Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

HELP - Dummy keeps on falling out!

52 replies

meiko · 05/12/2006 20:55

I have 13 week old twins. One of them is totally dependant on his dummy. He goes to slepp at 8pm and falls asleep fine. If dummy falls out he keeps sleeping. He then wakes around 2.30am and for rest of night keeps dropping dummy out every 10 or 20 mins and crying. What should I do - think i am going to crack up!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

gingerninja · 11/12/2006 15:46

I'd say dump the dummy. We were having the same problem and I decided it was only going to get worse. Plus I hated the sight of the thing. It is very difficult (we're on day 3 without it) and I feel so guilty because my DD got so much pleasure out of it but I do think that in the long run it's for the best.

WonderCod · 11/12/2006 15:47

bion them

colditz · 11/12/2006 16:09

cherry teat. orthodontic teats do drop out.

3sEnough · 11/12/2006 16:11

Yep - have to agree - get rid of it. Mine are thumb suckers and although I'm now having a fit at the thought of how many thousands of £ in orthodontic treatment it will cost - we never lost the dummy so to speak! Good luck

fizzbuzz · 11/12/2006 16:43

Dd always lost her dummy at 3 months. Tried to take it off her, but she cried for 2 hours and she never cries normally.
Ds now 21 weeks old, and still has dummy, but it doesn't seem to fall out as much any more. Was in despair at 3 months, but much much easier now, just needs quick plugging once in night. I'll second cherry teat, don't even wastetime withthe others.

fizzbuzz · 11/12/2006 16:50

Also swaddling helped a lot, still do it sometimes now when desperate

becksmummy · 29/12/2006 12:27

I am having the same problem but my DD is 6 months now, she goes to sleep no problem but needs the dummy to fall asleep.

She doesnt wake as soon as it falls out it seems to be when she goes into a lighter sleep but this happens several times a night sometimes. She doesnt wake up fully and goes straight back as soon as teh dummy is in.

I know the best solution is to get rid of the dummy but now she is 6 months she is very dependant on it, are there any other solutions????

WideWebWitch · 29/12/2006 12:35

Yep, a dummy holder that you clip to their clothes, I used them for both of mine.

fizzbuzz · 29/12/2006 12:52

Don't know if this helps......dd 6 months old and loves dummy, however endless broken nights and being knackered at having to go and reinsert dummy at least 20 times, dp and I had had enough.

Unfortunately both too wimpy to take dummy away, although did make feeble effort.

So instead of ditching dummy, we ditched the monitor. UNBELIEVABLE....ds sleeps all night, as we don't rush in at every little wimper. Heard her grizzling away other night, and just went back to sleep, so did she as well!

Presumably she must wake and miss dummy, but as we don't rush in at first murmer anymore she goes back to sleep.

Hope this helps..

becksmummy · 02/01/2007 09:55

sorry for delay in responding been so busy over new year!!

thanks for your ideas i use a dummy holder during the day as dd started throwing it out of the pushchair so will give it a go at night too!

I think you are right I probably do respond too quickly when the dummy comes out but at the moment she is still in our room so harder to ignore! We are moving her to her own room so it may go better then, will let you know!!!

billyog · 02/01/2007 10:26

My ds has the same problem but it was particulary bad around the 3 mth mark, waking every half hour after 2 am. We just kept popping the dummy back in but then got him weighed and he hadn't put on as much weight as we would like. Think it was hunger that was waking him so new rule was that if he wakes up give him his dummy back. If he wakes up 20 min later ,feed him. It only lasted a few days and then he started sleeping for longer. I think they go through a big growth spurt at 3 mths also.

dejags · 02/01/2007 10:46

Instead of a dummy holder, use a muslin square as follows: tie it to the dummy then put several knots in it. This is far less dangerous than the dummy holder as it will be difficult for the baby to become entangled in it.

It serves as a great comforter and it works REALLY well (both DS's worked a treat). They can find their dummy at night because the knots in the muslin square are easy to find.

becksmummy · 02/01/2007 11:50

I like the muslin square idea will definately give that a go!

herbgarden · 02/01/2007 12:22

Sorry, I say ditch the dummy. I used one from 6 weeks onwards and got fed up to the back teeth of the "dummy duty" I was on 24 hours a day (well during naps and sleeps). After a holiday at 9 weeks where I was constantly losing them, popping them in and out, I resolved to deal with it. I took it away firstly when he went to bed at 7pm. We had a bit of crying but eventually he settled - and now I really do think he sleeps better without it. I've never given it him at 10pm after I fed him as he seemed ok to go down without it - so sleepy I suppose. I kept it for daytime naps, but by 13/14 weeks, I took it off him for those as well and he found his thumb. You might prefer a dummy to a thumb but at least their thumb is attached. I also find that my lo only sucks his thumb when tired/dropping off to sleep and to get himself off again when he comes into a light sleep - he doesn't really use it if upset - that just requires a bit of comforting. I think a lot of babies need some comfort - they're so little but I personally prefer something which doesn't require so much input from me !! - they're demanding enough without the dummy duty.

dcb · 06/01/2007 15:01

I think that using a dummy is the cause of our dd's difficulty in putting herself back to sleep at nights as well. I've tried (fairly feebly) to go witout but give in pretty easliy in the quiet of the night when she is screaming. She won't be comforted by any other means. Then I end up getting into bed with her (spare bed in her room) as this is then the easiest way of replacing the dummy - usually between 4-7 am when I am at my sleepiest. She goes to sleep really well in the evenings without it for some reason, but needs it for daytime naps. I know we need to get rid of it but I don't have the heart or the courage to. Either that or wait until she's coordinated enough to replace herself (anyone know when that's likely to be?) Any other ideas gratefully received.

annmarieandlily · 08/01/2007 10:02

Just wanted to drop in and say a huge thank you to dejags for the dummy tied to the muslin idea. I have been watching this thread with interest as I have been having the same problem with my 20 week old dd.

