soothers, pacifiers, dummies

This topic seems to be the big debate and area of conflicting advice at the moment. As it stands today, I strongly disapprove of their use. I feel like I have researched this topic for some time now and have read both sides of the argument. I just dislike them in every way and hope that I don't end up using one. If I do, it may never be blogged...to keep it a hidden secret.

As the name of them suggest - they exist to sooth a child, pacify them or fool the child into thinking this is a nipple. Takes a wise adult to fool a newborn!

They say the main advantage to a soother is to sooth the child. This seems reasonable to me, but I often see children who are happy, not needing soothing, with one in their mouth. They become a crutch, and are the first thing to go in if the child makes a noise. A plug one may call it. I think this bothers me more, as I am having a girl. I never want her to not have a voice. I think it is ok for a child to cry and share emotion, how else do they communicate? I say this now, without a child, well rested and mid morning.

The disadvantages are a long list ranging from dental problems, to ear infections, speech problems and an interference with breastfeeding. I plan to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. I took a class specifically focused on breastfeeding and have had the opportunity to work with lactation specialists on a daily basis at work. I have a very strong support team (midwife, doula, public health nurse and my husband who is my rock for advocacy in these areas) in place for delivery and postpartum to help with breastfeeding. I have read on several occasions that mothers who breastfeed and use a soother often ween early and claim it is due to a lack of milk. This may be true, as the baby has been soothing itself with a pacifier instead of the mother, therefore lowering the milk productions. This leads to a whole other thought on use of formula, but I will save that for another blog.

The final thought to this is that if you did use a pacifier, then you eventually have to stop using one. You are essentially giving your baby a habit to break later on. Does a toddler need to start so early at breaking bad habits?

I have had many friends and family tell me that I will use one, which makes me want to fight it more. If they were more supportive and said ' do what works for you', then I would feel less pressure. These same friends and family said that babies NEED them and it is mean to not give them one.....this always makes me wonder what all those mothers did before soothers were marketed as the new sliced bread and what current cultures who do not succumb to westen marketing. Traditionally these were not available to sooth. Traditionally babies were ok without one.

My plan is to not use one. If they are given as gifts, they will be packed away in the crawl space to avoid the 3am temptation of sleep vs common sense. It can't hurt to try things my way to start, after all this is my baby.