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We didn't do a pacifier with either child. DS is a thumb sucker and I wish we had though because I hate the thumb sucking! Dd refused anything in her mouth except a boob!

I was thinking of posting the same question earlier today. I didn't offer one to J until she was a few months old, and by that point, she wasn't into it. While there have been a few times when I wished I could have given her one, overall, I've been glad we haven't had to wean her from it or deal with it in general. I'm debating using one with number two for maybe just a few months? Not sure though... I'm interested to read the responses.

LO1 took a paci. We used it to help him sleep and to keep him from putting stuff he wasn't supposed to in his mouth. We actually just took them all away on Saturday (he's 2), and he's been doing great with out. Much less painful than we anticipated.

LO2 won't take one at all and I probably won't introduce one to her unless her sleep becomes just awful or something. It's kind of nice.

ETA: Now I just reread your question and it doesn't really apply to me! lol oops.

@lamariniere: They *do* have to work hard to keep them in their mouths! When E was in the Special Care nursery all week, our nurse gave us exercises to do with the pacifier to strengthen her mouth and suck reflex! Since she had trouble breathing, she wasn't using her mouth well.

E didn't breastfeed OR use her thumbs so she needed *something*!

good question!! LO1 never took one...or when she did, it was only for a little bit at a time and she never got attached, thankfully. It did come in handy some times, though. I'm really curious if we'll give in to giving LO2 one! I'd really rather not deal with the attachment issue.

LO1 didn't take one, and like others, I was glad to not have to worry about breaking the habit. We did offer one to LO2, and she will take one, but she's not an addict. We mostly just use it to help her fall asleep but she doesn't suck on it all night long. I was happy to have another tool to help soothe her.

LO1 took it occasionally in the beginning, but started to reject it pretty quickly (4 months). I plan to offer it to LO2 for sure, because if it can be helpful in soothing her I'm all over that.

@Radish: @LuLu Mom: I think I am going to try your approach and offer it early (as long as breastfeeding is going ok), and then hopefully stop offering it around 4-6 months.

DS was only into it for a few weeks before he started STTN, so we'll probably use it with LO#2 in the same capacity, if at all!

B took a pacifier (hardly - we had to force it) for about 5 months and his teeth came in straight. E took them (addicted, different brand though) for 5 months but we stopped giving it to her when we started sleep training. She didn't get her first tooth until 12 months so hers were fine too. N still takes the paci, only at night, but she's 6 months. Her teeth haven't come in yet but we'll probably stop soon! We need all the help we can get in the teeth department - DH's teeth still aren't straight, even after 3 years of Invisalign...and I also needed braces for 3 years.