Comfort sucking or eating?

Question

My son is just over a month old. I can never tell if he is hungry or just wanting to suck. He has been very gassy lately and my LC told me that a gassy baby will want to suck to sooth themselves so I have tried a pacifier. Sometimes he will take it and be fine, which is great because I know that he just needed comforted but other times he will either take it and continue to fuss with it in his mouth or spit it out. Either way I offer him food (either from the breast or bottle). If I offer him milk he will ALWAYS take it, even if he just ate 3 oz an hour ago. So I guess my question is, do I continue to let him eat if he wants it even though I think there's no way he could be hungry, or is he just using any and everything to comfort himself?

Answer

I think if he takes a paci- great, if he spits it out offer the breast- no bottle.

Answer

Could be clusterfeeding which is normal. They start to eat very often or for long periods during growth spurts. 
Three ounces is a pretty substantial amount for a 4 weeker so I think if it’s only been an hour since he ate, try the pacifier first. If he spits it out, definitely feed him. Just be sure to pace feed anytime he gets a bottle.

Answer

Is it possible he doesn’t like that specific pacifier? My son is only three weeks but he does the same thing and wants to comfort suck a lot. I usually start with trying to feed him but if he only sucks a couple times then stops and sits with it in his mouth or if he sucks and let’s it all drip out of his mouth then I know for sure he’s not actually hungry. 
We have multiple pacifiers but there is only one he’ll actually take. It’s a different shape than the others and I think that’s why. When I try to use one of the others he’ll push it out and cry. So maybe try that? Or try dipping the paci in something to kinda trick him (if my little guy is extra fussy I’ll rinse the paci off and let him take it with the few water drops on it so he has something to suck on and calm down enough to actually take the pacifier. 
Otherwise, if he is actually eating I’d let him. Keep track of it if it seems like too much and then bring it up to the doctor and see what they think got sure though. My little guy will sometimes eat 5 ounces in two hours and then go 4 hours before wanting more, and his doctor isn’t concerned at all about it.

Answer

Focus more on latching. You can easily overfeed by bottle. At one month he could still be clusterfeeding which is good for boosting your supply if you're latching, so take advantage.
My daughter never like the paci and became a thumb sucker lol. She just turned one so I'll be looking for ways to break the habit soon

Answer

I was told that if they take the pacifier, it's just for comfort. If they refuse a pacifier, they're hungry.

Answer

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Comfort sucking or eating?

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