Dummy help

[Amydscott]

Trying to get my 5 month old off the dummy. He only has it during day to go to sleep and then during the night. Yesterday I got him settled throughout the day without it and at bedtime which was amazing but then throughout the night was a disaster. Up every 1-2 hours and he wouldn't settle without it. I need and love my sleep.

I gave him dummy at about 1 month because he has colic and reflux and so unsettled but not a big fan of them!

I have a small house and my toddler (2yo) sleeps in the next room. Think I was worried about wakening her up otherwise I might of let him grizzle a bit more. But he is such a noisy baby anyway, chats while falling asleep and with the dummy in he obviously doesn't do this. Any tips?

[dementedpixie]

Any particular reason you want to stop right now?

[Amydscott]

Just because he wakes up looking for it. I would prefer he self soothed if possible.

[dementedpixie]

Ds was around the same age when we got rid of it as he kept waking for it. It did take a wee while to get used to comforting him without it

[PleasetellmeIWillsurvive]

Try just leaving it for a few mins to see if there's pauses in the crying, he may just go over by himself. Could you use white noise in toddlers room to block noise?x

[Amydscott]

Did you just feed your baby every time they wakened in the night or just lifted them and cuddled them? Not sure how to do it better, don't wanna start feeding him every hour!

[Amydscott]

I have white noise in toddlers room but it only plays for 10 mins until I tap it again. Also just moved her into a bed because she was climbing out of her cot. So she runs out at the littlest of noises at the minute.

[girlmummy25]

Im in the exact same boat.
My DD is 5 months and only has dummy for naps and sleep the same as yours but she screams for it atleast twice a night when she wakes and im thinking to get rid too.
Just not sure how to soothe her other wise and dont want her to then rely on rocking as then id be rocking her every time she wakes which is actually worse than just dummy.

Please let me know how you get on x

[Amydscott]

This afternoon I put baby into his cot and he cried on and off for 10 minutes. I kept patting his back now and then but walking Away. Obviously he wasn't totally screaming or anything, just wanting company/attention/ or more so wanting his dummy. He had his milk, clean nappy etc and was tired so knew he was okay otherwise. Eventually, within 10 minutes, he went quiet. I checked him and he was asleep. Just woke up 2 hours later Yey!!

Actually going to try leaving him for a few minutes to cry tonight again and hopefully he will learn he is okay and sleep on his own! Fingers crossed

His big sister never wanted the dummy and self soothed from very tiny. But I did let her cry the odd night when she didn't want to go back to bed.

[PleasetellmeIWillsurvive]

In that case really sounds like he won't protest too much about it!

[Amydscott]

Just after last night I was worried it was going to be another long night after being up every hour. But we will just have to wait and see how we get on!

[PleasetellmeIWillsurvive]

Hopefully it was just a bad night. We have had the odd one like that. Hope you have a better night ahead!xxx

[meow1989]

Its advised to keep using a dummy for the first 6 months if using, for sids reasons.

Otherwise I would pick a week where you can cope with little sleep(can 2 year old go for a couple of days sleep over somewhere?) And cold Turkey it. 3 days should do it.

Ds is 16 months and we're down to just naps and sleep at home with dummy... should have taken off at 6 months!

[Babyfg]

When my son had a dummy I read somewhere that if they're attached to something you shouldn't take it off them until they are one as they're not emotionally mature enough to understand. I didn't end up taking it off him until he was two 🤦‍♀️ I hope he settles for you

[girlmummy25]

@amydscott how did the dummy ditch go?
I chickened out and didnt do it but DD is now 6 months and the dummy put ins are driving me crackers!
Any advice would be much appreciated

[Amydscott]

@girlmummy25 yes it was great. 2 nights of being a bit unsettled and we ditched it. I haven’t looked back. Now Instead or getting up for the dummy he sleeps until he needs fed. So usually up twice in the night now which is soooooo much better than getting up in between feeds to put dummy in!
One tip which worked for me- I have a 2 year old in the next room so I took a travel cot into my living room and baby and I slept in there for the 2
Nights so we didn’t Disburb the toddler!

[girlmummy25]

@amydscott Thanks for the reply!
How did you settle baby when they was crying in the night for the dummy please?

[Mumshappy]

My theory is that I've chosen to give you a dummy at night time therefore I'm not taking it off you until your old enough to comprehend it's going. I just put loads around the cot at night time usually works.

[sauvignonblancplz]

I used a dummy for my two older children & really persevered to not give baby 3 one. It really is so different. He is the best sleeper & there’s not multiple dummy runs in the middle of the night.

[Amydscott]

@girlmummy25 I stroked his back now and then or stroked his face. Just soothes him if I could. I think I fed him every 3 hours and then set him down before he was in a deep sleep and he went over himself. This helped him self soothe. My baby is only 6 months now so couldn’t feel around the cot for his dummy yet. Would rather get rid of it anyway, he didn’t love his dummy anyway so don’t think he notices it’s away! I was able to soothe him rather than the dummy before so it worked well. And now he soothes himself- occasionally sucks his hand or thumb!

[girlmummy25]

@amydscott thank you x
And sorry for the people now piping up! They clearly havent read the whole thread