. some babies never take a paci, ever. I don't know what to tell ya about the bottles. my twins never took a bottle. I just went by the rule that I was the bottle and the paci.
if you have to leave and aren't their to nurse her, leave expressed milk for the caregiver. They can use a medicine syringe and a clean pinkie. Put ur pink in her mouth like a nipple (nail side down) and place the end of the syringe in the corner of babies mouth. slowly squirt the milk into babies mouth and let her suck the pinkie until all the milk is gone. or it can be spoon fed to her or given out of a small medicine or dixie cup. good luck. I hope you find something that works for you.

Kailey - posted on 05/29/2010

if she doesnt want it then that can be a good thing. if a child stays on a pacifier for longer then they are suppose to cause they like it to much it can mess up there teeth. just try other things like a wet wash clothe or teethie toys. just something safe and clean she can suck on.

Christy - posted on 05/29/2010

u will be glad down the road that she won't take one my lil girl is now 3 and it took me 4ever to take it from her her teeth is messed up from it if u want her to take it really bad try to put cotten in one of them that has a hole in it

Shannon - posted on 05/29/2010

I don't get why theres so many people who would waste their time and money buying a whole lot of different pacifiers and then trying to force their baby to like them??? I breastfed and refused to give my son 1 because they just end up becoming a bad habbit which is hard to break, they damage their teeth and babies look soooo much better without some big plastic thing covering their face! And i think they are just a cop out,

Tawnya - posted on 05/29/2010

dont confuse the two. if you want to let her take bottles and breast though, you can. i did it with my 2 kids. i didnt give them the pacifer so what i did was just keep switching the two. i tried to breastfeed first and then the next feeding i pumped in the bottle. That way she still smells you. i kept that up until they both were on the bottle, but kept pumping my milk. then i couldnt keep up with the demand of milk so i switched to formula. hope that helps.

Elizabeth - posted on 05/29/2010

none of my daughters had a pacifier. I breastfed my first and bottle for the second. With my first child I found that resting the palm of my hand and fingers on her cheek where my breast touched was enough until she was old enough to do it herself. You can do the same by positioning your childs hand on their face when you are trying to settle her

Sarah - posted on 05/28/2010

Also babies should not have honey before 12 months.

Christina - posted on 05/28/2010

I breastfed all three of my girls and not one of them required a pacifier. Pacifiers are used for babies who need to suck more then other babies. Some breastfed babies do not need this comfort. Perhaps you shouldn't force your child to use a pacifier. As for the bottle try different bottles until u find a nipple she likes. The Avent one seems to be the most popular since it closely resembles the human nipple.... Good Luck with your little one... You can also give her her thumb or finger... if you think she needs to suck and wont take the binky.....

Diane - posted on 05/27/2010

A good soother is a sock, a wet wash cloth, a soft toy, something that smells like you that your baby can suck on. Do you really want to invest in more baby crap like a pacifier? The pacifier can become an appendage for some kids. The above are merly suggestions. good luck.

Stacie - posted on 05/27/2010

i see alot of people are telling you alot of differant things i have talked with my doctor and bottels sippies and pacifiers do not cause problems with babies teeth, or there heath they could if you do not clean them right. my son became a bink baby and broke him self of it when he was 5 months old he is now 15 months old and is starting to only want a bottel at night before he gos to sleep and wants to start going potty like daddy.
Babies pick there securitys and in my oppinion why brake them of it when they are not ready if there is no medical need to do so. It will make them regress more put more stress on both of you and you dont need that your a mom i do believe that if tricks and ideas do not work not to force or keep encoraging it but maybe get her in the habbit of self soothing. When my sons doctor told me not to leave bottles in the bed with him and i stopped. It was hard to listen to him cry for hours but the reason why i did it was because they could get mouth infections from bacterria growing on the bottle or milk getting old if they happend to not drink it all.
so i tought him how to hum and now when he is restless he sings himself to sleep and sometimes when he and i rock and i sing him songs he will also hum with me too. and you bond more with your baby that way too

Stacie - posted on 05/27/2010

have you tried to put a little honey on the pacifier thats what i had to do with my son he wanted to use me as a pacifier even after i stopped breastfeeding him. i think its a security thing to them. But we also have to understand where they are coming from just like we have to get use to being moms they have to get use to being born.

Use the honey and see if it works i also had to find a bink that he liked to NUK is what he ended up taking to and i only had to use the honey a few times

Sarah - posted on 05/27/2010

You're suggesting peanut butter for an 18 DAY old baby. Scary!

Sheldonbowers19 - posted on 05/27/2010

peanut butter

Angie - posted on 05/27/2010

Sucking on Paci's and bottles can cause occlusion problems later in life. If you don't have to use it then I wouldn't. If you let the baby use her hand, fold the fingers under like make a fist and let them chew on the back or knuckle that way there are no fingers to gag on or get addicted to. The sucking reflex is strongest the first 6 months, after that it could go away.

