Best Pacifier

K.,
I am a breastfeeding mom too and had the same trouble with my oldest daughter. She eventually took the two-toned gerber ones that say "infant pacifier." It is funny becuase they are huge and a newborn would never be able to put this in his/her mouth! I think the thing she liked was that the base was round and it covered her whole mouth like a breast. a note of caution, however, is that she will be three next month and has only recently given it up (with much cajoling and difficulty). In retrospect, I wish I had never found the "good binkies" as she would later call them! By the way, my little one is a thumbsucker, so who knows how I'll get that away from her. Good luck finding whatever it is that's right for you!

I alos tried every pacifier with my breast feed son and nothing worked. At about 6 months my son discovered his finger on his own and now sucks it to sooth himself. It looks kind of silly that he sucks his pointer finger instead of a thumb but it works for him and it is a big help when he goes to bed now and since we stopped breat feeding two months ago that he is able to sooth himself and does not need the breast to go to sleep anymore.

I don't know about pacifiers but I have a friend who nursed and she used a cloth diaper and placed it between her and the baby so that the baby got used to the feel of the cloth diaper instead of the feel of skin. The baby then used the cloth diaper as a security and at three still uses it to sleep or comfort herself. Good Luck I have five that I nursed and none of them would even take a pacifier they wanted nothing but skin. And remember "This too shall pass."

Hi K.,
I don't know of one that looks or feels like the breast but you may try the avent ones. Also another trick is take the shirt you have worn all day and give it to him.

Also read on your about me: Are we talking about the 4 yr old, just wondering, W.

Hi...I had to laugh when I read your letter...it brought back so many memories. I had a baby boy just like yours. I finally learned that if I put my silky night gown,(Rolled up) near his cheek,(touching it), he would take the binky, and go right to sleep. When he was 2 and 3, he carried that silky around with him everywhere. I now have 22 grandcgildren, yes,
I have plenty of experience...good luck, cj

Well, sounds like you've gotten a lot of good advice. You really need to decide if you want to be fighting with him when he's older about sucking his thumb or pacifier. I have a 3 yr old little boy, whom I nursed. Yes, there were many times I wanted my body back but I had to remind myself he's only this little once. We also tried for 12 yrs to get him, so I may look at this differently. He'll eventually stop wanting your breast so enjoy it while you can, and if your his security blanket, what's wrong with that? Your his momma, you should be his security blanket. I tried pacifiers, never his thumb, because I can throw a pacifier away, can't his thumb, but he wouldn't take them either. I resigned myself to being his pacifier. It really wasn't so bad, and I didn't really care what other people had to say, I was his momma not them. If your getting sore try the breast feeding lanolin that comes in a purple tube. It truly helps and is safe for him. I now have a very happy 3 year old who does not suck his thumb or need a blankie or anything else. Very nice since I don't have to worry about losing a much needed item. There are so many other things I have to worry about. They just get spunkier. =) Good luck and enjoy being a momma!

Don't worry about him not liking the pacifiers. You won't have to worry about him being a big kid walking around with one in his mouth and talking around it. I know you are tired of being a gigantic pacifier for him but this will pass. When he wants to just suck try doing something else with him. read a book, play with him, anything to take his mind off of sucking. It's tough when they are that little but it will pass. before much longer he will discover that he can suck on his fingers or thumb.

Be proud that you are doing what is best for him and be patient.

My son never really took to a pacifier, either, but he loves sucking on his blanky or "lovey." It's really soft with satin around the edges, and he buries his face in it to suck. He's almost 1 and still sucks on it every time he goes down to sleep. He's also a breast baby, so maybe it simulates the feel of the breast against his face--I had never thought of that before!

I also tried every pacifier that I could find with both of my girls. They never would take one and for the most part, trying to get them to take one just made them more mad. At 4 1/2 months, he really doesn't need the pacifier anymore. You should be on a pretty good nursing schedule by now so don't give in when he demands you just for sucking purposes. If he likes to bite on something, try a teether instead. I also used an ice cube wrapped in a wash clothe when they started teething. It isn't such a bad thing that he won't take the pacifier. As someone else said, you won't have to ween him from it. Main never sucked their thumbs either.

My son really likes the Avent binky's. I like it as well because they have a cap you can put on it when he is not using it. Very handy!!! As far as the feeling of you next to him. My son is like that too. I got a blanket with the silk edges so he can snuggle with that against his face. It works great so far. Good luck!!!

Your son and my son sound exactly the same! We went through all the pacifiers as well. We even bought some off the internet that aren't sold in stores. He is 7 1/2 months now and still just chews on them. He thinks they are toys. I don't mean to sound negative, but it sounds like he just won't be a "binky baby." Does your son take a bottle? If not, then I definitely don't think he'll suck a pacifier. I just came to this realization recently myself. It stinks, but I guess it's a tradeoff because we're breastfeeding.

My son was the same way, he liked the soothies at first, but it got so as soon as I put them in his mouth he'd pop them right out. It seemed to help if I moved it around until he was actually sucking, but not much. I used cloth daipers as burp cloths, and I would always tuck one (clean) into my bra while he was nursing to keep myself dry. They would smell like me then, and I would roll one up and tuck it around the pacifier to keep it in, kinda under his head around the sides. It worked really well, and now he is attatched to the "rags" we call them. He sleeps with one every night still, even though he hasn't had a pacifier in years. Sounds strange, but since I have a bunch of them and wash them often it is really convenient, I never have to worry about losing his only lovey. His younger sister is also attached to them, she has to hold one to suck her thumb when she's tired. Good luck!

My daughter only liked the Nuk brand. The nipple curves up a slight bit...

I don't have much, but St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Charles, MO (I know you're in Kansas, but thought it would give you a place to start)give the newborns a pacifier that is all one piece & made out of silicone (such as a nipple for a bottle)& the "outer ring" is large enough it covers their entire upper and bottom lip with soft silicone. They are really a large ugly pacifier, but I could see where your baby would enjoy this type. Maybe you could check your area hospitals or see if St. Joseph's###-###-####) might send you one. It's far off, but worth a try.