Who's the dummy?

Are using pacifers (dummies, soothers, whatever) still politically-correct parenting? Neither Chris nor I want to see Madeline addicted to one, but he's more of a firm "never" and I'm a "in exceptional circumstances" person when it comes to offering one to Madeline. She made it to six weeks without her little mouth being invaded by a piece of moulded silicone, and even if my mental health hinged on her comfort-sucking on something other than my body, I still felt a little guilty about holding the pacifer up to her mouth and watching her try to figure out what to do with it. I'm not sure if I shoud feel guilty - she was so overtired that day - she'd maybe had ten hours of sleep out of the last 28, and pretty inconsolable! But it was really hard to tell Chris what I'd done. Five days later I still can't tell whether he's angry that I did that ...

Side-note: It was so amusing to watch Madeline with the pacifer. At first she's only lick it, and her little tongue would push it out (of course, because nursing is a different action that merely sucking). After ten minutes with it, she popped it out, and she gave me the biggest eyes I've seen - they seemed to say "What on EARTH was that???"

Comments

[Candi]

Sounds like she is telling you she agrees with her daddy! lol
All my kids have had pacifiers...that is a tough decision :)

[ani]

Although my husband I don't have kids we seem to always end up talking about it. I say no to them because I don't want them to be addicted to them, while my husband does not see a problem with it. I just worry it would take a lot when we have to separate the binky from the baby one day. Good luck to you.

[Jaime]

It is a tough decision. Nikyla never took one, we tried and she spit it out too. She uses her fingers to soothe her to sleep. I think sometimes babies need a soothing action, maybe just offering at night time and nap time. I think it is a comfort thing and the sucking seems to settle babies, wether it be fingers or a soother. I am not against it or for it, but I only offered it to her when she was trying to sleep. Good luck!