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Original poster

Newborn very hard to settle....dummy or wait for him to find his fingers?

23 replies

katierocket · 04/02/2007 10:41

2 week old, gets really overtired and frantic and often wakes up soon after going to sleep as he is obviously desperate to suckle.

Considering dummy but reluctant as we had such problems getting it off DS1 (when he was 4!) plus all the 'losing it in the night and not being able to find it' malarky.

But I am struggling a bit as DS2 is basically catnapping during day then sleeping for ages in evening (because he's so knackered by that time) and consequently not sleeping at night. Arggghh... I'd forgotten what hard work newborns are!

What age do they find their fingers (to suck)?

OP posts:

bambi06 · 04/02/2007 10:43

is he swaddled as they may help him settle better?

Original poster

katierocket · 04/02/2007 12:44

doesn't seem to like being swaDDLED. as the days go on he seems to be getting more unsettled not less. am at a\loss as to why

OP posts:

Plibble · 04/02/2007 13:06

My DD found her fingers at around 7 weeks. I tried to give her a dummy but she kept spitting it out and screaming more, so I decided not to bother with it.
If he's getting more unsettled, could it just be that he's getting more alert?
As he's only 2 weeks old, I would be inclined to let him feed if he wants to suckle (assuming he is b/f - not sure what to do otherise).
The only thing I did when Mini-Plibble was this age was to try to teach her the difference between night and day - night feeds being boring, done in the dark and quick, day feeds being done in the light, some stimulation etc. Also, I took my DD out for walks every afternoon to get her some daylight. But it was v hit and miss as to whether she would settle properly before about 9pm.

burstingbug · 04/02/2007 13:25

DS1 refused a dummy when he was a baby, luckily it didn't take him long to find his thumb. He still happily thumb sucks at almost 2yrs.
DS2 on the other hand was given a dummy before I even left the hospital! He latched on to me as soon as he got the hang of bf and needed the constant sucking to be content. I resorted to a dummy when he was just over a day old so he wasn't permantly attatched to me. He's almost 6mths and still uses his dummy to settle himself. If he's sleepy I'll try bfing him as sometimes he'll drop off, but sometimes he doesnt want milk, just a dummy to suck.

Original poster

katierocket · 04/02/2007 13:34

He;s just so sucky and half the time I'm sure I'm feeding him (BF - currently around every hour or so) i know half the time he's not hungry just desperate to suck. if i keep feeding him though, he just vomits it up

OP posts:

burstingbug · 04/02/2007 13:39

Personally, I'd try the dummy, esp if he's throwing milk back up. My DS2 also throws milk back up, more so if he's fed more frequently.

Pruni · 04/02/2007 13:40

Message withdrawn

aviatrix · 04/02/2007 13:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

juuule · 04/02/2007 14:01

I would give a dummy and swaddle very tightly.

TenaLady · 04/02/2007 14:03

Dummy, you need your rest. They do say that not all babies take to the dummy for some weeks so keep persevering.

Once dummy settled just ensure that it is absolutely vital when you give it and it doesnt become a fashion accessory!

TenaLady · 04/02/2007 14:05

Interesting this swaddling lark. It isnt for all babies. My ds the independant type from day one was not having it and to this day prefers to be chilled and wrap free. You will soon know, as the babe wont settle when swaddled and it will sound like they are protesting.

Original poster

katierocket · 04/02/2007 16:58

Yes DS1 liked being swaddled but this one doesn't seem to. We've tried with two types of dummy now but to no avail, guess we will keep trying. He screamed his head off for four hours today, basically he was overtired but couldn't seem to settle because he wanted to suck. please let this baby be easier than DS1 was when he was newborn...

OP posts:

NewDKmum · 04/02/2007 19:04

Greetings from a viking: In Denmark (where I come from) all babies sleep in their prams outside during the day unless it is colder than -10C. When they seem tired you wrap them up warm and put them in the garden (hope you have one) and the fresh air makes them sleep for hours - honestly! Hope it helps your lo take longer naps during the day, if you are willing to try.

Oh, and my dd found her thumb when she was 8 weeks.

GreatGooglyMoogly · 04/02/2007 19:43

We used to put one of our own fingers in our newborn's mouth, until he was old enough to find his own fingers/ thumb. It meant you were stuck for a while, but it made things a lot quieter! Also it might be worth putting him in a sling/ baby carrier and carrying him around as it seems to settle them. HTH and good luck - it will pass!

deaconblue · 04/02/2007 19:56

I know a lot of people hate dummies but our son really benefitted from his. He only has it when he's ready for a nap, it falls out within minutes of him dropping off and he never wakes up and cries for it (he does wake sometimes but not for the dummy iyswim). It's not for everyone, but I'm a convert after years of disapproving of other babies' dummies.

burstingbug · 04/02/2007 20:05

I also hated dummies, still do really. But I have to say they do work for DS2. His will fall out whilst sleeping, so I just pop it on the bedside table and if he wakes up during the night I pop it back in his mouth. If that fails to settle him back down, then I'll feed him.

Original poster

katierocket · 04/02/2007 20:15

Well he's still not taking the dummy. He just looks disgusted. Loves sucking my little finger though! will keep trying.

OP posts:

ScoobyDooooo · 04/02/2007 20:18

I know what you mean about struggling to get the dummy away when they are to old for it, i had this problem with ds, when i had dd she was exactly the same loved to suckle, i gave her a dummy but by the time she was about 2 months she did not want it, she has not had one since & she is now 1

Aloha · 04/02/2007 20:19

Dummy if it helps. A total lifesaver with ds, dd wouldn't have one and didn't need one.

donnie · 04/02/2007 20:22

dummies can be great and dd1 loved hers - however the losing them and being unable to find them is such a pain when they are very little. But I would give the dummy a go.

Original poster

katierocket · 05/02/2007 15:55

Managed to get him to take the dummy and it definitely helps to soothe him. He spits it out before falling asleep which is good too. Just got to make sure it doesn't become a prop I suppose.

OP posts:

TenaLady · 06/02/2007 09:44

Donnie, my mate used to put 5 in the cot to be sure her ds found one! I thought it was very funny but highly effective!

juuule · 06/02/2007 10:18

We always had a good supply of dummies. I kept them at the side of my bed. If I had put them all in the cot I would still have ended up rummaging under the cot to find one in the early hours

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