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Original poster

Dummy tips

3 replies

Lallypopstick · 04/10/2017 07:35

My 10 week old baby has so far resisted a dummy but I’d like to see if he’ll take one to help him settle to sleep. At the moment he usually feeds to sleep or is rocked to sleep by one of us walking around the garden - obviously the latter won’t be possible in bad weather, so I’m keen to have another option.

Any advice gratefully received!

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Pops1985 · 04/10/2017 09:16

I found stroking my DD’s cheek before giving her the dummy meant she took it easier. However she was a bit younger than 10 weeks and took to it quite quickly. Best of luck, it saved our household!

FATEdestiny · 04/10/2017 09:45

It took me a load of work to get my youngest taking a a dummy. But like you, I knew it would be worth it so persisted for as long as it took. Here are some ideas:

  • stroke teat on cheek/lip so that baby actively turns to take the dummy, rather than it just being passively put in mouth.
  • angle the teat upwards in the mouth, it triggers the suck reflex in a similar way to breastfeeding
  • don't leave dummy in the mouth if it is limply sitting there and not being sucked. Tapping on the outside of the dummy encourages sucking. Or remove the dummy and try again to get baby actively take it (see above)
  • similar to above, don't put dummy I tobabys mouth while crying. It needs to be actively sucked. If not being sucked (and tapping doesn't get baby sucking) take it out and try again for baby to actively take the dummy to suck.
  • try at different states of tiredness. Try when just dozing off sleep, try when tired before getting to the dozing stage, try when awake, try when happy/awake
  • try immediately after a feed, while doing the clutter sucks that come at the end of a feed. Whip nipple/bottle out and dummy in
  • try whilst holding baby in a breastfeeding position. Try whilst rocking baby to sleep. Try when baby is out down after a feed. Try other people giving the dummy.
  • be persistant about it. I was trying the dummy loads, as much as you can every single day. For me, taking a dumny was not optional I'd have kept going for as long as it took until baby 'got' the dummy. I started about 2-3 weeks old and she took the dummy about 7 weeks (and within a week was 8h overnight night weaned without any crying)
Original poster
Lallypopstick · 04/10/2017 14:33

Thank you both. Am giving all the tips a go today and I’ll keep going.

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