Introducing a dummy

[graysor]

Ds is 4 weeks old. He won’t be put down, or sleep anywhere except on my chest or in the sling.

I’m trying to introduce a dummy in the hope it helps him to sleep at night in his next to me cot, but he just constantly spits it out. He sucks for a few seconds and then it pops out. He then gets increasingly agitated when I try and repeatedly replace it.

How do I encourage him to take the dummy? How long should o persevere putting it back every 20 seconds before accepting that he doesn’t want it?

Just give it time and try offering again in a few days. What you’re describing sounds perfectly normal though. They can’t really be put down to start. My dh and I did about the first 6 weeks with both of ours in shifts. He would stay awake and hold them the first half of the night while I slept, except for feeds, and then I’d take over from 1-6am and then get a little nap in before he left for work. It got much easier after that. Neither of mine took a dummy at that age though. First would have it maybe from around 3 months and second not at all (though he was definitely the better sleeper of the two). So she may not need it after all, but I don’t think there’s a trick other than just patience.

My eldest dd took a dummy from about 4 weeks my younger dd waited until she was 6 months old weirdly.

When you put the dummy in, tap it gently until baby starts rhythmically sucking.

It might just be that this is your baby’s sleep pattern right now though. A dummy can cause new issues

Your baby is completely normal, they will in time settle in a cot / basket. I wouldn’t push a dummy, in my experience they either take to them or don’t.

Was coming on to say what only fools said. Either they'll take a dummy or they won't.

DS loved his and it was a struggle to break the habit. DD wouldn't accept one and sent them flying through the air! She never accepted any comforter which made things hard for a while.

Babies can't keep dummies in their mouths for a few months so you're setting yourself up for weeks of putting it back in every time baby cries. And tbh even with a dummy they will still want to sleep on your chest because that's what babies do.

DD had a dummy which saved my sanity, but then she preferred it to feeding and it became a bit of a pain. So if you can ride this out without one you will probably be glad in a few more weeks from now. This will pass x

Thanks for all your input. I know it’s totally normal for a newborn not to settle anywhere but on mum. Dd was exactly the same. It’s just so hard getting so little sleep. As I am up feeding or holding ds for most of the night and then wrestling a feral toddler all day.

It’s interesting that the general feeling on this thread is to not bother with a dummy. I had another thread a few days ago where everyone was recommending a dummy!

Maybe I won’t bother persevering then. And resign myself to 2 hours sleep a night until some undetermined point in the future. Ugh.

Not sure if an option for u, but after I night fed I put my LO on my husbands chest, just so I could curl up for a bit, also transferred her to his chest when I went for my shower.