Dummy trauma!

[Blankiefan]

A couple of months ago, 6 mo DD could take or leave her dummy. After a recent bout of illness where it seemed to be the best thing to soothe her, she now can't sleep without it. Obviously that means I got up a dozen times last night to put it in again. And I've just gone back to work!

I know we can man up and remove it - I assume after a few painful nights (woo Hoo - bank holiday plans!!) she'd probably be ok but I'd rather she had it. She's a bad napper so I've no doubt it's particularly useful at nursery (where she struggles even more to nap) and also my mum has her a night and a day per week ; I reckon granny would really struggle without it. And, it's just nice to be able to give her something she likes when she's distressed.

But - I work long hours and this level of sleep disruption is a real issue (she used to sleep thru when she was less attached to it - now she only needs it popped back in; nothing else).

How bad are dummy chains / clips to use? Are they dangerous, have you used them successfully? What about these dummy rabbit things? How quickly would she learn to put it back in herself? What else could I use to sort this. Or do we (and nursery and granny) all have to man up and CIO to get rid of it?

Don't use a dummy clip at night. It's not worth the risk.

My DD went through this period, but after a couple of weeks she figured out how to do it herself/not lose it/not be as bothered if it fell out.

How old was your dd when the issue was sorted?

Search amazon for a sleepytot (can't do links sorry) we had one for DD and made it easier for her to replace her dummy herself in the night as she could find it straight away rather than waking up properly

She was about 6/7 months blankie

Thanks clearly, that was one thing we we're looking for. What age could your dc use this from?

Rachy - 6/7 months gives me hope! Any tricks to help?

I think about 6 months ish, she had it for Xmas when she was 5.5 months and it made a difference really quickly.

Second the sleepytot, it takes a few nights for them to get used to it, and then... Blessed, blessed sleep... :)

Thanks Clog - never before has an Amazon delivery been so anticipated! What age did yours work it out at?

I think my DC got quite attached to their dummies around that age. It was wonderful when they figured out how to get it back themselves (sorry, don't remember how old).

If you decide to give it up, start on a Thursday instead of Friday. You can get through work on a bad night's sleep (although first night was easiest for us), but a bad Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night makes for a hellish week. After about three nights, IME, they start to settle again without it.

And bin them ALL so there is no opportunity to give in!

Whatsa - great advice. Sounds like you went cold turkey - how did you do it? What was it like? What age was your dc? Thanks

Following this as DS1 needs his 10-12 times per night and I am close to the end of my rope.

He's 4.5mo so I imagine we've a while to go before he can plug himself back in?!

Blanket we introduced it at about 18/19 weeks, he was a sucky baby and needed a dummy to sleep (was finding his thumb, too). It took about a week with the four dummies attached and he cracked it. He now has it with two attached (he's 11 months now) and regularly sleeps 11 hours a night with no dummy runs

Really hope it works for you!

Sorry for the continued questions (tho am getting v excited about this!). Did you just pop it in his cot for him to cuddle or attach it to the side?

Hey Ho - DH is on dummy duty tonight!

Cookie - I feel your pain. I'll update once we get it....

I popped his in his cot. He wears a grobag and he sometimes would pull the bunny over his face which I know can really freak people out - we had a sensor mat monitor and he is quite a heavy breather so I let him cuddle it. He now sometimes tries to grab it during the day (he only uses his dummy for sleeping) but sits and chews the bunny's ears. He also likes to pull the dummies in and out his mouth and swap them over himself, as if he is carefully choosing the right one :)

No cookie - give the bunny a whirl - that was the age I introduced it at, it was a godsend.

I'm not sponsored by sleepytot or anything but I would have paid £50 for the damn bunny if I had known it would work for me like it has. I've heard some people saying it's useless but I can only go on my DS and the change in a week!

Sadly it won't work for DS2 yet, as he is unable to get the dummy into his mouth without a little help during the day. Maybe soon but not yet.

I am just desperate. It has been every 20 minutes since 1am. Now 5am and he won't go back to sleep at all. Close to the edge tonight.

Cookie

Is it time to go cold turkey on dummy altogether? A couple of nights of hell but apparently much more settled afterwards (I haven't been brave enough to try, hence the sleepytot...)

We did do cold turkey - spontaneously, because we are rubbish at planning

My DC are just over 12 months apart, so they were almost 2 and almost 1 when we gave them up. Decided one Friday night when we were out to dinner that since they hadn't really used them in the day (they adored their dummies), we'd do it. They slept beautifully the first night and we were very excited (naive - I think they had just been worn out). The Saturday and Sunday nights were hellish, of the up every hour variety (with two DC), but by Monday night they were reasonably resigned to it.

whatsagood did your dc use the dummy to fall asleep? I find my DS uses his as a real cue for sleep - totally my doing, but I can't imagine him going to sleep in his cot without it. He can drop off in his buggy or car seat though.

They did use it to fall asleep - especially when they woke up in the night. They didn't have to, if they were especially tired, or we were out in the buggy, but they wanted them in their cots and often out when they were tired and grizzly. I don't think they used it as a cue to sleep, but it helped them relax if they were upset, which helped them sleep.

There was a lot of screaming the weekend we gave them up.

Thanks whatsagood, good to know what to expect!