Angela, I find it interesting that you and your husband each sucked a thumb until age 9+ since my particular interest is normal nursing/weaning patterns.
I've offered a monthly discussion group for mothers nursing longterm since January 1993. Since we do not have the library of scientific date on the effects pacifiers longterm that we have for the first year, I offer some observations from mothers I've observed over time.
I have yet to see a child nurse past the fourth birthday with pacifiers or thumbsucking in the picture. I do see children nursing past the 4th, 5th, and sometimes 9th birthdays when mothers are open to a continuing relationship. Mothers have often commented to me they felt a pacifier played a role in a child's view of the breast as a source of nourishment but not a source of
comfort.
Mothers and children lead weaning in different ways and I feel it is my responsibility to offer information to mothers who wish to better understand and guide their own nursing relationships. Yes, "there are MUCH worse choices
that parents can make" but that doesn't mean we should mis-represent the potential impact of pacifiers with so much data available. It is one thing for a mother to make an informed decision to use a pacifier, it is quite another for lactation professionals to fail to inform mothers of potential risks. Many mothers have little interest in pacifiers, some only pick them up because they think pacifiers are a normal part of babyhood. A mother joked to me the other day that dummies are "issued in hospitals with babies."
There's no getting around the fact that pacifiers are not the biological norm. My understanding from anthropology circles is that thumbsucking is not a normal practice in cultures where breastfeeding cotinues uninterrupted. Many of us have personal experiences that include detours we would not classify as normal or helpful to breastfeeding. Hopefully these experiences allow us to be compassionate
caregivers as we offer research-based support.
My goal in supporting breastfeeding relationships is to offer as much information about the biology and practice of breastfeeding as possible. My success can't be measure in months or years of breastfeeding but I hope it is found in each woman's personal satisfaction with her choices. This can't be measure either, but it remains my goal.
And like Dawn (who kids she doesn't know what she did "differently" to produce "different" kids) I sometimes think the more I experience, the less I know! We are still fishing, all of us.
Susan Johnson MFA, IBCLC
Salt Lake City USA
Thuwal KSA
--------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:36:08 -0800
From: Ingrid Tilstra <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Long Live the BINKY
As
LCs, we're responsible for providing moms with research-based
information. There are many causes for concern about pacifiers, from
increased ear infections, thrush, etc., to risk of premature weaning.
Our personal experience is irrelevant in passing on this information.
There
are other ways to deal with crying babies - using a sling comes to mind
- that do not pose a risk to breastfeeding and parents can be made
aware of these options. If parents choose to use pacifiers and other
gadgets that do pose a risk to breastfeeding (and attachment) that is
certainly their right; it is our responsibility to give them
information, what they do with it is up to them.
In any way
encouraging someone to do something we did just because in our case it
didn't seem to cause any problems is way crossing the line.
Ingrid
LLLL, IBCLC
British Columbia
Canada
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of A Gentle Start
Sent: December 11, 2009 7:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Long Live the BINKY
I
am prepared to dodge any flames that are thrown at me for this, but...
I am and IBCLC, and I have 4 kids. They ALL either used a paci or
sucked their fingers or thumbs. My husband and I both sucked our thumbs
until we were 9+ years of age. All 4 of my kids breastfed for 1 1/2 -
2 1/2 years. I hate pacifier bashing. Yes they can be over-used, and
yes they can cause problems with oral development (tho not in my
case... they actually helped). Being a mom who suffered from
significant PPMD's I could have potentially caused myself or my child
harm if pacifiers didn't exist. I am a much calmer mommy when my
daughter is sucking happily on her binky instead of screaming. They
are a parenting choice - and believe me, there are MUCH worse choices
that parents can make. Long Live the BINKY!
Angela Leonard, IBCLC
West Chester PA******************************************
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