My ped told me not to, but sucking is the only thing that seems to sooth her and I'm tired of breastfeeding all day. Is nipple confusion that much of an issue if you wait until breastfeeding is well established??

Yes, give that baby a pacifier! My baby had one at just 3-4 days and never had nipple confusion. You are correct, babies need to suck. It is one of their calming reflexes.

I don't think most babies get nipple confusion from a pacifier. They're not getting anything to eat from it, so there isn't much to be confused about. And if she has been nursing well for a while now, then I wouldn't worry.

I gave my ds a pacifier while we were still in the hospital after birth. He had no confusion and was a perfect breastfeeder for a year. He is now 13 months and still uses his pacifiler. It is a lifesaver for both of us!!!

Aren't there certain pacifiers that are supposed to be designed to prevent nipple confusion?

Unfortunately, she wouldn't take it when
I finally offered it ti her anyway. :(

I don't know that they always take it right away. Some of them have to learn to use it. I didn't want to use a pacifier with my little girl. But, I brought them to the hospital with me just in case. My daughter kept fussing and being swaddled didn't do it. A nurse then asked me if I had a pacifier. I said I did, but that she didn't like it. The nurse said that they have to learn how to use it and she put in my daughter's mouth and held it there gently while my daughter sucked away on it. From then on my daughter was addicted to the thing. My son, however, is much better with it. He likes it but he's not addicted. It soothes him sometimes when he's a bit edgy, but he never seems to be upset just because he doesn't have it. So anyway, you might have to give it to your baby more than once or twice.

Aren't there certain pacifiers that are supposed to be designed to prevent nipple confusion?

My DS was a preemie (born at 24 weeks) and he had to use a pacifier to learn how to suck, so that he could then learn to take breast or bottle. The NICU gave him a green pacifier, with a pretty long, straight nipple. When he finally got to come home, and we went to our first peds appointment, the doctor was thrilled to see us using that pacifier with him. She said it was better than even the orthodontic pacifiers. I have seen them at Target, but I'm sorry I can't remember their name!

Hi! At Target, try the soothies. They are the green ones that LisaFaith is talking about and work great for those babies (like mine) that love to suck. My daughter will only take the soothies and won't touch the orthodontia ones. It causes NO problems with the breastfeeding. :D Good luck!

Pacifiers should be called lifesavers!! (somedays) Both my babes used pacifiers they both prefered the ortho ones over the soothies. When my daughter turned a year I threw out all her pacies and that was the end of it. Now with ds he isn't as attached so he may not want it as long???? I don't know but I am bf with him and he has had the paci since about 2 days old. No interuptions at all. Ds kept spitting it out at first all the time but he soon figured it out and it helps when needed. He too would be attached to me all night and day if he had it his way. Good luck.

Sava

i found the orthodontic sloped ones were the best ones ds found it easier to keep in his mouth:)

Thanks everyone, it was very helpful.