Should I get her a soother? Please post your comments.

[Mama_2_Boy]

I never used one with my son. My daugher is just 12 days old but I am noticing she is really wanting to be on my breast ALOT. Ok that's fine, but i'm starting to get sore again after just getting over the initial sore nipples thing. It's also difficult to travel because she is wailing in the car seat and I feel so badly for her. She latches onto my knuckle right now. I would like to be able to offer her something for only 'certain' times. Like at night, she is in bed with us, and I nurse her and then she falls asleep with my boob in mouth and if I pull it away she fuses and then eventually wails and I go back to breast feeding and she just naws on my nipple. I'm getting really tired because I can not find a comfortable position to sleep in with her still latched on. The first days of her life, she was falling asleep quickly and I would be able to just inch her over a little and then lay on my back comfortably beside her.

Is it so bad to get her a soother for just part times, like the car and stuff? I normally don't like this instruments, but I'm also wanting to offer her something to...well...sooth.

[LianneM]

Hugs Mama. I know it's so hard in the beginning.

Honestly, I wouldn't do it this early. You need to be getting her latch right so you aren't sore. I think introducing artificial nipples will only cause you more soreness - it's often confusing to a baby to suck on different nipples, so concentrate on getting it right while nursing before letting her suck on something else. In a pinch, I'd let her suck on your pinky finger, like in the car or at night if she'll take it.

My son would have taken it if we'd given it to him (we did a few times early on, and stopped when I got a cracked nipple b/c his latch was getting messed up) but we avoided it. My daughter has a high sucking need and would fuss when there was milk, so we gave it to her starting at 6 weeks. Before then, I'd let her suck on my finger occasionally but I wanted to make sure her latch was strong before letting her suck on a pacifier.

HTH some

[Kelly1101]

I'd wait at least another couple weeks, if you can... just because of how doing it this early can interfere with nursing.

For your nipples, though, are you using Lanolin or something like that? I went through a bad period with my daughter where, like you said, she was gnawing on it and sucking all the time, and they got sore all over again. Going back on the lanolin helped so much.

If you really have to give her something, try to limit it as much as possible, only when it's REALLY needed.