Pacifer

Babies are born to suck; not in the non-affirming life way; but the Merriam-Webster definition:

1 a: to draw (as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue 
b: to draw something from or consume by such movements
c: to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid

2 a: to draw by or as if by suction   
b: to take in and consume by or as if by suction 

Even when not eating ie: sucking down milk, babies like to suck for comfort. As a nursing mother, I've spent countless hours at the mercy of  my baby and with his mouth tightly wrapped around me barely moving his mouth. He's not drinking, he's just pacifying himself. AND he won't let go!

Plastic pacifiers are sold to tired and sore mothers around the world.  Many decry the plastic pacifer. Citing it causes nipple confusion for nursing babies. (Dr. Sears re: pacifers)  But yet to get some relieve, I was a sucker and bought a Paci. I was hesitant at first to offer it to Critter for the very reason of nipple confusion. At about 6 weeks old, Critter took/sucked on it for all but 20 seconds before spitting it out of his mouth. And to this day won't take a pacifier. You can't fool him. It ain't the real thing! 

Can you count to 20?

Spit! And by the look on his face "Mommy, you better not give that to me ever again, you hear!"

He's not a fussy baby and doesn't cry unless he's really really hungry and at that point the milkman woman better be ready! After he's had his milk meal, he'll pacify till he's asleep. Most times I don't mind being a human pacifer. I get to nuzzle with my baby and reflect on what a special time in my life this is.