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Original poster

Anyone use a dummy *purely* for bedtime & naps?

40 replies

peedieworky · 27/09/2011 08:03

Hi all. My DS is 18 weeks old and EBF. He sleeps through about 4/5 nights out of 7 from 0730pm till around 7am. The remaining days he wakes around 4am but isn't hungry and although he sucks his thumb for comfort during the day, he doesn't seem to think to do so at night. Instead I had been holding him and letting him suck my little finger till he dropped off. This is also how I had been putting him down for daytime naps. I knew I should be putting him down awake but he screams and I prefer an easy life buckle. Last night when he woke I gave him a dummy instead & didn't pick him up & he sucked himself to sleep. Am now considering this may help the sleep issue in general. but! I really don't want him using a dummy during the day. He's a lovely smiley, chatted boy and has never shown signs of needing one when awake.

So! Can they be kept for sleep only? Does anybody use a dummy just for sleep - not for sleepy grumpiness too? I mean purely bedtime routine? Thanks!!

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bigkidsdidit · 27/09/2011 08:05

Me - just night sleep, not even naps. Outside his cot he doesnt have it - in the morning when I get him out of his cot I take his dummy and he doesn't protest at all. But he loves it at night and it really does help him get to sleep.

Byeckerslike · 27/09/2011 08:14

Yes me, same as bigkids

Original poster
peedieworky · 27/09/2011 08:19

Wow! Really? Am so glad. What about day naps then?

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HSMM · 27/09/2011 08:26

Mine had hers for night time and day naps, but never asked for it at any other time.

notcitrus · 27/09/2011 08:37

Yes, though only started when ds had a terrible cold aged 10 months, and wanted to suck on something for about 3 days (it was me or a dummy). Since then it's been really easy to get him to nap/sleep by bringing out a dummy and blanket - and since age 2 he's often said he wants them, meaning a nap, or even gone upstairs to get them and curled up on the sofa!

He does want it more when he has a cold, but I'm cutting it down now he's 3 - it tends to fall out of his mouth as soon as he's asleep anyway.

bigkidsdidit · 27/09/2011 09:21

If he's going for a nap in his cot I give it to him but that is rare for us. He normally naps in pram or sling and he doesn't need one then. During the week the cm doesn't give him one for naps, she doesn't even have any there.

Original poster
peedieworky · 27/09/2011 09:38

Thanks everyone. Yes - I tend to be out and about for his naptime, which is why when I do have to put him down for daytime naps in the house I'm a bit stuck for what to do.. And he tends to resist! Yesterday was a complete disaster. I have to confess he always goes to bed asleep at night. Not deliberate feeding to sleep - honest! Even on the rare occasions when he had a bottle, he conked off mid-suck and couldn't be roused (& brave as I am, I aint waking a sleeping baby to put him to bed!). But he sometimes wakes within 5-10 mins and, again, we were lifting him out and letting him suck our finger. Guess a dummy would make sense for then too.

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JugsMcGee · 27/09/2011 09:39

Yep, naps and bed time only here. I introduced it when DS was sleeping a similar pattern to yours but didn't want to feed when he woke.

HettyAmaretti · 27/09/2011 09:43

We (well DD) did - wasn't a problem at all. When she was older she sometimes wanted it during the day, the rule was that she could have it but only if she lay down in bed with it with the curtains closed - no playing. So, she'd slip into bed, suck for a couple of minutes and want to get out again because it was so dull.

The dummy fairy took it just before her 3rd birthday - wasn't a issue at all.

Original poster
peedieworky · 27/09/2011 09:53

Currently trying with his morning nap. Hiding on floor popping it back in when knocks it out. At moment has both thumbs in mouth along with dummy. Am not feeling confident..

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Original poster
peedieworky · 27/09/2011 10:03

Well b*gger me! Am converted!

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Mimmee · 27/09/2011 10:11

Me too! Naps and bedtime only.

DD is 6.5 mo and wants it a lot less now. Never has it in the day and never seems to fussed about it. It's just really good for that overtired, can't settle state and those brief night wakings.

