Thank you ladies and gent. Apologies to Fuschia if the OP is confusing. The baby is doing well in breastfeeding and in taking the bottle. We are not falling out over this.:)) Mummy is ok with me using the dummy out and about in short bursts but am stepping back from this now. As some have said it is a useful tool as long as it does not get reliant upon and i would not want this either, but i am looking out for mummy too. It is a tricky subject and with friends and family it has mixed views as on here. Using my little finger has been useful but almost impossible when in transit and when the babe is screaming her head off (and you cant sterilise your finger right?) I have found this subject to be full of confliction and vanity. One friend in the park shouted to her partner "quick hide the dummy". Well, ffs, let mummy be the dummy......for now..