Baby waking all night will only go back to sleep with dummy

[Linzy777]

Hi,

My baby has just turned 5 months old. He had an emergency op about 6 weeks ago, he had part of his bowel removed. He's recovered well and doctors are happy with him he does have trapped wind on a night but they've said it shouldn't be really painful for him, but has been so unsettled with sleeping ever since he was unwell. Before op he would sleep 9 hours through the night and wouldn't need night feed. Now he is waking all night every 1-2 hours, crying out. We keep going in and putting dummy in as seems to be only thing that gets him back to sleep. I'm worried now he doesn't know how to self settle and relies upon the dummy. Me and my partner are both exhausted, I tried last night not to use dummy and pick up put down method but it was so difficult as he just cried and cried. Has anyone got any help on how to get rid of the dummy and tips on how to get baby to self settle?! Many thanks

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Really sorry but everything I've read on sleep training says on,y to try it when your baby or child is fit and healthy. Personally, I'd considerc6 weeks to be convalescing.

[OlennasWimple]

TBH in your circumstances (baby having had surgery, you and DH at the end of your tethers) I'd go with the dummy and worry about weaning him off it when he is older. He's still very little to be self-settling every time

[Linzy777]

Thanks for your replies, yeah I think at the moment it's probably too early to try anything. When he was really poorly he became really reliant on the dummy in hospital to help with poin so now it's defintely a bit of an attachment. Just after reading online I'm getting worried that he'll never be able to get used to sleeping without as they say it gets much more difficult to get rid of. Fingers crossed this will pas!

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Don't worry too much about what you are reading. I'm yet to meet a high school child with a dummy

[Ineedagoodusername]

My son loved his dummy and I easily got rid of it when he was 2. It's great he will take one tbh !!!

[uhoh2016]

Give him the dummy!! He will learn to fall asleep without it as he grows. He's only tiny let him have whatever he needs to fall asleep. I guarantee you that this doesn't mean he will never fall asleep without a dummy for his entire life!

[Sparrowlegs248]

He is still tiny and has been poorly. You say going in to him, so he's in his own room? He needs some comfort to get to sleep, and he's getting that from the dummy. Theres also a 4 month sleep regression which he may be in. I'd keep giving him the dummy.

[AuntMarch]

No medical expertise here but plenty of childcare and development. A dummy to sleep is fine. Don't worry about what you're reading. We have toddlers start who still use one in the day and usually within the first week they don't have it at all in the setting with no issue. Having rested parents is far more valuable to him that losing the dummy at this young age. You're doing great.

[lornathewizzard]

At his age even without having had an operation I'd say still totally fine for him to have the dummy. Please try to go easy on yourself

[ElspethFlashman]

Let the poor child have the dummy!

They need something!

Dummies are a godsend. Embrace them! (And don't worry about them till they're 2.5)

[Penfold007]

Seven months ago my DH had part of his bowel removed at six weeks post op he was still quite poorly and experiencing pain. He's doing great now but does still have some rough days, we've been told to expect it to take 12 months to fully recover. Your DS has had major surgery and it's very early days, let him have his dummy

[Linzy777]

Thanks everyone for your replies, it's not that I don't want him to have a dummy it comforts him ecspecially after tough few weeks he's had. The problem is he Spits it out then every hour when it falls out he's waking up and we are putting it back in, he's having unsettled sleep and we are also up all night and very tired!

[ElspethFlashman]

That's the annoying but unavoidable part. I used to roll up a blanket into a big sausage and shove it alongside just to try to keep it in!

But in a few months they can grab it themselves. Some use a clip, some us that bunny rabbit with Velcro paws for dummies, some just throw 5 dummies into the cot.

[Jackiebrambles]

Oh god let him have the dummy!

I've had two dummy users - and honestly this period of time is short. At around 8 months both my kids were able to find and replace their dummies themselves. You are in the worst bit I think!

My youngest still has a dummy at 23 months and sleeps through the night, every night.

[Jackiebrambles]

And yes, I put 5 dummies in her cot!

[sexymuthafunker]

You can get dummy clips so she can find it again. Also glow in the dark dummies. Don't worry about dummies they are fine when kids are small.

[Lemonnaise]

Give the baby the dummy and buy a dummy clip.

[twobarnsmammisonthebus]

I would say don't worry about them using a dummy! They are very little and recovering from illness, and need that comfort. However, it isn't recommended to use dummy clips / holders or other items such as a bumper at in the crib as this can be unsafe for such a young baby.