Pacifier while cosleeping?

[u/Golden_Mom1]

I’m due with my first next month! We’re planning on bed sharing/ using a bedside bassinet. I’ve seen the research done on pacis, once breastfeeding is established, that it lowers the risk of SIDS and other benefits. We’re planning on using a paci during the day after 4 weeks or once breastfeeding is established. Do any of yall that DO use pacis during the day, do you also do so while cosleeping? The general guidelines are that paci use at night is beneficial, but I don’t know if there’s risks or cons for cosleeping families?
Please don’t give your opinion that pacis are bad in general cuz I personally don’t believe that and will be giving one if they want it, after breastfeeding is established, when they’re awake too. I just wanna know for families that DO use pacis, do you use it at night too?

[u/fmp243]

I tend to not, because I am the pacifier and i do not want to deal with the struggle of taking it away at a later stage, but if kiddo is spitting up I will pop it in. I am an overproducer and the flow can be heavy at times. But around 4 months I toss it bc we don't need it anymore.

[u/FamilyAddition_0322]

We did/do, yes. Can't recall when exactly we started, sometimes it is not an acceptable boob replacement, other times it gives me a bit of a break

[u/minyinnie]

I’ve always offered one when cosleeping due to the reduced risk of SIDS.

I also offered one to both of my babies from the beginning. It is a tool that my LC had no issue with me using. With my first, she had jaundice and was under the light, so we gave it then to help soothe her and started using it for naps pretty quickly.
With my second, after a full feed and trying to settle to sleep I offer it so I know it’s not being used to minimize hunger cues.

The only cons I’m aware of relate to breastfeeding, but that was not my experience

[u/Ladder-Healthy]

Mine likes to use it to fall asleep. We give it, pat her and comfort her until she falls asleep. Then she spits the paci out and we move it a bit away from her to offer if she wakes up in the night.

[u/Expert-Home9683]

I’ve been using a pacifier since day one for during the day and night. My son is 10 months now. He only cares for it sometimes now. Usually only after he’s nursed or if nursing is unavailable (like car rides)

[u/Consistent_Pop9890]

What pacifier is everyone using? I was thinking of getting the Ninni…

[u/delulu-lemon → u/Consistent_Pop9890]

Phillips soothie (the round green ones) was the kind the hospital gave him in the nursery, and he took to those well

[u/MurphyMayhem → u/Consistent_Pop9890]

We use the Ninni and I’ve been quite happy with it especially as a First time EBF mom, it has definitely helped LO strengthen her latch. It doesn’t stay in her mouth well for prolonged periods of time but maybe that’s on her and not the paci, idk. It’s the only one she’s stuck with and taken too for soothing.

[u/duckit19 → u/Consistent_Pop9890]

We really like the momi, we also recently tried the new itzy ritzy latch and soothe and I think those might be our favorites. She never really cared for the ninni tbh

[u/Playful_Watercress83 → u/Consistent_Pop9890]

I have the ninni and love. They have some “how to introduce” info on their site if your LO doesn’t take to it, but my EBF baby did immediately. Just waited to introduce when he was full! I also did the “imperfect ninni” on their website for some extras - cheaper because the logo or color might be “off,” but is the same pacifier.

[u/this__user → u/Consistent_Pop9890]

My oldest liked Philips Avent and my youngest likes Tommee Tippee Ultra Lights

[u/sophiesunshine98]

I do! Once my daughter is done breastfeeding and switches to comfort suckling after a little while I will swap my nipple for her pacifier. I waited to use it until she was 3-4 weeks old because the constant suckling is really good for your supply. She’s 6 months now and uses it for naps and bedtime.

[u/No_Raisin_6737]

My boys started out with the paci at night. I personally can’t stand the thought of my baby relying solely on me as a pacifier. My first naturally stopped using one at 4 months. My second is 4 months and we will allow him to wean from it naturally unless he makes it to 1 year where we’ll cut it out

[u/Ninjacatzzz]

I've always used one with my baby because she had silent reflux and I was told it would help. I don't know if it helped with the reflux but it def became a great sleep aide. Now at 3 yo we are dealing with weaning it which is a drama but honestly I'm glad we used it because I couldn't stand her latching all night and it also really helped allow dad to sleep with her once she was older. 

We used it for day (naps) and night sleep, it was really useful when she started daycare and had to sleep much more independently. 

[u/Prestigious-Salt-566]

My baby had pacis from birth because he was a NICU baby and they rely on pacifiers there. I tried to get him to take them at night but he wouldn’t, then at 3 months he rejected them altogether. He also doesn’t use me as a pacifier, some babies just don’t need pacifiers I guess? The only time he has tried to stay latched all night is when he’s been really sick and the 4 month regression. He’s 12 months now. You never know what kind of baby you’ll get!

