how to get rid of the dummy?

[dcb]

DD is 6 months and needs a dummy to get to sleep during hte day and also to get back to sleep when she wakes during the night (usually 2-3 times), but not to get to sleep in the evening for some reason. We think that if she could put herself back to sleep without the dummy then we would all get more sleep. The question is i don't know how to get rid of it. I've tried to get her to sleep during the day without it and she gets so upset she almost stops breathing/vomits and takes ages to get to sleep even if i then give her the dummy. It's very upsetting. Mind you, even if we give her the dummy at night, it's no guarantee she will sleep - i now bring her into bed with me after about3-4 am. I feel as if things are spiralling out of control. I feed her once overnight at around 2 ish and she has a dream feed at 10.30, after going to sleep at 7. Sorry it's so long.

Any ideas would be appreciated

A dummy holder, it click on to the clothes etc! You can get this in Boots.

My son Ryan, who is nearly 2. Had a dummy since he was born. Ryan was waking up for his dummy twice a night, since i brought a dummy holder. It is brilliant!

I thought it was cruel to take it away from them that young age.

When I'm going to get rid of the dummy, when Ryan is around 2.5 years old.

Hi dcb - I am in a very similar situation with my 4.5 month old dd in that she is totally dependent on her dummy for sleep. I know that I really need to get rid of the thing, but I simply don't have the heart to do it having introduced it to her for my benefit in the first place. She gets so much comfort from it.

I was getting up 4-5 times a night to put the wretched dummy back in as well as feeding, and the solution we have arrived at now (thanks to another mumsnetter) is that I tie her dummy to a muslin in a big knot so that she can find it herself much more easily. She sleeps on her side and I tuck the end of the muslin right underneath her so that if it falls out it doesn't move far and she can root for it in her sleep. Its made a huge difference and she practically sleeps through from 7pm to 7am now. I now realise that she wasn't hungry at all and just needed to find her dummy to get back to sleep.

Your dd at 6 months might have the coordination to put it in her mouth herself if she could find it do you think? Either knotted to a muslin so its easier for her, or even glo in the dark dummy?

I know that I am not tackling the real problem at all, but it works for us.

Best of luck x

Put one in her mouth, one in each hand and dot them round her head. When you replace them for her, put them in her hand, and then bring her hand to her mouth.

then she can do it herwself.

thanks everyone. does anyone have any tips on how to "wean" off the dummy as well though?

We have been cutting down on ds's dummy use by giving him a lovely soft toy at night instead - or rather, his great-granny gave him one for Christmas - which he has really taken to. Previous comforters failed but this one seems to hit the spot. It's suitable from birth, though we did hesitate slightly about having it in his cot at night (SIDS risk and all that)... but having looked at it I can't imagine how he would suffocate himself with it.

On the other hand I do sometimes wonder how a comforter like this is any better than his dummy (which is an orthodontic one anyway) if the worry is him needing sleep 'props'.

Anyway now he goes to sleep for the night with the toy instead of the dummy, though we are still using the dummy for daytime sleeps - don't know why but his daytime naps are a whole different ballgame from nighttime!

Thanks - she has a "sleepy monkey" that's always in her cot - I'm going to try and get her to cuddle him at bedtime. I'm also going to try the muslin idea - not sure if it will work with a backsleeper - will let you know