Dummy problems

[Hywel]

Can anyone help? My dd is 7 months old and has a strong reliance on her dummy to fall asleep. When it falls out she crys for it back. At times this means putting her dummy back in up to 20 times a night - nightmare!!!!I know that we will have to go cold turkey but I really need some advise on how to do it.
Has anyone else had this problem and how long did it take to go cold turkey? To be honest I'm dreading the thought of it.
Thanks x

I can't advise really as my dd is 2 nect month and still needs a dummy to fall asleep but not during the night (We're working on it though!)Incidentally, she doesn't have one at nursery so I know she doesn't need it. Only thing to suggest is Elizabeth Pantley's book, wher she talks about removing the dummy- I can't remember waht she says but it might be worth looking up.

Thanks, do you know what the book is called?

The no-cry sleep solution

My son Ryan. who is 9 months old today, he was the same, strong reliance on his dummy to fall asleep.

He was 6 months at the time, my health vistor and i agree to do the CC (controlled Cried) leave him to cried in his cot.

It took me 3 nights to work, my hv was right. First night was awful, Ryan cried for over 1 hour or so. Second night 45 mins and third 20 mins.

I go to him 5, 15 20 mins to see if he was alright.

If you don't agree with CC, you can do the pick up/down rountine. Pick your daughter up and put her down in her cot etc.

Good luck

Hi Hywel

I am in exactly the same situation as you with my DD who is 11 months old. If the dummy falls out she cries for it and hasn't yet mastered how to get it for herself, despite being surrounded by between 5 and 6 in her cot...although the ones on soother holders she's managing to find every now and again, but only if we lay them by the side of her, not attach them to her!

She is waking us up between 5 and 11 times a night from 12 pm to 6am and it's a killer...we tried to move her into her own room and moved her back to ours as it's less disruptive than going into another room!

I don't feel comfortable doing CC as it is not for a hug or mum and dad that she wakes, just the dummy, and as soon as it's popped back in she's asleep again. I can't remove it completely during the day as she gets really really upset and if I give it to her for a few minutes, she's back to being a beautiful wonderful little girl.

I don't know what the answer is but I'll be looking at this thread with interest! If it is appropriate then i'm happy to try it, but not sure if CC is appropriate for a dummy?

Good luck - Joe

Thanks, I'm really concerned about controlled crying and not sure that I'm strong enough....I think I'm going to try pick up put down. Will let you know how I get on, thanks for the advise

I tried pick up and put down, and whether it's because I'm completely sleep deprived I don't know but this became a real battle and it was the first time ever I had bad thoughts towards my beautiful daughter...which is why I did it once and that was that. I'd rather not sleep for five years than feel bad towards my daughter!

I hope it works for you, let us know how you get on. Joe

Well we did it! Started last night and didn't give dd her dummy to fall asleep. To say it was unplesant was an under statement, she cried for 45min, dh stayed with her (I wasn't strong enough)rubbing her back. The only saving grace was her cry was more frustration than upset and she didn't shed a single tear. She then stayed in dreamland without a stir until 1am, then she cried for over 1 hour. I ended up cuddling her back to sleep (I know this is a no no but she did fall asleep without her dummy, so I felt a small triumph). She then stirred at 4.30 and cried for 10 mins and fall back asleep without a whimper at her 6.30 feed. Not really looking forward to her naps today, however we need to stick with it now or all the crying was for nothing. Will it get better today and have a made a rod for my own back cuddling her to sleep? Is it me or as a mother are yor always worrying about doing the right thing?
Thanks for listening x

hywel,

i know how you feel, i am always worried about "making a rod for my own back...." i don't have the dummy problem at the moment (although she does have about 10 scattered in her cot .... but I do constantly worry about what i do with DD and will it enforce "this" will it encourage "bad habits" etc etc....for the last 2 days (for the 1st time ever) DD has fallen asleep on my knee in the living room and not in her cot for her daytime naps.... I have loved cuddling her to sleep (never done it b4 was too paranoid about encouraging bad sleeping habits....) I usually do pick up put down in the day when she wont sleep, but I am getting fed up with daytime naps having to result in P/u P/d.... I know this is going off on a tangent, but I just wanted to let you know I too worry constantly about what i do with DD and is it the "right" thing.....whatever the right thing maybe.... all these baby books are great, and i do swear by the baby whisp routine..... but my god do they make you paranoid!!!

All going well so far. The second night was a doddle, dd fed for 20 mins I put her in the cot and she didn't make a sound, fall fast asleep as though she has never had a dummy at all. It has been like that ever since, if she stirs in the night we just rub her back and she drops off again. But rubbing her back is a dream in comparison to running up and down stairs all night, then lying with your arm through the rung of the cot in anticipation of dummy drop! Naps are still a little difficult she cries for about 5-10mins before dropping off to sleep. I am hoping that this improves soon. As anyone else had this problem, when night time is easy but naps are a bit of a battle of wills?