In desperation after getting up at least 4 or 5 times a night, I thought I'd give the muslin idea a go and .... she slept ALL NIGHT!!! When I say all night I really mean 6.45pm to 7.30am the next morning! I actually left part of the muslin un-knotted and tucked it well underneath her so that it stays in one place. She can then root around herself and find it as she's not quite coordinated enough to find it with her hands yet.

Have had two nights on the trot like this so fingers crossed its not a blip, but even so I feel like a new person for having had my first two nights of unbroken sleep in nearly 5 months.

So dejags - would love to be able to buy you a large drink! Thank you!

becksmummy · 08/01/2007 11:29

wow annmarieandlily I hadnt got round to trying the muslin square idea as I need to get round to buying some but now I have read your post I definately want to give it a go!

Can you explain a bit more about how you managed to tuck it in, i'm not sure how you mean, think this bit is a good idea as although dd can manage to put her dummy in herself during the day she doesnt try at night so want to make it as easy as possible for her!

annmarieandlily · 08/01/2007 21:39

Hi again. I attached the dummy with a knot to one end of the muslin, leaving kind of a long tail of cloth. When the dummy is in the right position for her to root for, I tuck the rest of the muslin right underneath her body (so that she's lying on it basically) so that its impossible for her to pull or wriggle it out. So even when she spits the dummy out it doesn't move very far away and when she wakes I guess a bit of rooting and she finds it again. She sleeps on her side by the way so this also helps.

I know I'm totally avoiding the issue of getting rid of the dummy, but I'm afraid I just can't bring myself to take it away from her when it gives her so much comfort. I would have gone crackers in the early weeks without it, so I'd feel mean now taking it away from her when it obviously soothes and relaxes her so much.

No doubt there are those that will think me a pariah, but she's happy, I'm happy and we both sleep all night - kind of a no brainer to me. Don't want to advocate that what I am doing is necessarily right, but it works for us.

Good luck!

becksmummy · 09/01/2007 11:08

thanks, I agree I introduced her to a dummy so I feel cruel now taking it off her because it suits me, I would much rather find a way we are both happy with for the time being.

I know I will have to go through taking the dummy away at some point but would rather do that when I can talk to her and explain, at 6 months she doesnt understand!

Thanks for explaining how it works for you I will give it a go but dd sleeps on her back so not sure will let you know.

dcb · 12/01/2007 17:04

Becksmummy - did it work for you? My dd also sleeps on her back so not sure - prob is better for "sidesleepers". Will give it a go tonight

becksmummy · 12/01/2007 19:12

Hi dcb, no unfortunately it didnt work!

I think at first it didnt fall out as quick as the dummy didnt fall when it came out but as soon she turned her head she had lost it so still needed me to find it again for her!

Let me know how it goes for you or if anything else works as I am willing to try anything for a good nights sleep!!!!!

dcb · 13/01/2007 11:48

no didn't work for us either. she just doesn't have the coordination yet to find it pick it up and put it back in. am trying to get her to suck her thumb but she's not having any of it. we stopped her 10.30 dream feed last night to see if this would make any diff. She would usu wake up between 1.30-3 for a feed and then about 3-4am and sleep badly (with me) after this, if husband fed her at 10.30. frankly, I'm getting fed up with expressing milk for this (she won't take prescription formula which really stinks (don't blame her), can't have normal stuff due to allergy. anyhow, she woke at 12.45 (fed her)and then 4 (into bed with me as wouldn't settle) and generally slept better, so we're going to ditch it for the next few nights as well. sorry it's so long.

have just bought next size up dummies (6-12) in the hope that they may stay in better!

Hanlou007 · 13/01/2007 15:31

DD2 used to wake when dummy fell out...So got rid when she was 4 mths and she had the best night sleep she ever had.. it was hard for a day or 2 but after that she was a dream..Now has a muslin square like DD1 and never looked back

becksmummy · 13/01/2007 18:34

let me know how next size up dummies go, havent bought any yet as didnt think they looked much different but if they are then worth buying!

Hanlou007 how did you go about getting rid of the dummy? How did you settle you dd when you first took it away? How do I get my dd attached to something else, you say you use muslin??

Sorry for all the questions but I am interested!!

dcb · 14/01/2007 11:20

no diff with 6m dummies -still fall out as much. would also like to hear how you got rid of the dummies hanlou - did you just go cold turkey? my dd goes into a real rage if ever i try not to give it to her - not looking forward to it but we might just have to bite the bullet as i am convinced we will all sleep better without them

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread