convince baby to take pacifier?

My 5 week old son has times when he clearly wants to suck, but doesn't want
to eat, especially after a nursing session in the middle of the night. I'd
really like him to take a pacifier (the only way a finger works is at a
certain angle, and it can be uncomfortable for me after a short while), but
he won't--he'll suck on the side of his or my hand before he'll suck on a
pacifier (and that won't keep him contented).

I am convinced that he'd be happier and would settle quicker at night if
he'd take a pacifier, but I don't know how to persuade him to take one.
I've tried a few times recently, and last night he actually sucked on it
for a minute before thrusting it out with his tongue. Could it maybe be a
matter of offering the paci repeatedly until he learns to like it? Do
pacifiers come in different sizes--might one with a bigger nipple be more
appealing to him? Any thoughts?

BTW, we haven't tried to give him a bottle yet, though he'll start daycare
in 3 weeks. Should I start trying that now?

--
z e l d a b e e @ p a n i x . c o m http://NewsReader.Com/

zeldabee wrote:

I am convinced that he'd be happier and would settle quicker at night if
he'd take a pacifier, but I don't know how to persuade him to take one.
I've tried a few times recently, and last night he actually sucked on it
for a minute before thrusting it out with his tongue. Could it maybe be a
matter of offering the paci repeatedly until he learns to like it? Do
pacifiers come in different sizes--might one with a bigger nipple be more
appealing to him? Any thoughts?

Avent has 0-3, 3-6, and 6+ month pacifiers. DD liked the 3-6 month
ones (and still uses one at night at 2.5 years). She was similar in that
she wanted to suck, but didn't want milk. We just persevered with
the pacifier until she got good at it. Sometimes she'd spit it out, but
I think that was more of an accident than a refusal.

BTW, we haven't tried to give him a bottle yet, though he'll start daycare
in 3 weeks. Should I start trying that now?

I would. As long as nursing is going well, have someone else offer the
bottle (hopefully with you out of the house). Do it 3-4 times a week
until he starts daycare, but watch for nipple confusion. It may
take some trial, error and patience with the bottle too.

Mary

"zeldabee" wrote in message
...
I am convinced that he'd be happier and would settle quicker at night if
he'd take a pacifier, but I don't know how to persuade him to take one.
I've tried a few times recently, and last night he actually sucked on it
for a minute before thrusting it out with his tongue. Could it maybe be a
matter of offering the paci repeatedly until he learns to like it? Do
pacifiers come in different sizes--might one with a bigger nipple be more
appealing to him? Any thoughts?

I just kept offering DS the pacifier until he finally figured it out. I
think initially, they just don't know how to keep it in. The pacifiers do
come in different sizes for different ages. Your son is rather young and
would probably do well with the smaller one. I like the Avent ones because
of the cap on the nipple that keeps it clean.