Soothing

Call the surgery center or hospital and ask what the procedures are for infant surgeries at thier facility. They may not even allow binkies due to sterility requirements. See what they reccomend and what they do to calm baby (and mother) for the surgery.

when my little one had surgery, they came for her in a little red wagon full of fluffy blankets and we brought a big fluffy teddy. They gave her a little cup of some sleepy medicine. I sang to her while it took effect. The last thing she knew was soft fluffy comforting and mamma singing. They brought me in the room before she woke up, so, she woke up to soft cuddly comfy and mamma smiling.

My daughter had her first surgery at 9 months. We always brought along her favorite blanket and a stuffed bear that did a heartbeat or played soothing classical music. These were items that she had with her every night so they were familiar to her even though she was in a strange place with strange circumstances. Holding and rocking her also ended up being great soothers, especially when combined with the blankie and music.

Hugs to you. I know it's hard.

If he doesnt use a pacifier I wouldnt start now, those are HARD to break if they are habit forming. Maybe get a soft blanky or a snuggly animal? something that he can rub or just hold against his face. You can start that by when you are holding him to stroke his face or arms with the soft blanket. Or be prepared for you to be the soothy.

What about a wooby/lovey instead? A stuffed animal? A blanket to hug?

Aw, it is always sad to hear that a baby is having surgery =(

Have you tried different pacifiers? My sister's baby would not take a certain kind, so she had to experiment with different ones. My baby likes the infant one, even though he is 9 months!

Test them out and see if he takes different ones.

when my 4 month old was in the hospital and the staff tried to get an iv line in her, they had something called "sooth-eaze"-it was pretty much super sugary water- i out it on her paci and she barely minded the pain from the iv sticks. (sugar has been proven to act as an analgesic) so.... i would say load up the paci with some very sweet sugar water, he might take to it then

At this point if he hasn't taken to a pacifier he won't now, and you should be happy, you won't have to wean him from it! ; )

But I know you are very concerned about him and I want to reassure you that if he has a special lovey he already uses, a stuffed animal or blanket, you can send that with him and he should be OK. My sister was quite young when she had surgery for the first time, and she had a clown she took in with her which calmed her down.

I hope all goes well with his surgery<3