Stephanie - posted on 05/27/2010

I don't reccommend forcing a pacifier. My son never left my room at the hospital unless he was going to see the pediatrician, and even then I told them not to give him a pacifier. If your baby doesn't want to take one, you should look at this as a good thing. Your baby will learn to self-soothe. My son did, and he's just fine at 19-months-old now. I think him not taking a pacifier made weaning him of other things easier, too. Plus, pacifiers ruin your kids' teeth anyway.

Christine - posted on 05/27/2010

You don't. It sounds like your daughter is much like my son was. I would suggest that you allow your daughter to find her own way to comfort herself. Are you going back to school now? I would ask if you can bring her to class with you at such a young age. She needs to feel that you are close. If the teacher does not allow you to have her in class and feed her there - discreetly, of course - I would take it up with the school administration. I see some infants in my classes at Queen's University and most students don't even notice, it they do they are quite interested. Sit by the door and leave the room if you must, talk to the instructor about getting a notetaker for missed time and enjoy your daughter's first days and weeks. She needs you to be calm for her. Don't be afraid to ask for accommodations with your school and good luck!

Sara - posted on 05/27/2010

Don't use a pacifier they are very hard to ween a child off in later days not a good habit to get into

Nicola - posted on 05/27/2010

Some kids like pacifiers and others don't and there will be nothing you can do about it. One thing is that you should only be trying to use the pacifier if your breastfeeding is well established. This will lessen the chance of nipple confusion. Try a couple of different types of pacifiers. Just make sure that they are orthodontically correct and keep the type that she likes the most. Dont let her use a bottle as a pacifier as this will just cause her to swallow more wind and could lead to problems later. As for her overfeeding. Just remember that at this age babies could be breastfeeding every two to three hours and that is from the start of feed (which could take up to 40mins at this age). Most babies will not take a pacifier if they are hungry so try setting a regular schedule of feeding for her so that she rather feeds smaller amounts at a time. Good luck.

Rhiannon - posted on 05/27/2010

If she is anything like my little girl was then she won't take it because nothing comes out of it. To be honest if she doesn't want it i wouldn't force it on her because in the long run they can be more trouble than they are worth.

Alicia - posted on 05/26/2010

A family friend is a Dental assistant and told me that it's actually really bad for babies to suck on their hands and fingers in place of a pacifier because since hands and fingers have of course bone in them, it can actually put too much pressure on the gums and teeth (when they get them) that it can misshape their teeth, causing the need for braces when they are older.

As for the pacifier: I also breastfed my daughters. My oldest took one from birth, but my youngest didn't take one for quite some time. A friend told me to just use a 2 oz bottle with breastmilk in it a couple times a day so they would get used to the silicone a little, and then try introducing the pacifier. It worked! That is until she started getting teeth and wanted some solid foods! Haha

Good luck!

Dimitra - posted on 05/26/2010

Try a soft cuddle toy/blanket for her to suck on. i know it sounds weird but my son was exactly the same as your daughter and one day he discovered his soft bunny wrap rather comforting and started sucking that! never needed a pacifier

Colleen - posted on 05/26/2010

I exculsively breastfed my son, and he to refused the soother, only wanted mom. I would add that I have cared for lots of children and many of them had a VERY hard time giving up the soother, so I say do your best to get through this really very short time in her life and be her comfort. Now that my son is 7, I miss the days of him curled up in my arms all warm and snug finding all he needed right there!! Good luck!!

Kathy - posted on 05/26/2010

Sugar for an 18 day old baby???

Roni - posted on 05/25/2010

put a little dab of sugar on it ..guaranteed she/he will take it!!

Norma - posted on 05/25/2010

IF SHE DOESN'T WANT A PACIFIER DONT FORCE HER SHE WILL FIND HER FINGERS IF SHE WANT TO

Melanie - posted on 05/25/2010

If she doesn't want it I wouldn't force her. She can start having nipple confusing and then you're really going to have some problems. Believe me, you'll be thankful when your baby is older. She will learn how to self soothe herself a lot quicker and she won't become dependent on the paci. I never offered a pacifier to my daughter but instead encouraged her to find her thumb or I would offer one of my fingers, which is completely fine. I don't believe the crap about "you can take away the pacifier but you can't take away the thumb" for a second, toddlers will lost the habit anyway.I think that too many parents use them as a crutch, instead of providing the cuddles and comfort that babies crave. They aren't natural... what happens when you have a baby that won't be comforted unless she has the paci and you've misplaced it? Same thing with parents that use them as a sleeping aid.

Grandma - posted on 05/25/2010

I wouldn't worry if she doesn't take a pacifier. None of my 3 ever had one. They seemed to make do with a finger. When they got bored with that, they just quit needing something to suck on all the time. But I do know that all kids are different and what works for one might not work for another.

