Soothing a dummy-refusing baby?

[Fl89]

Baby is 6m old, EBF. Has generally been a great sleeper overall, often doing 10-12hr stretches. Past couple of weeks we’ve been having more and more night wakings, not always crying but shouting/sounding frustrated/giving off🤣. Baby has taken well to solids as well as being a milk monster during the day (fed every 3hrs at an absolute maximum), so I don’t believe it’s hunger although it could be a growth spurt I guess? I think baby is waking and can’t get themselves back to sleep. Complete dummy refuser, have tried almost every brand to no avail. Loves a muslin as a comforter during the day/to get over to sleep but I’m not prepared to risk leaving it in the cot overnight. Don’t really know what I’m asking here.. I suppose has anyone any advice on how to soothe in this scenario overnight apart from feeding? I don’t mind feeding, 10 mins and baby is back to sleep it takes no time, but I’m just worried about reliability on feeding to sleep. Has anyone got their baby to take a dummy this late on? TIA!

I don’t have any advice about introducing a dummy, but I also wouldn’t worry about feeding to sleep - I think babies grow out of that when they’re ready. With my DD, I found nursery was helpful because she got used to not being fed to sleep there, and then brought the skill home. You can also try having the dad (or anyone who doesn’t breastfeed) settle the baby, sometimes it’s because if you do it they know milk is available and so won’t settle another way. Again, my DD settled without feeding with my DH months before I could do it.

Mine were all EBF. I fed on demand through the night until around 10 months, and then gradually offered water in a sippy cup instead - first of all between say 11pm and 4am, then gradually stretched it out to 6am, and then just a bedtime feed... Once they got used to it, they didn't wake up so much during the night. It wasn't as quick or as easy as it sounds written down, but we got there in the end and it was definitely better for all of us in the long run.

Just feed, you shouldn’t be limiting night feeds that age. I don’t see why you wouldn’t feed; if it works. There is no guarantee that stopping feeds will stop wakes, that is not usually seen until after 18 months. I’d also look at whether they need less day sleep and / or a later bedtime. Feeding every 3 hours in the day doesnt seem like very much either? Are you feeding on demand?