Need sleep. Is a dummy the answer ?

[Suzanne73]

Hi my Dd is 4 weeks old. I am Bf and it's going well. She is not a brilliant sleeper unless she is on my chest and being cuddled. It's at night time she really doesn't settle. She keeps wanting to feed. She comes off the breast so she must have had enough but then she gets all fussy as if she wants more. But then fusses and takes a bit and then sicks it up. And continues this for sometimes an hour. Is she just wanting to comfort feed ? Is a dummy a good idea to settle her.? She is putting on weight. In a week she put in 1lb 4. Please help. I need sleep. I am also doing this on my own. My now xp changed his mind about wanting to be with us when I was 12 weeks pregnant.

Congrats on your new baby. I have a totally non sleeping 9 month old so am the last person who should offer advice

Personally I found a dummy really helped with my ds2. And it cut down on the amount of short comfort feeds. You will get people who will say it could lead to problems with supply or nipple confusion

Try a dummy. Anything that can help you get some sleep is only a good thing. Have you tried swaddling with a thin sheet too?

I have tried most things. Swaddling. Cot. Moses basket. I hired a bedside crib from NCT but she is now sleeping in a cocoonababy. I love the snuggles but would love a bit of sleep too. She is my fourth Dc. My oldest is 19 years old. I just don't remember it being as hard but I suppose I am older and now on my own. Thank you for advice. X

yes try a dummy!

all of mine had one to fall asleep with until about 3 and the world didn't end (despite my initial misgivings). all slept really well and still do, bf for over a year, teeth fine, no speech problems. I think you should try everything to get some sleep in, though I think the first 6 weeks or so is always hard work.

XP may not be helping but you can feel super proud of yourself - every time you look at your baby meeting a milestone you know it was all your care and dedication. I take my hat off to you - first weeks are so difficult. Congrats on managing to establish BFing. Do whatever you can to get sleep, try a dummy, try anything and do what is right for your baby and for you! Rope in relatives or friends to give you nap breaks during the day - most folk are delighted to spend an hour or two with a baby once she's been fed. Keep going, everything gets easier in next few weeks.

Go for it. DD is now 9 weeks and we introduced a dummy at about 4 weeks. She wasn't so bad at night but had that terrible few early evening hours that a lot of babies seem to have. Similar to yours, lots of fussing on and off the boob without seeming to get much comfort from it, crying for ages and not settling.

The dummy has really helped, it's not a miracle solution but does calm her nine times out of ten, and I'm still breastfeeding successfully.

Good luck and kudos to you for doing this on your own.

Ds1 and ds2 found their thumbs at about 6 weeks (and still love them at 8 and 6). Ds3 was different, and we gave him a dummy. We really had to persevere as he kept spitting it out, but he was a terrible sleeper and it was fantastic.

He didn't like any of the orthodontic shaped ones though: he liked the big cherry ones. He's now 22 months, and just has a dummy at sleep times, unless he finds one. I'm planning on getting rid of it all together after he's 2.

In the short term they help . Long term they'll become a bloody nightmare.

Try it. Might just save your sanity! We've had most success with Mam dummies.

Thanks for everyone's advice it means a lot to know I am not the only one to be going through this. Mentioned it to a friend of mine. Who then turned up unexpected with dummies and microwave sterilising bags. As they know I still can't drive because of c section. Feel guilty for trying it ( not sure why)
Maybe because I know people look down on dummies or I feel like I should be the one to comfort her but I am going to give the dummies a try. Fingers crossed x

no nightmares here, just god nights sleep

good!

if you only them at sleep times, whats the harm - and no one will know to look down

No one should look down on you or your choice to use a dummy. I've heard MW and HV recommend them for different scenarios and the only way you can care for your baby is if you are rested (as rested as any new mum can be!)

My DS uses his for sleeping only - we got him a sleepytot rabbit and that cut down on dummy runs. We were mixed feeding so it was less of an issue but he was a very, very sucky baby and he slept through almost immediately.