Jagoda - posted on 05/25/2010

I had the same problem and purchased a few different pacifiers but my son did not like any of them. Sometimes he sucks on his fingers which soothes him. I would try a few different ones, he may end up liking one of them. My doctor said that you have to keep trying because babies especially breastfed ones don't know what to do with a pacifier.
As for the bottle feeding. If you are doing well with breastfeeding I would try and give your baby a bottle a few times a week. I was exclusively breastfeeding for 5 months and my son won't take a bottle now and it is really hard. If you teach them right away your life will be easier down the road, especially when you have to go back to school.

Heidi - posted on 05/25/2010

You don't get them to take a pacifier. None of my three ever would take one. They just don't like them sometimes. Babies have this wonderful gift of soothing themselves, it is glorious. It will try your patience, but if it is time to nap lay them down to nap, they will fuss maybe even scream but they will soothe themselves and it does not hurt them a bit. If you have to put the baby down to do other things let them fuss for a little bit. It will not hurt them to fuss. If you know the baby is not hungry don't feed the baby it is just part of them learning their schedule. Not having a pacifier is actually a blessing because it is one less thing you have to take away from them:)

I wish you the best...

Donna - posted on 05/25/2010

I recommend the Mam pacifier, the brown nipple. Gently hold the pacifier in with your hand.

Be patient and persistent. :)

Josie - posted on 05/25/2010

My son never took a pacifier so good luck. It's better though, because then she won't get attached to it.

Joanna - posted on 05/25/2010

Some babies just don't like pacifiers. I know women who've tried every kind and their kids just wouldn't take it. You can try different kinds, like someone suggested find one that is most like a nipple. Otherwise she'll figure something out.

But be warned, once some children get on the pacifier, it's SO hard to get them off!! Mine loved the paci from the day she was born, and now 2 1/2 years later, she refuses to give it up and we are really fighting hard to get her to give them up but it's a slow painful process!

Ashley - posted on 05/25/2010

try offering her her thumb.....i don't like the idea either...but it's a phase. and if its what they like and accept....whatever works.

Emma - posted on 05/24/2010

I have a friend who has a 5 month old baby girl,she is breastfeeding & also has a 5yr old boy,she gets her partner 2 take the lad 2 school while she stays at home! I didnt breastfeed when my kids were born but it did take a bit of time 2 get them both 2 take a dummy,i just kept trying till they finally accepted them but i was very lucky as i hadnt got screaming babies & didnt have a school run as there is only 18 months between my 2 kids!

Ashley - posted on 05/24/2010

maybe you should try a different type of pacifier... my son done the same thing.... they make some that are for beastfeed babies... my son took right to it... it isthe diffenencer between the nuk and the nipple!

Julie - posted on 05/24/2010

I haven't seen anyone recommend giving her your little finger to suck on. My son never like the pacifier and that would sooth his need to suck on the occasion he needed to but didn't need to be fed.

Nicki - posted on 05/24/2010

my daughter was a br baby only. i refused to let them give her a pacy at the hospital due to nipple confusion. she was a couple wks old when she started fightin sleep and a wk later i broke down and let her have a pacy. she like it. it was what she wanted. dont force ur child to take a paci if she doesnt want it. i am constantly looking for the darn thing. i hate havin to remember to take it with us when we go places. she is teething right now and is really dependant on it. once the teething stops i am taking it from her. not to mention it has given her a big over bite. that is another thing to think of to. paci's and finger/thumb sucking mess up their teeth.

Meghan - posted on 05/24/2010

OMG...DO NOT give your child a pacifier...they are totally unnecessary...especially don't force on on her! My daughter never had one and is just fine today...But if you still want to deal with that then here is an article I found that may help you from Babyzone.com





If you're breastfeeding, wait until nursing is well established (usually by around one month) before offering a pacifier, recommends Dr. Tupas. Because SIDS is less common in the first month of life, it's reasonable to delay pacifier introduction during this lower-risk period. If you are formula feeding, it's OK to offer a pacifier at birth. Never use a pacifier as a substitute for nursing or feeding, and never coat a pacifier in sugar, honey, or other sweet substances.



While there's no one brand of pacifier that is recommended, well-known brands tend to be well-tested. "In some ways, you get what you pay for," says Dr. Hauck. "I would avoid the five-for-a-dollar pacifiers or anything that looks kind of flimsy." Make sure to choose an age-appropriate size, too.



There is no best shape or type of pacifier, so give your baby the pacifier he enjoys most, says Dr. Tobin. This may mean allowing him to try out several kinds. She adds that pacifiers with clear silicone nipples tend to last longer than the old-fashioned rubber nipples, which break down over time.



