baby soothing ideas

[famofsix]

I am looking for ideas on how to soothe a 2.5 month old that is used to sucking on mom's finger as a soother in between feedings. Baby takes a bottle or the breast for feeding but is not interested in pacifers.

I will be caring for him a couple days a week but I don't really want to stick my finger in his mouth

 

[Captain_Hook]

I am presuming that this is someone else's child -- not yours that you are trying to break of a habit.....

If that is the case, I would ask the mom if there is another caregiver (spouse/significant other) who can try to give the baby a pacifier. When I was breastfeeding (particularly early on), my son would spit out a pacifier any time I gave him one. He would, however, take a paci from DH.

You may find that you will not have a problem at all -- it may just be a mom-thing!

Good luck to you!

 

[brymolmom]

I think that if fingers do the trick for this infant - when mom isn't around he/she will find his/her own fingers work too. DS never liked his paci - but got one sometimes (he was in special care at birth and they start them in there). By the time he was 3 mos old he was taking out the paci and putting in his own thumb.

 

[disneybridetobe]

My DD stopped taking a paci around 2-2.5 months. Luckily, she didn't substitute anything else. Does the little one *need* something to soothe him?

 

[famofsix]

My DD stopped taking a paci around 2-2.5 months. Luckily, she didn't substitute anything else. Does the little one *need* something to soothe him?

I don't think he needs something in his mouth particularily but anytime he fusses mom or dad give him a finger But as previous posters said it may be a parental thing or he might outgrow it. I didn't even think about that he might suck his own finger by the time he comes to me in about 4 weeks. Right now, I take care of him when mom needs to run errands or has a mini work meeting (she is transitioning back to work). We are friends so he is here often with mom and he is always soothed with her finger that's what got me thinking!

I've cared for my own kids of course at his age but he will be the first daycare infant I have taken this small so I am just trying to think of other ideas

He does like to be held and patted on his back. He is a smiling little cutie when he is not fussy.

Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[disneymarie]

A soothing tip to help them forget about the finger, try placing the car seat on the dryer. I had a real cranky BF baby and would not take a paci. Every few weeks she seemed to have colic spells needing a deverson, a new room, open the curtain, or place her on the dryer and keep washing and drying things. It helped until she got out of that stage.
di