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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Dummy / Pacifier

15 replies

Fibe · 14/10/2004 21:17

My son is 6 months old, and has had a dummy from 6 weeks to help with chronic reflux during sleep. He would then spit it out, and happily sleep on. However, now he cries when being put down for day time naps or at night until you put the dummy in his mouth. Also, he is starting to wake up at regular intervals and needs the dummy to go back to sleep (not welcome at 3 am, 4 am, 5 am etc). I have tried to stop the use of the dummy by going "cold turkey", but all he does is scream until he throws up, and then keep screaming. Help. Does anyone have suggestions to get rid of the dummy without going through world war 3 ?

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maretta · 14/10/2004 21:20

Is he close to the point where he could put his own dummy in.

My ds is a bit older (16mo) so this might not apply, but I try to give his dummy to his hand rather than mouth. If he wakes in the night he (usually) finds it himself.

Also put loads of dummies in the cot so there's always one close by.

Original poster

Fibe · 14/10/2004 21:25

I wish he could put in in by himself!! He can grab it, but then he starts chewing the hard plastic bit and holds it by the soft teat. This lasts about 30 seconds until he starts screaming again.

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Original poster

Fibe · 15/10/2004 04:44

Here I am again - it's 4.42 am - DS is screaming - I give him the dummy - he sleeps for 10 minutes - he pulls dummy out - he screams - I give him dummy ... as so it continues - can anyone help?

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unicorn · 15/10/2004 08:47

just something to consider maybe.. teething?
given that he is chewing on the hard bit.. maybe that gives him some comfort?

Original poster

Fibe · 16/10/2004 10:39

thanks for advice - i'll see how tonight goes

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Ixel · 16/10/2004 11:00

My ds did exactly this when we moved him into his own room. There's a thread about it somewhere. 90% of mners said I should go cold turkey and drop the dummy... but i was too scared to try! So we had a month or so of getting up all night to replug him. He's 11 months now. If he's just half asleep, he'll find it himself, but I get up once a night, sometimes twice, to help out! TBH, it doesn't bother me, as it only takes seconds (no feeding and nappies like when he was tiny), and I'm usually up for a wee anyway. I dont allow him a dummy in the daytime, as if he's tired he'll drop off in the buggy with no trouble. So I prob could withdraw it totally, but its not the worst thing in the world, and if it gives him comfort at bedtime, he should have it. Its also a good signal for him that its bedtime, no chance of getting back up later!

Original poster

Fibe · 18/10/2004 20:09

Ixel, thanks - it's good to know I'm not alone in not wanting to go through the cold turkey thing! Poor little chap - looks so miserable without something to suck on, and he just can't find his thumb! We're still having nightmare nights, but we're optomistic that things will improve. :-)

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Original poster

Fibe · 18/10/2004 20:10

BTW, if it all gets too much, and we do go cold turkey, what's the right age to do it? Is 6 months too young?

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motherinferior · 18/10/2004 20:18

I will confess, here and now, that we did cold turkey at about four to five months. It was her or us.

Original poster

Fibe · 18/10/2004 20:31

how long did it take? one night or many? how did you do it? did you go in every time she cried and hold her, or did you leave her to cry? does she sleep through now?

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motherinferior · 18/10/2004 20:34

Took two nights. One of lots of wailing - we'd do the CC approach of going in and comforting her - the other of a quick bout. And now she can get back to sleep without it.

It was horrible to do, but I was so so so exhausted.

frogs · 18/10/2004 20:37

I made the dummy mistake with dd1, and had to go cold turkey at about 4-5 months. Don't remember it being too bad couple of unsettled nights, maybe but it was 9 years ago. She found her thumb pretty quickly, and would suck it so noisily we could hear her from downstairs.

The other two have had dummies, but never for going to sleep with.

Original poster

Fibe · 18/10/2004 20:58

thanks - i'll let you know how we get on

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moosh · 19/10/2004 11:31

Ds1 had a dummy till he was 3 and I too had to wake up about 5 times or more a night till he could find it himself at about 14months. After that I was never called unless he really had trouble finding it. He eventually gave it up with no problems at 3.4 years when I refused to buy anymore. Ds2 now 7.5 months is the same I am waking alot more with him than I did with ds1 especially if he is teething I might as well sit next to him with my finger permanately on the dummy so that he doesn't loose it! But I know that it won't be long before he can find it himself and I will only go cold turkey if he disturbs ds1 too much when I put him in his room next month. But tend to agree with Ixel.

marysavannah · 10/12/2004 12:58

if u dont wanna take it yet. id suggest a dummy clip. put the dummy on the end n attach the clip to top of baby suit. can get them from boots. thats all my ds needs most the night
mary

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