Giving a new born a dummy?

Question

Hi, can you help. I have a new son, 6 days old born by C Section. He is feeding well (breast) but on the 3rd night in hospital he started to not want to go back to his cot without crying. He doesnt cry a lot and goes to sleep if I pick him up and put him on myself. He has continued this habit and I have just bought him home. He again is feeding well but took some encouragement to go to his cot on his feeds overnight. I noticed this morning that he was still suckling his lips after being fed and when I put my hand in his mouth he sucked on that as well. I purchased a dummy specially for new born babies and tried this after he had fed and put him down in his cot. WONDERFUL. He has fed and slept in his bed fine all day. I have even put him down whilst he was awake just so I could get something out of the oven and he has been fine. No change to feeding, is this ok to do that and should I feel bad if I put him down when he is awake with his dummy to settle him just if I want to get a task done. Sorry new mum and not sure what I am doing. Thanks in anticipation.

Answer 1

Congrats! You are doing great and shouldn't feel guilty at all..What you are doing is what EVERY mother (Who cares about her children) do...Its totally normal. You should get one of those vibrating baby seats...forget what they are called but they are absolutely marvelous but if you do get one be careful of which one you choose...You strap the baby in and they are rocking away softly to sleep etc...Used it too when i was cooking in the kitchen or had to do something else and left him in it..He was happy to stay..Cherish these moments when he is content to just lie down...Because before you know it, they are off into god-knows what and where and you are chasing them down to see they aren't doing something dangerous...Mine just discovered that jumping of the nightstand to bed is fun...even after he bounced right off and landed on the floor...

Answer 2

I am just curious what do you mean by a dummy, or better yet what is it? I have never heard of something like this... =)

Ahh, Thanks bridget.

To answer the question, It sounds like you are doing a great job. My daughter will not take a pacifier unless I hold it for her, and she loves to sleep on my chest. She is three months old and I am just now getting her to go to sleep and stay asleep in the co-sleeper. Try swadling him, I got one from Target that makes it so they can't kick it off, but you can leave his arms out, that is what has been keeping my daughter alseep through the night the last few nights she has sleept about 9 hours. She is just really eager to eat in the morning and I still have to pump after she eats. Hope this helps...

Answer 3

Everything you are doing is fine!! Babies need awake alone time and if your baby can sooth himself so that you can get something done, I would definitely take advantage of it!

Answer 4

a dummy first off is a pacifier like a nipple they can suck on by themselves and is worth giving if it works ... i did so that they didn't suck their thumbs and i can take it away later ...

Answer 5

i think you are reffering to a pacifier (are you on the other side of the 'lake' some pediatricians say dont give breast feds a pacifier, but some do.  i would say look up some stuff online and read for yourself.  either way you have to do what you feel is best it is your child as long as you aren't abusing them its ok :-)

Answer 6

First of all congratulations!

Second, trust your gut instincts. You know more than you think. It's fine and expected to be nervous and scared, just stick with it and things will become routine soon enough.