Introduce a dummy at 9 months

[Givemepickles]

My DS is constantly fussy all day long. Always has been but it is really bad now. He had a dummy until 6 months and I got rid of it so he would stop waking up multiple times a night when it fell out. It was a Godsend during the day though.

He now sleeps well for naps and night time with just a lovey and teethers. But during the day is torture all day long every day. He's only happy being pushed in the buggy or sometimes if we're out somewhere interesting for him.

Has anyone introduced a dummy at this age and only used it when awake? I asked this same question a few months ago and I'm still in the same situation.

I wouldn’t reintroduce at this stage as he may start wanting it back of a nighttime which would undo your progress. Do you know what is causing him to fuss?

With my DS at night at about this age we just scattered loads of dummies around the cot and whenever one fell out he would find one nearby in the dark just by reaching out and pop it back in

No, as far as I can tell he's just a velcro baby. He's fussed since birth. I think it's especially bad at the moment as he is trying to crawl but can't yet. But to be honest he's just like this. I used to be able to pop the dummy in and for 10 mins or so he'd be OK but now I have nothing to soothe him except me. I did try the dummy again at about 7 months and his sleep immediately suffered even though I didn't give it to him for sleep, he obviously wanted it again. So you're probably right. I'm just desperate. I have a toddler too and I need to be able to cook etc and look after him as well.

If you don’t start it you don’t have it to stop. Occupy him in other ways. You have your hands full with a toddler too, maybe try and engage them together, sharing a picture book, rolling a ball, little games to encourage the youngest to crawl etc.

Oh bless him (and you!). I imagine his little head/ambitions are just a bit ahead of his body at this stage, then, and he’s frustrated. Are there any sensory items you can use, or activities you can implement, to turn his attention to? It’s difficult because I’m sure you have already tried lots. I do think you should stick to your guns RE dummies though and try and make do without if possible, as you’ve done well getting him off them and he’ll be best off without - if anything, particularly when awake for speech development.

Thank you @moonmaker93 and @Whatwouldnanado you have talked me down from ordering the wretched dummies off Amazon yesterday! I'm going to try and stick it out. I wish he would suck his fingers like my older one does, it comforts DS1 so much but ds2 hasn't found anything. He has lots of toys and jumperoo, door hanger etc and I'm constantly switching things up for him and trying to find anything that'll keep him content but some days nothing works and those are long, hard days. I'm trying to get him more invested with cuddly toys and his lovey so that can comfort him but he only likes them for sleep so far.