The dummy debate has been reignited after a study by BioMed Central journal showed almost one in four first-time mothers were advised by a midwife to give their newborn a dummy.
Another 28% were told to use a pacifier by their mother or mother-in-law.
The findings go against NSW hospital policy, which says nurses should discourage mothers from using a dummy.
"We recommend waiting until a breastfeeding infant is at least three weeks old before using a pacifier," a South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service spokeswoman told The Sunday Telegraph.
"It is important for the newborn to feed on demand and for the mother to increase her milk supply to meet the baby's nutritional needs."
The BioMed study is released as another study of 670 first-time mothers by Flinders University and the University of Queensland found 95% who gave their under-four-weeks baby a dummy stopped breastfeeding, compared with mums who didn't use one.
Midwife and Baby Love author Robin Barker told the Sunday Telegraph that infants who were given a dummy before breastfeeding was established would have a hard time learning to feed properly. She said parents should avoid them if possible.
"Some babies are difficult to get on the breast, and if you rush in with a dummy, you may find they won't ever take to the breast because it is a different sucking action that is a bit harder," she said.
While registered nurse and author Jo Ryan said babies didn't suffer from "nipple confusion" and she believed dummies could be useful.
"Dummies can help in the early days, but they can turn into your worst nightmare at around six months when it starts falling out and the child is too young to put it back in."
The debate continues....
Have you used a dummy? What was your experience?
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