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Original poster

Weaning off dummy - how?!

63 replies

18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 21:02

PLEASE help, I'm desperate.

14 week old who SCREAMS relentlessly at full volume if she doesn't have the dummy in her mouth when she falls asleep & wakes up.

One episode saw her awake for 96 hrs without even a nap Sad partly down to severe reflux which isn't helping.

OP posts:
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Plonkysaurus · 23/02/2015 21:04

14 weeks? Let her keep the dummy!

nilbyname · 23/02/2015 21:05

Honestly, keep using the dummy.

She is still teeny tiny and I would review the dummy weaning at more like 6-9m.

Some babies are very sucky and they need a dummy for comfort. There is plenty of time to stop the dummy habit.

Ds- horrible sleeper, bfed all the bloody time. Didn't Sleep through until 18months!!!!

Dd- second baby. Bfed then mixed fed, had a dummy. Slept well, then through the night at 8m.

Hang in there!

00100001 · 23/02/2015 21:08

Good God, let het have a dummy

Original poster
18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 22:29

I didn't know if I was 'making a rod for my own back' by letting her rely on it for sleep.

Its the sleep deprivation for me that's starting to cause me serious health probs to the point where I'm now under a neurologist.

Having her screaming at midnight & then taking her 4 hrs to settle (even with it) isn't sustainable Sad

This eve I have read up on lots of possible procedures to wean off eventually & most of them said 6mths(ish) but I'm now on such strong meds with horrific side effects which are caused by sleep deprivation.

As she relies so heavily on the dummy I really don't sant to burden anhone else with the problem overnight.

OP posts:
Original poster
18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 22:30

Don't want to burden anyone else if they were to do an overnight shift

OP posts:
HelenaVagBasket · 23/02/2015 22:32

Your baby was awake for 96 hours?

nevergooglebrandybutter · 23/02/2015 22:33

she is comforted, let her have it. it doesn't sound like now is a good time to remove it.

wait until a time when she is sleeping better and you are feeling stronger

FATEdestiny · 23/02/2015 22:33

Two things:

1 - Let her have the dummy! Just don't even consider getting rid until much older.

  1. If she needs the dummy literally all of the time, including when awake, then there is something else wrong. Hunger?
Original poster
18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 22:35

Yes, because of the reflux. She is now on a drug that isn't even licensed for infants Sad

The HV's keep cancelling the appointments they make as they need to take that time to keep up with their paperwork, yet they are saying she needs to be referred to paediatrics due to lack of weight gain.

All 4 hospitals on the NHS 'choose & book' referral have tomd me they are so iver ooked they won't even consider making an appointment until April with a view to the appointment being in June.

I've got one side of the NHS saying I need help but the other side of it aren't helping.

OP posts:
nevergooglebrandybutter · 23/02/2015 22:35

if I was doing a night shift, I'd be glad if a dummy if it helps to settle her.

hang in there, I had an awakathon baby 3rd time around. its really awful, but it will get better.

Original poster
18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 22:37

Ffs sorry for typos.

Exhaustion.

Paediatrics over subscribed. HVs make appointments weekly so weigh but never do.
Walk-in clinic turn patients away due to being too busy.

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nevergooglebrandybutter · 23/02/2015 22:38

is she feeding enough?

HelenaVagBasket · 23/02/2015 22:39

Oh bless you. My ds had bad reflux and he had a dummy in almost constantly for the first few months - now he is 12 months and hardly ever has his dummy, he seems to be needing it less and less. Don't worry about making a rod, if it helps your baby and lets you rest then do it.
Sorry if you have but have you tried Ranitidine for the reflux? Didn't stop DS puking but helped a lot with his discomfort and helped him sleep.

Original poster
18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 22:40

Yes to hunger.
Switched to mix of breast & formula but nothing stays down. Averaging 11 outfits a day. She is so rigid in pain that she won't bend, she goes straight to standing & won't lay in crib.

Only 'settles' Hmm in car seat.
Thankyou for your productive help so far.

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Original poster
18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 22:41

Yes Ranitidine but GP says to stop as its not helping and he isn't happy with the high dosage.

She consumes 6oz every hour she is so hungry.

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BabyOnBoob · 23/02/2015 22:42

Hi OP hope you're ok, I know it's really hard.

Are you breast feeding or formula feeding? Just asking as my baby is intolerant to cows milk protein and when I eat dairy or soya, this makes her reflux much worse.

HelenaVagBasket · 23/02/2015 22:43

Also, have you ruled out allergies?

nikizeezee · 23/02/2015 22:44

Just posted on another thread about dummies - my DS had one til he was 4 when he decided himself he didn't want it, no negative effects whatsoever (he is now 15). He was completely reliant on it to get to sleep. I used to beat myself up about it and I don't know why. Having had a second baby who wouldn't have one, I would highly recommend them!

Original poster
18yearsoftrying · 23/02/2015 22:46

I cut out all the obvious things to no avail.17 years of IVF, tens of thiusands of pounds to get her here & I'm crap at it.

OP posts:
HelenaVagBasket · 23/02/2015 22:49

You are not crap at all, stop that. An irritable crying baby is bloody hard work and if you were 'crap' then you wouldn't be on here asking for advice.
Is she having 6oz every hour, 24 hours a day?

lotsofcheese · 23/02/2015 22:50

OP, please keep using the dummy if it helps.

A GP should not be managing severe reflux in a young baby - insist upon a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist.

FWIW my DS had severe reflux as a young baby & adult-dose Omeprazole helped, but it sometimes takes a few tries to get the right medicine & dosage.

Hoping things improve soon.

Greenstone · 23/02/2015 22:50

Oh god love you. Can you get a private appointment at all. Beg borrow or steal. You are not crap. This is reflux, it'd awful and it's not your fault. One day this will all be better I promise!

HelenaVagBasket · 23/02/2015 22:55

I found that adding Carobel to his bottles helped as it thickens the milk.

I ended up taking my ds to ooh's one weekend as no one would help and got him admitted to the children's ward. GP's and HV's don't seem well versed in the treatment of reflux, unfortunately.

AppleSnapple · 23/02/2015 22:56

Go into the GP and cry. Our local paeds unit have daily registrar clinics- so you don't have to wait ages for a consultant. Get her in the system via a reg clinic referral if such s thing exists near you. Or failing that, the GP might be able to email paeds for advice on meds (that's what we do at our clinic) consider starting omeprazole etc.

You're not rubbish at this, you're just not. It's just a rough time and this will be a memory (or you may choose not to remember it!) in the months to come. I would keep the dummy if it gives her any xonfort at all- sounds like she needs it too. Good luck and look after yourself

lotsofcheese · 23/02/2015 22:57

Sorry OP, x-posted; I see you're struggling the get a hospital appt. is there is a way of getting a cancellation through the consultant's secretary, or your GP upgrading the referral? Or going privately?

Reflux is hell on earth, I really feel for you & your DD.

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