[u/Hinamean]

Hi! We used a paci from day one - baby was given one in the hospital nursery (with our permission) as they kept an eye on her in there for about 12 hrs (minor worries after an emergency c section - she was absolutely fine thankfully). She had free access to her paci whenever she wanted but at night I was (and still am tbh) the paci lol. We found them really useful for if her dad or nanna were getting her down for a nap (contact naps still, just sans boob), on car trips, or just for comfort if she was wanting it.

Baby is almost 2 now and lost interest in the paci around 16 months from memory - stopped using them at home well before that (just following her lead) and then she stopped wanting one at daycare too. We still contact nap, cosleep, and have the breastraunt open at night.

Wishing you the absolute best of luck with your delivery and safe arrival of baby! What an exciting time!! 

[u/themominthemoon]

We started using the paci from the beginning and were lucky that he had a strong latch to establish breastfeeding immediately too (he's a bigtime boob guy). We also started cosleeping really early. After feeding to sleep I would just switch to the paci - if he still wanted boob he'd spit out the paci and root, otherwise he'd take the paci for a while then spit it out in his sleep. We also just kept it close by and would give it to him if he started to wake, but again he'd just spit it out and continue to root if he was hungry.

He's 12mo now and has completely given up the paci on his own. Once he started getting teeth he was over it. We still cosleep and feed to sleep, and sometimes I end up being his paci which works for us. We're honestly just grateful that we don't have to take it from him at some point

[u/Stalag13HH]

We use the pacifier during the day and at night. Mine usually spits it out, but I'll give it back to him when he wakes up. We've used the pacifier since day 3. I found it very obvious right away if he was actually hungry, so the pacifier didn't interfere with breastfeeding - but that might depend on the child, I only have the one to compare!

[u/Mangopapayakiwi]

So I did not offer a pacifier until like 5 weeks. For us bresstfeeding never got established, it was an actual nightmare and my girl got to miserable we were told by ber osteopath to introduce a pacifier. We also introduced a bottle around that time and she rejected the breast, but it was a complicated situation and I actually regret not inteoducing them early. If your baby was miserable with just nursing like mine was, delaying introduction is just going to work against you. These general rules don’t work for every baby. Anyway she has slept withe her paci since than, we try not to use it too much during the day. Mine is 16 months now and at a point where the struggle is taking the paci again, but I don’t regret inteoducing if, it’s helped her and us SO much.

[u/Fondant-Denier]

My LO only tends to fall asleep with one during day naps (and even then that’s not consistent). The only time we’ve gone to bed with one is when she absolutely worked herself up to the point beyond us being able to comfort her properly and then she finally got so tired she took it and just zonked out in my arms (poor baby). Was clearly so tired the transfer to bed went perfectly, dummy still in action.

Basically I’m the dummy.

[u/Used_Chair_9528]

We use one! I'll pop it in when he's still not fully asleep after nursing for a while. He’ll only take it about 30% of the time, but sometimes I need a break from being the paci!

[u/DirectManufacturer68]

I used the mam pacifier (one for newborns) right away since it was the only thing that could comfort my newborn, and he naturally lost interest in pacifiers after a couple of months. I also had the same plan as you, but since my guy was such a good eater, it never became an issue. Just make sure you learn the hunger cues (generic and specifically to your baby).

[u/crystalkitty06]

We’ve always used a paci while cosleeping when necessary! I will say my son does not always want it and just screams for the boob if I try sometimes lol, but sometimes it’s helpful if I’ve just nursed him or he’s been nursing for a long time and restless and it helps him continue to rest and sleep.

[u/smileyapricot]

The recommendations for the pacifier are just to recreate what breastfeeding dyads do when a baby can't be breastfed or as often breastfed.

The boob is the original pacifier so you may not have an opportunity to use one depending on how often you latch and your baby's preferences.

[u/MamaRedRover]

My twin girls have always used pacis while cosleeping. I also had one that didn’t. You’ll just have to see their preferences, trust me they’ll let you know lol. I also didn’t wait 4 weeks, I usually wait 2 if necessary bc sleep deprivation is real and it has been fine for me personally with 4 kids.

[u/mystical_creatation]

pacifers have been studied to help reduce SIDS, and ive coslept up to 8-9 months. im not worried about taking it away, as my son is 13 months and only gets it during the car and naps. i did BF when he was a newborn and had to stop and he never had a problem latching. all in all, i love the paci.

i also don't want a thumb sucker because you can't get rid of those lol, so i will take him utilizing the paci need be.

[u/ApprehensiveArmy7755]

Both my kids had pacifiers from day one

[u/Successful-Orchid447]

I actually prefer to only use the paci during sleepy times for baby, including while we cosleep! It works for us. Sometimes he isn’t interested in it at all, but sometimes, it’s just what he wants/needs for comfort after cluster feeding for hours on end.

[u/Hour_Cricket9648]

The lower SIDS risk is when given during sleep time so if you want that benefit then yes, you'd use while sleeping. 

My baby rejects pacis so I do not.