prefers paci for soothing - is this normal?

[nona]

my DS never took a paci, but this LO LOVES IT!!! in fact, i often can't calm her with a boob.   if i let her get really upset (i.e. to crying point for a while before I feed her), i have to calm her with the paci and then nurse her (basically do a switch & bait).

I just think it is odd.  She doesn't suck on it all the time just when it is close to nap time.


SHe is sleeping pretty well at night but, for instance, tonight she would rather suck on the paci then nurse. So i have to get her drowsy with the paci and then nurse her. She just isn't that interested. Granted, I am cluster feeding but I think we are heading to a 3.5 easy so maybe she just isn't hungry since I just nursed her at 430 and 630? (she didn't nurse too long at 630 either).

I just don't want to get into bad habits with it.

[ZacsMumme]

TBH I dont think its a bad thing....in a way its good in that your boob is not the prop I do get that it is a little sucky though (sorry mind the pun) that he prefers the paci as I loved the fact my Lo would always take the breast when losing the plot or sick.

From what I understand some babies are very sucky babies and have a strong need to suck. If your Lo is one of them then having the paci rather than feeding all the time will actually be a good thing Maybe just keep in mind you may have to wean the paci in a month or so if it starts to become a prop...

Just my 2 cents xx

[nona]

I know I'm worried about getting rid of it!  I just feel like i can't leave home without one!!

[amayzie]

Do you have a fasr let down? My guy rarely did any comfort sucking as it really wasn't that 'comfortable' for him to have milk hitting the back of his throat!!

[nona]

Aw yes..I also realized I need to drop a cluster feed so im sure she's not very hungry as well

[Erin M]

Katie preferred her thumb to the boob for comfort so why not a paci?  It seems Ok.

[Mum-of-Two]

Sounds normal to me but both my kids were paci addicts -- my daughter started from birth, my son was probably about the age of your LO.

[nona]

ok being paranoid! this paci thing is new to me! 

[amayzie]

and we ditched the paci REALLY early- like 8 weeks- but hamish is a massive thumb sucker- i'm happy with that, but some people are anti thumb sucking. Basically babies will do what they'll do

[nona]

she chews on her hands a lot but no thumb sucking yet

[amayzie]

it took hamish a little while to find his thumb- he sucked his index and middle finger for ages...

[shivi]

I had OAL with both of mine and they much preferred the paci to breast, esp in the early days (till like 6 mths ish). I never fed for comfort - never wanted to - and only gave the paci before naps and night time sleep. Never really had any prop issues with it either.

And, biggest of all, its easier to wean than the thumb. I am not anti-thumb sucking but as an early years specialist, I can't take thumbs off 3, 4, 5 yr olds but I CAN say no dummies at preschool IYKWIM.

S x