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Early dummy reduces chance of breastfeeding success
7 March 2003
Early dummy use reduces a newborn baby’s chance of successful breastfeeding, US researchers confirm.
The researchers found that using a dummy in the first 4 weeks of life lessened the chance of exclusive breastfeeding at one month, and overall breastfeeding duration (Pediatrics 2003; 111: 511-18).
They therefore recommended that dummies be avoided until 4 weeks after birth, when breastfeeding is more likely to be established.
This way infants are more likely to avoid ‘nipple confusion’ or problems with breastfeeding thought to arise from the mechanical differences in suckling at the breast or the dummy.
