Dummy issues!

[Mumtoason]

Hi all,

DS is 16 weeks and goes without feeds from7pm-5-30am.

The problem I have us that he wakes regularly at 11:45, 2am, 3:30 am and 5am. The last waking is him stirring for a feed. He starts the night off downstairs with us and I take him up at 10pm. I do this because he gets hysterical sometimes at bedtimes and it is easier to manage in the lounge! We are both able to soothe in turns until the crying is less and less. It takes him 10 mins of crying (with us there the whole time) to drop off!

Re the night wakings, He's in a co-sleeping crib so I can just pop the dummy back in and keep doing so until he drops back off.

I know it seems fine but I really struggle to get back to sleep and I'm finding these frequent wakings knackering!

Is this just a phase?
Is he too young to take the dummy away?
Is it the dummy or just his rythmn of awakening?

If I don't give him the dummy he escalates in fussing and wriggling around. I don't allow it to get to crying stage?

What do you think? Go cold turkey, or is that cruel at. 4 months?

I don't think it's a sleep regression as its been happening for at least a month.

Thanks for reading

Could he be hungry? Maybe offer milk when he wakes.

Have you tried feeding for any of these?

My 10 mo sometimes struggles to go this length of time without milk. Second the other posters that another feed might be the issue. However, my DD was also crap at keeping her dummy in at that age. It got better when she figured out how to do it herself (around 5/6months). She will still cry for it if she's being lazy though!

Thanks all. I dont think it is hunger as from experience he will not accept the dummy if he's hungry (I.e. daytime he flatly refuses it if he wants a bottle instead). He also smacks his lips together when he is hungry and only does this at around 5:30. Also he rarely ever finishes his 5ish bottle, when he has no trouble during the day. He's also gaining weight well and so is not under fed. He may be thirsty tho. So could try again. Just don't want to introduce feeds if he's not hungry.

Don't think I have the heart to get rid of the dummy as it offers him immediate comfort, so will just have to get on with it.