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Sleep

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Original poster

Last night I replaced the dummy 73 times

46 replies

ResetPassword · 01/02/2017 07:51

DD is nearly 5 months, the dreaded sleep regression hit in the last few weeks. Serves me right for my earlier smugness

We introduced a dummy around 3 months to help day time naps, this helped naps and she also has one at night but she doesn't seem to have fully worked it out. When she wakes (every hour or so) and I replace the dummy she usually rubs her head back n forth on the mattress then claws at her mouth, not sure if she is trying to take the dummy out, trying fit her hand in there too or just having a feel around. Sometime she just spits it out like she doesn't understand how to keep it in. Inevitably the dummy comes out and more often than not gets batted onto the floor as she's flailing her arms around wanting the dummy back in. This repeats for a ridiculous amount of time until she falls back asleep.

73 times I put the dummy in last night, 73 times! I'm developing an unhealthy dummy hatred.

She's bottle fed with one feed at night. Should I get rid and persevere without? Co sleeping doesn't work. White noise used to help but she's not keen now.

Any suggestions? I'm running on empty.

OP posts:

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OnTheUp13 · 01/02/2017 20:26

At that age it can be tooth buds moving around? Like teething but results in no teeth popping up!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 01/02/2017 20:33

I'm sure DS was full on teething at that age- was a long time ago so memory is a bit hazy!

mistermagpie · 01/02/2017 20:41

My DS couldn't keep those MAM dummies in at all, he still can't and he's 18 months old! Try a different brand and you might have better luck.

My niece has one of those comforters that you can attach 4 dummies to (you can get them on eBay quite cheap) and SIL swears by it.

Iizzyb · 02/02/2017 09:48

Ds stopped wanting a dummy at that age & just sucked his thumb. Controversial I know but he is a great sleeper & can always self soothe. He only ever sucks his thumb when he's really tired & has his special soft toy or is going to bed. Controversial again maybe time for baby rice if hungry?

A colleague paid for a consultation with a sleep expert over the phone & that transformed her life as they were getting no sleep. It was horrid for her. Hope this improves for you xx

Timetogrowup2016 · 02/02/2017 10:48

Dd is 11 months from 8 months ish she learnt to put her own dummy in at night. She has a sleepy tot with four on and one loose one in her cot .
We use tommee tippee cherry teats 6-18 months and 0-6 ones before this . Only dummy she took to well

splendide · 02/02/2017 21:54

Sleepytot worked for us but I think he was a bit older when he "got it". Then it stopped working for a while as he liked a loose dummy (still needed the sleepytot with four dummies but jut for cuddling!). Now it works again as if he loses the one he went to bed with he can remove one from sleepytot.

Original poster

ResetPassword · 07/02/2017 18:24

Just to report back

Tabitha Sleepy tot hasn't helped yet but she hasn't quite worked out how to put the dummy in correctly (and instead sucks the ears or side of the dummy) I'm giving her it to play with during the day and I'm sure she will soon work it out.

Still waking constantly from 1230pm onwards. It doesn't appear to be hunger as she's only taking a max of 4oz during the night no matter how many bottles I offer. I've tried increasing frequency of day feeds but she's still taking the same total volume as before. She is however now wide awake thinking it's play time after the night feed, before she used to fall straight back to sleep.

We put 6 different dummies in bed, it doesn't seem to be related to type / brand. This has stopped me pulling my hair out when they get launched out of the cot though.

So, I'm at a loss. She doesn't seem particularly distressed, not crying just whinging. I'm beginning to think this is just something I need to ride out until she learns to sleep / self sooth through the sleep cycles. I just hope this comes sooner rather than later, it feels like being back at the newborn stage zzzzzz

OP posts:

Original poster

ResetPassword · 07/02/2017 18:27

Just read that back and the last paragraph sounds like I mean ride it out by just leaving her to it, I am of course comforting stroking and holding her hand during the endless 'whinging' wake ups

OP posts:

Tabitha1983 · 07/02/2017 20:34

Hi! I was wondering if u had any progress! So sleepytot not an instant cure then 😕 Maybe will be in the near future?!
...same situation here, I'm tearing my hair out 😴 EBF on demand...every 2-3 hours. Bed at 7...dream feed 10...then first wake is 12/1am, so I feed again (although not convinced it's hunger) then after 2am let the hourly dummy inserts commence 😩 I've offered feed again but nurses for 30 seconds then asleep...so convinced its comfort not hunger?
It's so tiring isn't it....like u say..,,it's worse than newborn phase in my case!!
I'm with you and just trying to accept it and hope it's a phase I'll have to ride out? Can't bear the thought of no dummy for day time naps and general self comforting etc.
...I've also been with 2 friends today who have babies of similar ages (similar routines etc), they also have dummies and don't have the same problem...mayb 1-2 inserts on a bad night but generally not an issue. So maybe it's not the dummy that's the problem....rather our babies just waking up hourly 😭

