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Original poster

Losing my mind !! My daughter doesn't sleep since taking dummy away

17 replies

highheavenn · 28/07/2023 19:50

I'm losing the plot. My daughter turned 3 in June and she used a dummy for night time since she was about 1.

She threw it away herself once she turned 3 as we told her it's ruining her teeth and she's a big girl now. This was her choice to throw it in the bin and she's actually been so good, never asked for it again.

HOWEVER... this has made night time a fucking nightmare 😂😭 she takes agesssss to go to sleep!!!! She lays there using her imagination and that's fine but she does it for hours!!! She use to go bed so good ahhhh.

Now it's like a fucking mission to get her to bed, she could be up for hourssss before eventually sleeping.

I don't want to give in to the dummy again because im thinking this may get better over time. Does anyone have advice ????

OP posts:
WeWereInParis · 28/07/2023 19:55

She lays there using her imagination and that's fine but she does it for hours!!!

Do you have to sit with her for this? Can you just leave her to it?

Original poster
highheavenn · 28/07/2023 19:56

WeWereInParis · 28/07/2023 19:55

She lays there using her imagination and that's fine but she does it for hours!!!

Do you have to sit with her for this? Can you just leave her to it?

Unfortunately we are still in a onebedroom flat so I also have to get her little brother to sleep in the same room. If I left them they would have a teddy party I'm sure or it 🙈 if she was in her own room I'd definitely leave her to it unless it was a ridiculous time and she wasn't asleep Ah

OP posts:
TinyTeacher · 28/07/2023 20:08

How long has this been going on?

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Original poster
highheavenn · 28/07/2023 20:08

TinyTeacher · 28/07/2023 20:08

How long has this been going on?

Since we took the dummy away! It's weird because she hasn't mentioned the dummy since but her sleep is greatly effected

OP posts:
Tryingtokeepcalmandcarryon · 28/07/2023 20:13

is she napping at all in the day? We’ve found that even if we let my daughter (3) sleep for 20 mins it massively sets back how tired she is at bedtime. We also got rid of the dummy a few months ago, well done! (It did take her a while to adjust, it’s like she had to learn how to put herself to sleep without it, she loved it but we were worried about her teeth too)

Singleandproud · 28/07/2023 20:18

When did you take the dummy away though, its more likely a coincidence with the lighter evenings and possible change of routine. How old is the younger brother? Young enough to be put to sleep in the living room or in a travel cot in a hallway and then moved into bed properly when you go to sleep?

Original poster
highheavenn · 28/07/2023 20:25

Singleandproud · 28/07/2023 20:18

When did you take the dummy away though, its more likely a coincidence with the lighter evenings and possible change of routine. How old is the younger brother? Young enough to be put to sleep in the living room or in a travel cot in a hallway and then moved into bed properly when you go to sleep?

The dummy went last month on her birthday and it's from that night on that sleeping has become a issue!

Her brother is 19 months they both sleep at the same time. I'm thinking maybe I should let her sleep later now but I'm worried she will go to bed and then wake him up! I also have a 4 week old (yes I got pregnant with the implant) before anyone shames me!

OP posts:
mokebox · 28/07/2023 20:32

This happened with mine. Its like the dummy helped him to self regulate at night but once it was gone he was WILD!

It did pass though, it petered out slowly over a couple of months and then he went back to normal 🤣

OddOne2023 · 28/07/2023 20:42

So the sleep disruption also coincides with getting a new sibling!?

Possible connection there too?

Original poster
highheavenn · 28/07/2023 20:44

OddOne2023 · 28/07/2023 20:42

So the sleep disruption also coincides with getting a new sibling!?

Possible connection there too?

I think maybe a few factors -

No dummy
New baby
Shes finished preschool so she's not tiring herself out if that makes sense!

we took dummy away a whole month before baby came but I'm hoping this will get better! She's a right diva when she's tired and it's not nice to see her like this

OP posts:
Franklin2000 · 28/07/2023 20:49

Would white noise help? If the dummy was soothing her and lulling her to sleep, something else to focus on might help. We swore by Ewan the dream sheep, he’s amazing!

Mummy08m · 28/07/2023 20:55

My dd, same age as yours, has never wanted a dummy but also takes hours to settle to sleep and she didn't (as badly) 6 months ago.

Maybe it's just a phase she's going thru at this age, unrelated to the dummy.

For my dd it is definitely FOMO. She wants yet another book read to her, she wants mummy, wants daddy, now mummy again, now she wants to do some forward rolls on the mat in her room, now she wants a cup of warm milk, etc etc. We try not to indulge it but it still takes hours.

I agree with pp above that naps are a disaster. We never have a deliberate nap any more but if she drops off in the car in the daytime, even for ten mins, then we know it's game over for bedtime until at least 10.30pm.

When I'm reading the tenth Winnie the Pooh book in a row at 9.45pm I honestly wonder what crime I did to deserve such karmic punishment

fireflyloo · 28/07/2023 21:11

Stick with it. You can't give it back. Could you keep her up later than the younger sibling and see if some parent time helps?

OddOne2023 · 28/07/2023 21:24

Sounds like many things. That will probably settle over time but it must be v hard atm.

Can you offer an alternative soothing item for bed ? One of those really soft rabbits or one with a blanket square attached. Or change the bedtime routine a bit to shift things ?

I'm sure you've thought of that though.

Hope it sorts itself - you must be knackered !!

Louoby · 28/07/2023 21:28

Has she got something that replaces the dummy, a comforter or a teddy etc? I'd cut all daytime naps, if she still has them, and put her to bed slightly later as she's obviously not tired enough at the time she usually goes anymore.

parietal · 28/07/2023 21:53

probably hard with the new baby, but physical exercise in the day will help. go to the park and give her challenges to run to the tree and back as fast as possible. repeat with different trees or bits of playground equipment.

better still, get your partner or someone else to take her out for a long walk or a swim.

TizerorFizz · 28/07/2023 21:58

Some Dc just don’t need as much sleep. Definitely try later bedtime and no naps. No dummies for other dc either.

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