Dummy and lack of sleep

[bluesmile10]

Hi, my 5 month old has a dummy but relies heavily on - waking several times during the night to faff and needing to have it put back it in to fall back to sleep. Do we take it away? How long before he learns to find it himself? As he is only a short napper during the day, I'm not managing to catch up on any sleep and he wakes every couple of hours either for his dummy, once to feed or about 5 when I put him into bed with me!!!! Any helpful tips or advice please!!

Mine was just the same. At around 7mo her first tooth came through and she increased her solid intake, and hey, presto, she learned to self settle even if she couldn't find the dummy. Now she sleeps fantastically. Hope yours is the same - I think we can worry too much about rods for our own back etc, as sometimes they solve things by themselves.

God, we've still got lost dummy stress nearly every night and he's 14 months. Need to toughen up, as we've got another one on the way, but stuck in the trap as it is easier to get back to sleep more quickly if I just go in there, find it and lie him down again. palaver! I don't know what the answer is, just wanted to say if you find something that works do it now as it gets harder later.

We had the same and when he started waking 8-10 times a night for it we just got rid - took about 3 nights and now he sleeps 7-7 (with a dream feed at 10.30) - best thing we ever did! I think you either have to teach them to put it back in or get rid all together! Fingers crossed for you xxx

Just be patient, baby will find it byself soon. I think dummies are wonderful soothers for those who don't self-soothe well. I wish my son had taken one and was so glad my daughter did. Can be a pain for a while, but I found a white noise machine (comes in a bear) worked wonders too. (Can find on Amazon - put against bars, out of bear, and reactivates when baby moves and cries - lifesaver!).

I couldn't have written this post myself a few weeks ago!
My DS is 5 months but about a month ago I was getting really annoyed at getting up every couple of hours to stick the dummy back in.So.....I thought the nights were so crap I might as well take the dummy away.And weirdly he has slept through every since!Of course it could be a coincidence but obviously he is now self settling.
He does cry a bit when he's dropping off but he has a couple of snuggly blankie's that he rubs on his face and sometimes I stroke his head.

I was completely shocked that it worked but very pleased obviously.

Thanks for your messages. He has a blankie he snuggles too! Just helpful to hear others say similar things. Thank you.

If he's chucking it then he doesn't sound that reliant on it at all to me - I would try taking it away.

you used to be able to get those clips that you pin onto their clothes. then they can always find the dummy, or at least you can. don't know if they still sell them.

dd1 self-weaned off her dummy at 1. i was gobsmacked.

dd2, now 2 still loves her dummy and might wake up every other night or so wanting it. it's going to be a while before i wean her off them though.