Why does my little finger pacify my 3 week old but not a dummy?

[nellypope]

My 3 week old will happily be pacified by my little finger (as shown to me in hospital) but she won't take a dummy! She has a strong suck reflex and friends have suggested a dummy for an older baby, long reach ones and dummies with a more "bulbous" end. Anyone have any good suggestions, or had this problem themselves?

[madmaggot]

Why do you want to give your baby a dummy?

[dothawkes31]

3 weeks is too early to give a baby a dummy, or has the job changed in the last 23 years????

[grasscarp]

Sounds like baby wants food. Why do you want to pacify her. Babies cry because they need something, food, changing, burping or human contact. They also, some of them, suck their own thumb sometimes. All the dummy does is make it more peaceful for you. I never gave either of my babies dummies.

[lucca]

Dummies are awful, especially the ones that are around these days - they virtually cover the baby's face! They stop a child from speaking (many children continue to have them when they are 4-5 years old) and make their teeth goofy. Grasscarp is right.

[B00]

If you want to use a dummy- do so!

my daughter was 2 days old when I first used one, and she was ok when we stopped using them, didn't kick up a fuss nor is she goofy! Honestly never heard such rubbish, lol. And she's also never had a problem talking either.

[B00]

Nope, im not goofy either ;-)

[daffy654]

Children who suck their thumbs are more likely to have an overbite (goofy) than those who used a dummy.
It is also much harder to stop a child thumb sucking than to get them to not use a dummy.

[sara3]

I'm with BOO, both my kids had dummies.. you just take them away before they're old enough to ask for them, at around 12 months.

and blimey, my daughter could talk for England (and still does)!

[redcrx]

my 18 month old sucks her thumb and refused to ever use a dummy. Her teeth are suffering. My son had a dummy til he was 3 and his teeth are perfect.

but you cant make them do what they dont want to do :(

[ummmm]

Dummies are not bad for teeth as they help produce saliva which kills bacteria. Sucking is comforting for a baby...it's the only thing they know how to do.

[jackthehat]

Andy-Hughes has a brilliant strategy for getting your child to STOP using a dummy.............

My boy had a dummy and his teeth are fine, as is his vocabulary...........

[nellypope]

Thanks for recent posts . . . I would like to also point out the following.

1) There is clinical evidence to show that Dummies/Pacifiers can reduce the risk of cot death

2) MY baby suffers with colic, and it is suggested that the suck reflex helps babies fight pain.

3) And NO she is not necessarily hungry, nappy change etc, the trick of using the suck reflex was show to me in hospital as a way of pacifying my babe by the nurses and Docs at the Special Care Unit whilst my baby was there and they told me it does always mean they want "something", they are in discomfort and need "pacifying"

4) and YES they do make dummies for newborns!

.....thanks to all the recent "positive/helpful" posts.... :-)

[karenmac60]

Is she breastfed or bottlefed? If she's not used to the teat on a bottle she might not take to a dummy - I know my daughter never did, but she quickly took up thumb-sucking instead, and she would happily suck my pinkie, and she was breastfed.

[pinkcowprint]

"why do you want to pacify her?"why do you think,or would you rather sit their listening to your baby screaming??and so what if it's more peaceful for you?!having a baby only 3 weeks ago maybe it would be nice to give your baby a dummy to PACIFY her and to actually catch up on a nap or have a brew,a shower,go to the loo,eat something,get dressed.......list is endless!i have sat there many times with other friends who dont do dummys,listening to their baby screaming and having to leave after 10 minutes to take them back home,or even worse shoving their fingers in to suck,and then try and eat with one hand,its bloody ridiculous,its your child if you want to give them a dummy then do it,also orthodontic ones,they bend up fit in the roof of mouth so have nothing to do with their 'goofy' teeth!

[grasscarp]

Nelly (and Pinkcow) - I didnt mean to upset anyone when I asked why you wanted to pacify your baby. You later said that she suffers with colic and I understand that dummies can be very soothing in this case. If you had not put this on quizzes and puzzles I would probably never have seen this or added my two penneth. Best wishes to you and your new daughter. (note to self - stick to quizzes!)

[tigwig]

Well I can't believe some of the answers on here! Shock, horror you want to give your baby a dummy! How awful! NOT. I gave my daughter one and she had it until been over 4 so I must be the worst mum in the world.
Babies like to suck, fact, and you are right about the cot death thing. It is actually recommended to give your baby a dummy now.
Anyway back to the question, I don't know why she prefers your finger but I would try lots of different kinds of dummy until you fond the one she likes or she may find her own fingers or thumb instead.
I used the tommee tippee cherry teat for my daughter as the normal type just fell out of her mouth. She was fine then and before people ask, she only had it for bedtime after been about 2, not one of these kids who goes out and about with one fixed to her face!