Sleep problems 5 wk old baby - dummy??

[Oscar22]

Hi, Have 5 wk old baby who, for some reason, screams from 1am - 5am no matter what I do. Am bf but she has one bottle of formula (aptimel) before going to bed at 9pm. She sleeps fine from 9pm until 1am then I bf and she can't go back to sleep and literally screams until 5am. I have left her for 5 mins first then 10 mins then 15 mins etc but this doesn't work. I then feed her again at 5am and she sleeps until around 8am which is fine. I can't understand why she can't get to sleep from 1 - 5. I have tried giving her formula for this middle bit but it still doesn't work. I reluctantly gave her a dummy last night for the first time and it did calm her down. Is this a good idea or have I done the wrong thing? I was told that dummies make your child's teeth stick out - is this true. I have got a dummy for newborns. Any advice appreciated.
x

Oscar22 - I don't have a newborn at the moment so I'm sure someone will be along soon who knows more, but I'd say if it works, go with it! You can always take it away later, and those hours between 1 and 5 are precious!

If it works, just let her have the dummy!!!
It won't harm her, you can lose it later, when she's grown a bit.

If a child continues to use a dummy until they're quite old then there's a possibility it could affect the teeth but then so can thumb sucking. I've used dummies with both of mine and if it makes you and her happier then go for it. Babies get a lot of pleasure from sucking and she's too young to have enough control to keep her thumb in just yet.

Another thing about dummies is that they have been shown to reduce incidence of cot death.

Also, (I'm a 'routine' person so ignore this if you're not), I always tried to put mine down for sleep at 7pm and then wake them for a feed just before I go to bed around 11pm - give them an hour of awake time. I would expect to wake at least twice in the nights for feeds at this age. Also limiting daytime sleep to around 4hrs seemed to help me get better nights.

But - whatever works for you and her, go with your instincts!

What have you tried to get her back to sleep?

If it helps why not give a dummy. My dd had one as she wouldn't settle and was a very 'sucky' baby. She dropped it and now sucks her thumb which was her choice but the dummy saved my life for about three months.

Well, its pretty normal for young babies to not have a good sleep pattern. She is very young to pick up habits too so using a dummy is no big deal.

The dummy and SIDS thing is if dummies are used all the time btw.

At the moment if she is hungry feed her. There is nothing wrong with cuddling her to sleep, co-sleeping, dummies or anything else if it makes her, and thus you, happy.

Sleep deprivation is a shocker, isnt it?

good advice - I will leave her with the dummy and hope for a good nights sleep tonight. When she wakes I do pick her up at the start to make sure its not wind. As soon as I pick her up she stops crying and when i put her down she starts screaming. Then i leave her for 5 mins, come back in and leave her in the moses basket to cry but I talk softly to her - she might calm down for a couple of seconds at which point i leave the room and she starts screaming again - this goes on and on and on..... sleepless night but last night was at the end of my tether and so had to give the dummy. thanks for the advice everyone.
x

Oscar, please dont leave her to cry. She is far to young for controlled crying. If she wants a cuddle - give her a cuddle. She is only 5 weeks old.

oh oscar I'm with VVV. She's too young for all this, she's barely out of your tummy! When she cries give her a cuddle, feed her as much as she likes, take her to bed with you... whatever it takes. She's still so tiny. All that controlled crying thing is not recommended before 6 months, some would say before 12 months.

Have you tried breastfeeding her to get her back to sleep?

Will echo the others who've said she's really far too young to be left to cry.