Help - has anyone else have this problem when getting dc to sleep???

[becksmummy]

Just when I thought I had got it sorted, dd into cot awake dummy in and puts herself to sleep we now have a new problem!!

Now when I put the dummy in dd takes it out, I put it back in she takes it back out, so I keep it out but then she cries for it back, give it her back and she takes it back out!!!!!! She needs the dummy to fall asleep but for some reason as soon as the dummy goes into her mouth both hands go up to the dummy and pull it out but then she gets frustrated as she actually wants it in. We were doing this for nearly 2 hours last night as she cant fall asleep without it so ended up leant over her cot holding both her hands (not pinning them down letting her hold my fingers and stroking her hands) so she couldnt take it out until she fell asleep.

Sorry its long winded but it seems such a strange problem needed to explain, dd is nearly 8 months by the way.

Aaaah, ds is the same age and he did this. I think they're so thrilled that they've learnt how to do it that it becomes a bit compulsive.
He only did it for a day or two and now he can put it back in, genius boy! .
So don't despair, I bet it won't go on for long at all.(I know, a couple of nights is a long time when you get no sleep!)

personally i would leave a couple of dummies in the cot for her to have if she wanted them and then i would let her get them herself or let her cry. The only time i give dd2 this much attention when she should be in bed sleeping is when she is teething and is in pain and even then i do the absolute minimum because i don't want her to rely on me at night, i don't want her to learn that crying at night will have me stood by her cot for 2 hours.

I'm a firm but fair type, some might say hard faced - it really does take every ounce of self control and belief im doing the best for my child in the long run to stop me getting her up and letting her do what she wants, unfortunatly i learnt the hard way with dd1.

Thanks good to know dd isnt the only child to do this, she can put the dummy in herself but when she takes it out it usually ends up out of reach! Looks like the best thing to do is leave her with a few dummies around her and let her get on with it, and hopefully like you sau it will only last a few nights (fingers crossed)

Mine's doing the same but she's 5 months and doesn't have the co-ordination to put it back in yet. I had to chuckle watching her repeatedly try to put it in the wrong way around tho. Does she side sleep? I find it easier when DD is put on her side and I can put a hand on her back and hold the dummy gently in place with a finger.

My DS does this (6 months). He also likes to shake it around and chat to it before flinging it out of the cot . He doesn't have the dummy all the time as he often sucks his thumb. I once saw him manage to get the dummy back in his mouth but he was so pleased with himself that he took it straight out again .

What happens if you leave the room for a few mins - does she grumble or is it full on yelling?

Seems like this is more of a common problem than I thought! If I leave her to it she grumbles at first but it gets to full on yelling if I dont go in and find where she has thrown the dummy.

I have tried putting her on her side to sleep but she just rolls onto her back so must prefer this at the moment.

Tonight she has gone to sleep with me stroking her hands again trying to stop them going up to her mouth!! I have then left several dummies around her but she doesnt usually do this if she stirs in the night it is only at going to sleep time.

How do you deal with this problem??

It's a pain isn't it! Sometimes giving him something to occupy his hands works e.g. he has a floppy cow toy that he likes to stroke. DS has been a bit unsettled the last couple of nights because he has a cold and would only go to sleep with one of my hands on his chest. Trouble was that everytime I tried to withdraw the hand he would wake up again and clutch at my fingers. I tried sneaking the cow in, in place of my hand and he stroked it and went to sleep (sometimes he likes to rub it on his face before sleeping).

Perhaps thats worth a try, she does have a bedtime bear that she likes at the side of her cheek when she goes to sleep, maybe she would hold it instead? Already in bed for tonight so will give it a go tomorrow!

My dd has a bear that I didn't let her have in bed for ages. Now she does and she tends to go to sleep with it on her head . Just to add her we don't leave it there it gets put to the side once shes asleep It must help as she has been a brill sleeper the past few nights