Jane7 · 27/09/2011 12:51

Very interested in this thread. My ten week old ds2 is currently using a dummy just to settle him at night and for the odd nap in his cot during the day. He doesn't need it for sleeps in buggy, sling or car. And I whip it off him as soon as he's sound asleep so he doesn't get in habit of wanting it at night after feeds. I'm really keen for him not to get too addicted to it - to be honest i'd rather he sucked his thumb (which I know I'll get shot down for). I'm planning on giving up the dummy atabout 4 months - isn't that when sucking reflex subsides. Anyone else done very limited dummy use and does it ever work or do babies always become dependent on dummies if you give them one to settle? Don't mean to hijack thread. In answer to OP, yes, I suppose I only use them for sleep and it works absolutely fine. I never give him one just because he's being grouchy but that's probably because he's a pretty chilled baby during the day so I don't need to. To be hnest, I'd rather he cried a bit, say in the car or buggy, and then went to sleep than plug in a dummy. Wld love to know what others thought.

Original poster
peedieworky · 27/09/2011 13:09

Uh-oh Jane7! DS is 4 months and here's me introducing one!

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bigkidsdidit · 27/09/2011 13:35

If it's only at night - so not harming speech etc - I don't see the problem of a 'prop'. DS likes to watch his monitor lights too as he drifts off, and has White noise to drown out traffic. I suppose he's dependent on all three but I don't really see how it matters. He'll give it up at some point- don't know any adults with dummies to help them sleep!

Plus after months on continual waking DS now sleeps through so my sanity is saved! Worth it to me.

bigkidsdidit · 27/09/2011 13:36

If it's only at night - so not harming speech etc - I don't see the problem of a 'prop' or of him being dependent on something. DS likes to watch his monitor lights too as he drifts off, and has White noise to drown out traffic. I suppose he's dependent on all three but I don't really see how it matters. He'll give it up at some point- don't know any adults with dummies to help them sleep!

Plus after months on continual waking DS now sleeps through so my sanity is saved! Worth it to me.

bigkidsdidit · 27/09/2011 13:37

Sorry

mummytime · 27/09/2011 13:41

I did for mine (at least one had very advanced speech at 3). But I had been a bad thumb sucker, and desperately didn't want that habit as its much harder to break.

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 27/09/2011 13:45

I am a big fan of using a dummy for sleeps. My dd looks forward to getting in her cot because of it, and it means she is happy to loll around for a while in the mornings before getting up. So more lie ins for us!

We are v strict about keeping it to nighttime and naps though. The only other time we use it is on flights, but anything goes then!

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 27/09/2011 13:51

And in answer to Jane7, no, my dd has not become increasingly dependant - she sucks on it as she falls asleep and nine times out of ten she isn't sucking it when I go in and check on her. She is 19mo btw. She used to be a dreadful sleeper pre dummy, and is great now. She can fall asleep without it, but she loves it so much I don't see a good reason to take it away.

I guess I'm the opposite, I'd infinitely rather she had an instant source of comfort which works and doesn't harm her at all ( and I don't think a dummy used sparingly harms at all) than cry and then fall asleep.

Original poster
peedieworky · 27/09/2011 21:14

Well, yesterday I ended up (inadvertently) letting him cry to sleep, as he wouldn't let me rock him, wouldn't suck my finger and wouldn't suck his own thumb. I stayed with him till he fell asleep but he slept very briefly and fitfully afterwards. Today, he zonked out happily with the dummy & had a nice long nap. Only day 1 but I know which I prefer! Thanks for the replies everyone.

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Alibabaandthe80nappies · 27/09/2011 21:17

Current FSIDs advice recommends settling your baby to sleep with a dummy for nights and all naps, so there is no need to feel like you are doing the wrong thing.

Original poster
peedieworky · 27/09/2011 22:25

Hmmm... Just read another post about the replugging issue and starting to have second thoughts!

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bigkidsdidit · 28/09/2011 08:12

obviously if it's more trouble than it's worth for you, don't do it.

My DS is now 8mo and since 5 months has never woken up for his dummy - uses it to go to sleep and when it falls out, it doesn't seem to bother him. For about the last month he has it in when I get him out in the morning so he must be able to find it himself in the cot now.

MacMomo · 28/09/2011 08:19

Naps and night sleep only. She learnt to replug for herself at 5 months. I sometimes leave a spare in the cot so she can find one if throws the other out (common occurrence!).