Help! I've become a human dummy! Is it too late to give a dummy at 8 months?

[perchancetosleep]

help needed please... I'm b-feeding but my DS (8 m) is using me as a dummy through the night = me shattered. Some of this I think is teething but I also think it's habit. I hated dummies and said I wouldn't use them... when DS was born I started to think that they weren't such a bad thing but MIL made such a fuss I felt too guility to go ahead with one. (This is stupid I know because it's not her baby but it really got to me). Then when I had a try at about 3 or so months it was spat out with disgust
Now I'm thinking that it might a) help with my sleep B) his sleep c) and give my nipples a rest can anyone please advise on this because I'm thinking too that in a few months when I stop breastfeeding DS is going to get a major shock. I may have become a full time dummy and zombie by then(I'm already well on my way...) thanks

[Quootiepie]

can you slip out when he falls asleep? My DS falls asleep on me, and roll away and if he stirs, he now puts his fingers in his mouth and sucks them instead. When hes been biting me, ive given him a dummy, but, he wont take it.

[wishingchair]

Don't think 8 months is too late to give him a dummy although I'm guessing he's going to view it as a poor substitute for a lovely boob! Trouble is, even if he did take a dummy, you're only prolonging something you're going to have to deal with anyway, which is ultimately him not needing anything to passify him during the night.

You would have to take the dummy away, so why not just try to be firm now and not let him suckle all night long. You may have a few difficult nights but it'll be worth it in the long run. Plus then, as you say, when you stop b/f, you won't be taking away his milk source AND his comforter.

[perchancetosleep]

Yep wishingchair you're saying what i'm thinking... was just hopeful! Seeing friends with babies who don't look like a wreck like me (the mums I mean!) makes me feel a numbskull. You are right though... will only prolong things. Quootiepie that's not a bad idea about the biting/dummy thing. I'm afraid I shouted so loud when DS did it (with a special turning motion -oouch!) that he hasn't done it again. he did I'm afraid get very upset but it wasn't very nice for me either. Poor little thing wondered why I looked so shocked! I'm thinking maybe I won't afterall. The sleep deprivation makes you want to try anything! ta for your advice

[wishingchair]

Your friends might be hiding it well . You're not a numbskull, we've all been there with something or other. My advice is (and I have been there) work out your strategy, pick a time when you've got some support (maybe someone else can comfort him if he wakes at night and isn't hungry so he can't smell you and the milk etc) and then go for it. It might be hard but after a few difficult nights, it'll be so much better and you'll feel human again. I've got a friend who has had 2 dummy-fanatic sons and she picked a day to go cold turkey (about 18 months) and she said the 1st night was awful, 2nd night better, 3rd brilliant. Good luck!

[perchancetosleep]

You're a star wishingchair. Thanks for this. You are so very right. My DS is so used to me feeding him as a way to get him to sleep that he's hooked as as you say who can blame him. Me or a bit of latex! Should be flatterd really. But yes I do have to address this because it's not good for the soul feeling so out of it. thanks a million x