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Child Is Restless, Does Comfort Feeding. Can We Use A Pacifier?

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Posted on Sat, 21 Jul 2012
Question: My daughter is 13 days old and is restless and does a lot of comfort feeding.We are scared that in the process she would be over fed...
So my question is can we use a pacifier? may only when she is too restless?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hema Yadav (8 hours later)
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Breastfed babies can be nursed when fussy to provide them with comfort. Nursing releases hormones in the mother and baby that help both to calm down, providing a quiet time to bond. Breastfed babies can be nursed even if they are not hungry, without fear of overfeeding. It is not possible to overfeed a nursing baby, and babies nursing for comfort will naturally receive less milk than babies nursing due to hunger, as they suckle lighter and tend to drift off to sleep.
Pacifiers have to be used in case of bottlefed babies and have to be maintained with hygienic precautions.
So the answer to your query would be , yes you can use pacifier however it's best to allow natural breastfeeding and comfort feeding.
Hope I have answered your query.
Kindly accept my answer if you have no further queries.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Hema Yadav

Pediatrician, Infectious Diseases

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 1528 Questions

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Child Is Restless, Does Comfort Feeding. Can We Use A Pacifier?

Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Breastfed babies can be nursed when fussy to provide them with comfort. Nursing releases hormones in the mother and baby that help both to calm down, providing a quiet time to bond. Breastfed babies can be nursed even if they are not hungry, without fear of overfeeding. It is not possible to overfeed a nursing baby, and babies nursing for comfort will naturally receive less milk than babies nursing due to hunger, as they suckle lighter and tend to drift off to sleep.
Pacifiers have to be used in case of bottlefed babies and have to be maintained with hygienic precautions.
So the answer to your query would be , yes you can use pacifier however it's best to allow natural breastfeeding and comfort feeding.
Hope I have answered your query.
Kindly accept my answer if you have no further queries.
Regards