It was love at first site. A match made in heaven. The forming of an inseparable pair. The creation of a deeply bonded couple. It was magical. Jade and her "Sucy"; a love story.
I fought it. I swear I did. In the name of "nipple confusion" and all the rest...but bottom line, when you're red and raw and your inconsolable kid has colic and they've been screaming for 10 days straight (that means they break only to sleep. Maybe.) and the pediatrician pats you on the head and assures you it should pass in about 12 weeks (and you manage to avoid incarceration by NOT cramming his stethascope anywhere ungodly) you buy a freaking pacifier. You do. Judge me I dare you.
I won't pretend all our problems went away after that...but it made it a heck of a lot easier. And it gave us options. It meant Daddy (who's, alas, still boobless though I still pray every night...) could sooth her while Mommy tries to sleep off some of her infanticidal tendencies. And as she started coming out of her colic it even meant we could go places where there was a chance of encountering other human beings. We even made it out to a restaurant once (I remember those...) because the Sucy kept my gassy lassy in dreamland through all of dinner. (I'm convinced they mix some kind of heavy sedative into the silicone when they're making those things and thank God.) And with the sucy comes all the sucy rituals: like the ceremonial "passing of the sucy". When the sucy is passed from one parent to the next it symbolizes the transition of responsibility and communicates "my shift is over and this child is now your problem for the next hour or until otherwise hungry...". That and the golden rule for whoever asks to hold her. It's not "don't drop her" not " watch her head " or "wash your hands". Its "don't loose the sucy". Lest you scramble and grovel like peasants before the titanic wrath of the newly-born. I seriously get pissed when people hand her back to me and when I ask where her soother is they shrug and say "oh I don't know. somewhere". If you don't know then you don't get it. You get one chance and then you're banned from baby-holding. Ya I'm hardcore.
The one hitch is you do have to be sure your kid isn't actually sucking from hunger but I find when mine is actually hungry (she's no fool) she spits out the sucy with howls of indignation and lets the world know she's been deceptively wronged. I'm also careful to take the time for lots of cuddles if she's fussing even with the soother as it shouldn't be a substitute for Mommy's comfort and attention (Just her boobies.) And it gives her something to suck on thats not in danger of bleeding, chafing, swelling, falling off or having a mental breakdown.
I fought it. I swear I did. In the name of "nipple confusion" and all the rest...but bottom line, when you're red and raw and your inconsolable kid has colic and they've been screaming for 10 days straight (that means they break only to sleep. Maybe.) and the pediatrician pats you on the head and assures you it should pass in about 12 weeks (and you manage to avoid incarceration by NOT cramming his stethascope anywhere ungodly) you buy a freaking pacifier. You do. Judge me I dare you.
I won't pretend all our problems went away after that...but it made it a heck of a lot easier. And it gave us options. It meant Daddy (who's, alas, still boobless though I still pray every night...) could sooth her while Mommy tries to sleep off some of her infanticidal tendencies. And as she started coming out of her colic it even meant we could go places where there was a chance of encountering other human beings. We even made it out to a restaurant once (I remember those...) because the Sucy kept my gassy lassy in dreamland through all of dinner. (I'm convinced they mix some kind of heavy sedative into the silicone when they're making those things and thank God.) And with the sucy comes all the sucy rituals: like the ceremonial "passing of the sucy". When the sucy is passed from one parent to the next it symbolizes the transition of responsibility and communicates "my shift is over and this child is now your problem for the next hour or until otherwise hungry...". That and the golden rule for whoever asks to hold her. It's not "don't drop her" not " watch her head " or "wash your hands". Its "don't loose the sucy". Lest you scramble and grovel like peasants before the titanic wrath of the newly-born. I seriously get pissed when people hand her back to me and when I ask where her soother is they shrug and say "oh I don't know. somewhere". If you don't know then you don't get it. You get one chance and then you're banned from baby-holding. Ya I'm hardcore.
The one hitch is you do have to be sure your kid isn't actually sucking from hunger but I find when mine is actually hungry (she's no fool) she spits out the sucy with howls of indignation and lets the world know she's been deceptively wronged. I'm also careful to take the time for lots of cuddles if she's fussing even with the soother as it shouldn't be a substitute for Mommy's comfort and attention (Just her boobies.) And it gives her something to suck on thats not in danger of bleeding, chafing, swelling, falling off or having a mental breakdown.
How that one peice of silicone instantly rights all the wrongs in her universe I will never understand but like my mother, I've always believed that if you find something that really works...buy twenty. My condo is only 800 square feet. I have one near the couch, two in the kitchen drawers one in the washroom vanity one by her crib one on her change table three in her diaper bag and one in the car. My best friend has one in her purse at all times as do my parents and I'm seriously considering asking Loblaws if they'd mind me leaving one at the cash...just in case.
I'm sure ill pay for the oral fixation I've created one day...but I figure anything learned can be unlearned eventually and if it increases the likelihood of everyone making it to her toddler years so be it. Until then: long live the sussey and the critics can kiss my finally-feeling-something-resembling-well-rested backside. (or babysit)
Oh, my poor Misha! I am laughing my tail off and crying at the same time! I hope, I truly hope and pray it isn't as BAD as the post, but just emphasized to make it hilariously funny! And BTW, don't worry too much about the fixation. My daughter sucked her thumb 'til she was in kindergarten...she got over it, and didn't screw up her teeth, either. LOVE reading your posts, Misha, and pray you're having loads of fun, too.
ReplyDeleteMisha, do you know they make these wonderful tether's so you can ATTACH the susy to you're baby? They are wonderful. Especially when you are in the car and baby spits out the susy and it makes it's way between them and the car seat. It's saved many a life for me by not trying to find it blindly while driving. :)
ReplyDeleteMisha your posts are so fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI used my suse until I was four and my aunt threw it out. I am not sure I ever forgave her, but otherwise I don't think it stunted me.