5.5mo constantly taking her dummy out and crying for it back

[Timeoutofmind]

This has been going on for about 2months now! I have been swaddling her but she now breaks free and as a result daytime naps are a nightmare and nighttime sleep is terrible (about 10 wakings after taking about an hour to get her to sleep in the first place)

She can put the dummy in herself sometimes but it makes no difference cos she just takes it out again - she just can't keep her hands off it!!

What can i do?!

[FlubbaBubba]

Not a lot about getting her to leave it alone! But you could try a dummy clip (we got ours in Sainsbo's) so at least she can find it again. We're going through the same with DS (5m), and had a nightmare with DD1 but never heard of them until it was too late.

[Timeoutofmind]

Thanks I will give it a go, anythings worth a try!

[Redhairmum]

Having same issues with my 23 week old DS. Stopped swaddling him as was being told he was too old for this now, and have had a week of sleeping on the floor of the nursery to cope with his constant waking. Have gone back to swaddling as MUST have some sleep. Don't know how we will get to a stage without dummy or swaddle....... It reassures me to know others are having issues like this too.
Sorry, have given no advice here, have started reading the 'no cry sleep solution' in the hope of finding help, but am only on chapter 2.....
Hang on in there you are not alone!

[Timeoutofmind]

Oh I feel your pain. A lot of people have told me she's too.old for swaddling but it settles her so I will continue (even though she breaks out of it a lot now!). Unfortunately don't think there's gonna be a quick fix solution.

[meercat71]

try the dummy clip - my DD used to throw hers out of her cot all the time - once it was attached to her she had less problems - you can also get comforters which you can attach a dummy too - Sleepytot is one i think but again it all might get thrown out ;-)

[Timeoutofmind]

Thanks, I'm gonna give it a go tonight, wish me luck!

[Jojay]

Redhairedmum - I swaddled Ds2 until 8 months at least. He just couldn't manage without it until then. It didn't hinder his development in the slightest.

One day, at 8 months ish, I swaddled him a fraction more loosely than normal. He escaped, woke up once that night but I was able to settle him back to sleep, and it was never an issue again. He's a great sleeper now.

I'd just carry on until they're ready to stop being swaddled. There really is no good reason for stopping sooner and if it works, great!

He didn't have a dummy though, so I'm no help there

[FlubbaBubba]

Good luck for tonight - it may take a few nights though, just so you're prepared.

If he likes being swaddled, but wriggles himself free, have you tried a grobag/sleeping bag that sits snugly on her but gives her the arm freedom?

[FlubbaBubba]

sorry - she

[Redhairmum]

Timeoutofmind how did it go?
Ds did brilliantly- woke between 7.30pm and 10.30pm but got himself back to sleep, was dream fed at 10.30pm, went until 1.50am for next feed (I was awake and waiting from 1am duh!!), and then again at 5am.
I know this is only 3hr intervals, but is SUCH an improvement on last week, and I got to sleep in my own bed, not the nursery floor. Feel like a new woman.
Not sure what will happen tonight, but am grateful for improvement.

[Timeoutofmind]

redhairmum glad you had a better night! There must've been something in the air cos my LO had a good night too. Nothing do do with the dummy clip though. She woke about 4 times but settled after I put her dummy in. Then the last time she woke at 5am she was on her tummy. I usually would flip her back over (she can't roll back yet) but I decided just to put her dummy in and she went into such a settled sleep and woke at 7.10am (a very rare occupancy lately!!!)
So now I'm thinking she may be more settled with tummy sleeping!!

[Redhairmum]

Excellent!! fingers crossed that they both continue to sleep in bigger blocks of time- 3hrs or so.
Am going to start to gently remove dummmy when DS is almost asleep, as recommended by 'nocry sleep solutions'. This may take a few weeks though....

[Timeoutofmind]

Yes I am gonna do the same with the dummy, it stops them getting used to sleeping with it in all the time doesn't it.

[NicholaGriff]

Hello. I found that since taking my LO's dummy away she no longer wakes at night. One night I didn't give it to her to fall asleep and she slept all night until 7am without a peep!! It was surprisingly easy to not give it to her. Perhaps she just wasn't that attached to it, although she would wake at least twice per night to have it back.