7 month old reliance on dummy

[Mummyrabbit]

My 7 month old has got accustomed to going to sleep using his dummy and now won't go to sleep at night without. This means that he now wakes up in the middle of the night expecting a dummy to put him back to sleep. I know it'll be tough to get him out of it - but any suggestions welcome!!

[serenity]

If you give it a little while, he'll learn how to find it and put back in himself. I do like a quiet life though so mine had them (for sleeping only!) until they were about 2. Not what you wanted to hear I know, but someone tougher will post soon

[anchovies]

We went cold turkey at this point - not sure if that's what you want to hear!

[KiwiKate]

I've heard it suggested that you could put something that does not taste too good on the dummy (might have to do this a few times) after which baby won't want it.

Or your could "lose" it and make a show of "looking" and saying "oh dear, can't find it" - and see how that works (might have to wait until he/she is a bit older for this)

My DS just went off his sleep-time dummy all by himself at around 7 months, but before that was finding the dummy himself and putting it back in at night.

I agree with Serenity. Do what works for you. If having the dummy freaks you out then try and ditch it. If it helps and makes life easier, then press on. Some people tie the dummy to their child's clothing. This is not recommended - especially at night, as the child can get tangled in the cord and choke!

Good luck

[frogs]

Cold turkey. 2 nights of hell and it'll all be over.

You can make it easier by giving him a particular cuddly toy or blanket to cuddle at bedtime and bottle time for a week or so before removing the dummy. This may ease the pain for him when the dummy goes (worked for us, anyhow).

[Sponge]

My ds (10 months) can put his back in and has been able to for a while so you might not have long to wait for this.
We did the bad tasting stuff on the dummy for dd but when she was quite a bit older. I wouldn't do that to a 7 month old.
So I think your choices are either wait unitl he can put it back or take it away and put up with a couple of nights of hell. Sorry.

[OldieMum]

Why put a few more dummies around the cot, so he/she can find one easily?

[OldieMum]

Why not put them ...? Sorry!

[matnanplus]

If your 'cool' with him having a dummy there is a wristband and dummy 'thing' on ebay.com in the US.

otherwise, introduce a comfort toy and after a few days ditch the dummy and in a few nights peace should rain.

[winniebago]

Mummyrabbit (20June 05).....what did you do and did it work? Am in the same situation and shattered!!!!

[mummynobones]

I agree with frogs and anchovies. Cold turkey is the only way. I wasn't brave enough to do this until 18 months so it was even worse then but only for 2 nights (hell!! )and once I'd done it, wished I had months ago!

[koalabear]

i think you make a choice - you either get rid of it before 6/7 months (ie. do it NOW), or you wait until you can reason with your child for them to give it up on their own (ie. around 3/4 yrs) by leaving it out for the dummy fairy, giving it to father christmas for other babies who need a dummy, planting it in the park to grow a dummy tree etc etc etc

we went cold turkey at 6 months - my son found his thumb!!!! (not much we can do about that)

[rubyGsmum]

We're in the midst of the cold turkey thing and so far, not as bad as I'd feared. My 14 month old dd only had the dummy for nap and bedtimes but apart from a lot of wailing at the first nap and slightly less at the second nap, we haven't had too much of a problem, (although we're only on day 2, so anything could happen).

Good luck with whatever you decide.