What to do when your child cries out in her sleep after giving her dummy to santa.

[jackieglyn]

We managed to persuade our 2 and a half year old dd to give her dummy to santa this year. The only problem is she used to be a good sleeper, if she woke up in the night all you would have to do is put her dummy back in and she would go straight back to sleep.

But now she obviously hasnt got it anymore and most nights she wakes up for hours and wont go back to sleep crying out every five minuites. she doesnt ask for her dummy, we have tried giving her a toy to cuddle but it doesnt help.

Help!

my first 2 decided to give up dummies themselves so they never asked for it again. 3rd didnt have a dummy. 4th (3 in march) wouldnt give his up to santa. What he has done tho is agreed only to have it at bed time (we couldnt get him to do this before santa!). He now wakes up in the morning, puts dummies on pillow, doesnt mention them for the rest of the day! Maybe you could come to a similar arrangement?

Thanks frazzled. i will have a think about that one. just didnt want to hand it back now we have got this far.

Apart from night times she has done really well.

Perhaps she wasn't quite ready to give it up after all? Perhaps you could just allow one at night like frazzledbutcalm suggests. DS2 loved dummies, one in mouth and one in each hand as a toddler!!! Gradually weaned him down to one, then juust at night time (he was 4 then). When he was approaching 5 we threatened to throw it away, and DH jokingly held it over the loo. Unfortunately (for DS) he let go by accident.........A few tears but he never asked for it again. I suppose its better than thumb sucking, you never see a teen with a dummy but I have seen teen girls thumb sucking yeuch.

We were going to get DS1 to give up his dummies to santa a xmas too (he's just 3) but as he only has them to get to sleep at night, they drop out once he is asleep and he never asks for them during the day we decided there was no harm in him having them so why take them away. He has been seen regualrly by a dentist who says they aren't affecting his teeth, if they were we'd be taking them away straight away. TBH we felt its more important that DS1 get enough quality sleep than he sleeps without a dummy at this age.
If I were you I'd give her 1 back to have at bedtime so you all get a good night sleep