4 mo: feed to sleep or start a dummy?

[philbee]

DD2 is 16 weeks, sleeps at night but up unpredictably anywhere between 2 and 6 times, sometimes just an hour apart. I used to be able to feed and plop her back in but now she will wake up and stretch back for boob, then just comfort suck back to sleep. I don't think she really needs to feed all those times. The sleep deprivation is getting to me and I have an older DD at home so hard to nap in the day (DD2 will only nap 30 mins at a time anyway). Last night she took a dummy for the first time and it helped her off. Is it stupid to introduce it at this stage though? She shoves her hands in her mouth and I think she's nearly sucking her thumb. I don't want to get into having to get up lots of times to put the dummy back in instead.

If it were me, I'd do everything under the sun to avoid using a dummy. I hate the things!

It's a tricky one, isn't it!? Our ds2 had a dummy from day 3 and I am wondering how I will ge it away from him?! However, I gave our ds1 a dummy at 4 months and he gave it up by himself at about 10 months when he was teething, but I may just have been lucky!
I don't know what the answer is, maybe look at the bigger picture and see what you want; potentially more sleep now and accept that you may have another restless period as and when you want to phase it out. However, as you have said, if it falls/gets spat out then you will still be up and down like I am sometimes now.
Sorry, rubbish reply, just wanted to respond x

As someone with a 27month old who STILL has a dummy I have to say- the pros have out weighed the cons in our case. Giant baby (was 10.5lbs) and remained in 98th centile. she fed constantly, colicky, sucky baby....
Pacifier was our miracle tool.
We have had to make an exception to continue to allow it. She is attached to it but realises it is strictly only for sleep times.
Not saying you should go for it- saying do exactly what works for you.

Have you tried feeding her properly with her a bit more awake so she gets a big feed? I used to co sleep with my dd and she woke about every 90 mins feeding a little but very quickly going to comfort sucking but got to the stage where she wouldn't sleep without sucking. Over the course of the night she's totally drain me-my boobs felt completely empty in the morning

We've just made the transition to the cot and after initially really struggling with continued frequent waking my HV advised making sure she was really awake when she fed, burping and offering both sides. This contradicted what I've been doing which was wanting her to get sleepy so she went to back to sleep easier but I think she was falling asleep before she was full and was then waking so frequently as she was constantly hungry.

It maybe worthwhile trying to get her as full as possible so she doesn't wake up hungry and then feed a bit before just comfort sucking.

In answer to your op though, I wouldnt give a dummy at that age for the same reason as pp. If you wanted something for her to suck would she take a muslin or suitable soft toy comforter? Our dd has a soft toy she snuggles and sometimes sucks on, less likely to get lost in the cot in the middle of the night!

monster, that's a good idea. I just pop her off as soon as I can tbh as I am so knackered. But she does suck pretty hard at the beginning of each feed. I find it hard to rouse her though, even burping etc., she is just asleep!

DD1 had a dummy and at 12 weeks was constantly knocking it out of her mouth, so when DD2 wouldn't take one I was relieved really as I thought we could avoid that transition to sleeping without one. But I'd rather not start now really. I will try a bit more with the feeding I think and hope for thumb sucking.

Better night last night and I tried to do proper feeds, which I think did help. I will hold off the dummy for now I think. Thanks all.

I would give the dummy. I wish my 3 month old would take it. Then at least she'd have something to self- soothe

My dd has only just taken a dummy at 5 months. She still wants boob in the night though so it only helps in the day when she is quite fretful and helps with her reflux. I think babies are a lot more clever than we think!