Breastfed baby and the paci

[JJshappymum]

Hi,

My DS2 is 4 weeks today and seems to be going through a growth spurt for the past 4 days, feeding every 1.5-2 hours  . Previously he was on a 3-4 hour schedule so I was a bit spoiled. 

Anyway, sometimes he just seems fussy or is having a hard time settling for his nap if by chance he has become overstimulated. I have tried to give him a paci to help him self-soothe but he refuses it. I have tried different types but he just gets more upset.

any suggestions on how to get lo to take a paci? DS1 took it right away and weaned by himself one day at 3 mos.

[PaulsMom]

I think that some babies won't take a paci.  My DS took one no problem but my dd doesn't.  He will likely develop some other method of self soothing when he's a bit older. 

[Fiver]

We gave DS a dummy which he self-weaned at around 7m.  We never gave one to DD, but she found her thumb at about a week old and has never looked back.

With DD, I started holding onto her teddy bear at the same time as feeding her so she got used to it there as a comfort item.  Do you think that might work?

[yufeiisme]

With DD, I started holding onto her teddy bear at the same time as feeding her so she got used to it there as a comfort item.  Do you think that might work?

Good idea, I might start giving my lo a hankie or sth too...

And no, my dd never took a paci...we settled her with shhh/pat untill she learned how to suck her hand... I found it made a huge difference if we put her down before she is cranky, and we whispered to her while patting her in her cot gently. Oh and you can get one of those singing glowing soft toys, we use it Everytime when it is nap time, she soon gets the cue. HIH

[JJshappymum]

I will try both the teddy and other cues at naptime. He likes to suck his first knuckle but doesn't always have the coordination to keep it in his mouth. Shh/pat seems to keep him awake.
This is so different from DS1 who needed shh/pat and the paci. He weaned himself of the paci at three months but until then it was his most effective cue for sleep. DS2 wants very gentle rocking for just a few minutes and then down into his bed as his eyes begin to fan. I'm still trying to figure out if he's easily overstimulated and touchy type or just really easy to put down and I'm over doing things.

[Erin M]

It's hard to sort it all out!  None of my 3 ever took the paci, dd1 is (still!) a thumb sucker, dd2 rubs her lovely all over her face, and ds sucks on the corner of his blanket.  He'll figure it out eventually, it's just hard while they're getting there.