Try to keep pacifiers clean, says Dr. Hauck. While the old "stick the pacifier in mom's mouth" trick is still around, Dr. Hauck advises against it. "Running under water is better!" Check your baby's pacifiers frequently, and if they are cracking or showing signs of wear and tear, replace them. Clean new pacifiers before first use according to package directions.



Never tie a pacifier around a baby's neck, says Dr. Hauck. Clip-on tethers that don't go near the neck should only be used while you are observing your baby. Babies should go to bed with a plain pacifier.



Offer the pacifier to your baby at naptimes and bedtime, suggests Dr. Tupas. In fact, many breastfeeding families choose to offer a pacifier only at those times. Once your baby is asleep, the pacifier should not be reintroduced if it falls out of the mouth.



Finally, keep in mind that it's best to start phasing out pacifier use by around one year of age.



And what if your baby wants nothing to do with the pacifier? There's no reason to force her to take it, says Dr. Hauck. "If you try it, and Baby doesn't like it, wait a few weeks and try again. And if the baby still doesn't want it, then just don't worry about it. Just make sure you are following all the other SIDS risk reduction measures. Having your baby sleep on her back is still the most important thing.".

Beryl - posted on 05/24/2010

Don't, its much harder to take it away when they are older

Angie - posted on 05/24/2010

None of my children took a pacifier and they did just fine... Besides, I read so many posts here from moms wanting to know how to break this habit - I don't think it's worth it to push it.

Cristal - posted on 05/24/2010

Get a bottle nipple thats like a breast nipple (have them at babies r us) stuff it with a paper towel so she don't suck air...

Mary - posted on 05/23/2010

i had to find a pasi that was most like my nipple if u have long nipples then use a long pasi or sorter nipple use a rounder one like the orthodontic from "mam" thats the one that we got to work. also we had trouble with her not being able to hold it in her mouth because bbs use there tongue more than sucking so i felt like i was torturing her but i had to hold it in her mouth until she learned how to suck it into her mouth instead of pushing it out with her tongue

Sarah - posted on 05/23/2010

i found buying a cheap round not flat bottomed dummy worked great with honey or glycerine

Alicia - posted on 05/23/2010

They don't recommend pacifiers to BF babies, it can cause nipple confusion. Why introduce something to her that your just going to have to take away soon anyway? My first child took one but my daughter wouldn't. Maybe you should nurse her on a schedule and after you know shes gotten enough milk pull her off. Just slip your finger(clean) into her mouth to break the suction and pull off. If your really insistant on giving her a pacifier try the ones that have a brownish colored nipple, They are usually softer than the clear ones and they take to them easier. For bottles look for the ones that are suppose to feel like your breast. A couple feedings a day just keep introducing the bottle. Some poeple recommend its best if daddy trys this in another room because if the baby knows your there they know the milk is too.
Hope this helps.

Faith - posted on 05/23/2010

i wouldn't force it. When i had my son, i was strictly breastfeeding. At the hospital, they kept it in his mouth. I asked for him not to have one, and they kept telling me at the hospital there is NO such thing as nipple confusion!!!! I wittnessed it hands on. Its hard to breast feed when there is nipple confusion. Mom gets just as frustrated as the baby. At home i refused to use the pacifier unless i absolutly had to, he had no interest in it at all at 3 months old.

Again, don't push it if your DD doesn't take it. It can make things worse!

Dianne - posted on 05/23/2010

my son is 10wks and will not take a paci either he is breastfed with occasional bottles, i started giving a bottle at around 1wk i used expressed milk the first time and waited until i knew he was hungry enough. by only introducing a bottle every now and then early on i had no problem with nipple confusion. after a couple weeks i also introduced a bottle of formula here and there on my mothers advice just so that if need arises i know he will drink it and it has turned out really well. i also have used different brands of bottle so he will also take whichever teat is there at the time. this means i am super happy that he will eat when he is being babysat and i get a few hours off to get some things done or just some me time. at the end of the day my son is around 98% breastfed and although he screws his face up and stuffs around a little if its a bottle he will drink it

Jennifer - posted on 05/22/2010

My son and daughter were both exclusively on the bottle and neither of them will/would take one. I want them too as r over eaters but tried all kinds. Son is 2 months and I keep tryin but still he does not want yet, My daughter is 22 months and never would, but is better in the end as like Felicia said - at least you don't have to wean them.

Amy - posted on 05/22/2010

We've tried every paci there is and mine won't take it either, and she is bottle fed. She prefers her hands, which I do not like, because she ends up gagging herself and spitting up everywhere. Not to mention she eats her hands raw doing this, and I believe it's harder to break a child of their hand than a paci, because you can take away a pacifier, you can't remove their hand! So I would NOT recommend trying to get her to suck her fingers. She will, eventually find them anyway. Some babies just don't like them...I'd prefer my daughter take a paci but really, you can't force them to.