Tabitha1983 · 07/02/2017 20:42

Does the same happen to you in the daytime too? My baby only sleeps 1 sleep cycle now...despite having dummy 😢 Can't remember the last time he napped more than 45mins x

Tabitha1983 · 08/02/2017 07:10

...so the dummy inserts started hourly at 9pm last night 😭😴 Definitely getting worse not better here 😞 Fed at 10pm, 2am + 6am 'just in case' he's hungry...but didn't appear to be as only nursing for 1-2 mins then falling back asleep. Oh what to do??.....

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 08/02/2017 07:29

Just ditch the dummy . Good luck!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 08/02/2017 07:32

You'll need to ditch it soon anyway if you want to avoid damage to the teeth so I would do it sooner rather than later.

kel1234 · 08/02/2017 07:38

My lo was sleeping through at that age, but did wake up in the night when teething. Could teeth be a possibility? The only thing that worked for my lo was Calgel teething gel. The baby bonjela never worked at all, and neither did any of the powders. But every baby is different and what works well for one may not work for another.
(My lo never ever had a dummy so can't advise on them at all and I don't like them anyway)

Tabitha1983 · 08/02/2017 10:18

I guess teeth could be a possibility?? He doesn't seem in pain tho and settles straight back to sleep immediately as soon as the dummy is back in!
....I'm fearing the worst....the dummy is going to have to go isn't it 😕 so....CC the way forward then?? Is he a bit young though at 14 weeks? I'm such a wimp don't know if I can let him cry....but without dummy he most definitely will cry to sleep 😢 or pick up put down kinder? I have no experience! Just fell lucky with DD1 who was just 'a natural sleeper'!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 08/02/2017 14:32

You don't have to do CC, you can still soothe him in whatever you like.

Liskee · 08/02/2017 16:07

14 weeks is too young for CC. Might be an option at a later date, but if you're planning on ditching the dummy then be prepared to rock (or your preferred method of soothing) baby to sleep for all wakings. When we ditched the dummy it was at about 5.5/6 months. I fed to sleep or rocked to sleep for about 3/4 weeks at all nap times bed times and night wakings. Once we got to a period where I was sure DS wasn't teething, didn't need night feeds and wasn't suffering a cold then we moved him into his own room and did some sleep training which had an amazing effect on his sleep. You're a long time away from being able to do this though so you might want to keep the dummy a while longer.

Original poster

ResetPassword · 08/02/2017 16:09

tabitha day time naps aren't too bad, she won't sleep for hours and is easily disturbed but they are frequent. She does only sleep on me during the day or sometimes bouncy chair. I realise napping on me is another thing I need to sort out but I'm picking my battles. CC isn't for me, 5 months seems way too young but your decision of course.

I don't think it's teething in my DDs case, no redness or swollen areas but as a pp said it could be the tooth buds moving about??

Maybe it is time to remove the dummy, I was against one originally but it helped so much with naps which were very difficult a month ago. Ugh, think I'll plan that in when DH has a couple of days off then he can help out

OP posts:

Tabitha1983 · 08/02/2017 19:00

Oh it's so hard isn't it! I'm glad u all agree cc not the answer coz don't think I could do it! So really...there's not much point in ditching dummy if everyone thinks he will still wake up anyway? I was only contemplating getting rid as friends/family are saying that's why he's waking up?! Then I'll be left feeding/rocking to sleep which is arguably worse I suppose? At least DH can do some dummy runs...he can't breast feed lol! So maybe I just need to put up with this for a few months and then do some sleep training? Seriously tho....hourly wakes all night...I felt a bit of a danger driving today and have a toddler to look after too 😢

Liskee · 09/02/2017 13:56

I'm in the same boat!! I have co slept and fed through the night which is the only thing keeping me sane and able to look after DS1 (2) as well. DS2 is now 7 months, currently being weaned into formula and we'll be doing some sleep training n the next month or so. I know it will work, and it's what best for us. Do what's best for you. Try not to let friends and family affect your choices too much and remember we're only giving advice based on our own experiences...we're not having yours.

Tabitha1983 · 09/02/2017 19:39

Thanks Liskee...wise words ☺️ He wasn't too bad last night...did a couple of 2-3 hour blocks between feeds and only a few dummy inserts so feeling a bit more human today! I think I've decided to stick with dummy and just do some training when he's a lot older (if I need to?!) x

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