Mummy dummy no longer allowed

[Becksiv]

At 7 months old we've just started the mammoth task of no more boobing to sleep.

Up until 4 weeks ago dd was self soothing. I could put her in her cot awake and she would drift off to sleep. Then a switch flicked, she now no longer sucks her thumb to sleep.

I have tried everything to get her to sleep on her own but had resorted to her using me as a dummy. She always rejects and actual dummy.
Every nap/bed time now there's a 20 minute tantrum, screaming, head throwing back, the lot then she'll pass out. I really don't want to be doing this but it's the only way she'll sleep not attached to me.

She is most definitely tired enough to sleep.

Can anyone offer some advice please.

7 months old is almost certainly too late to get her to accept a dummy. Sucking fingers/hands is often not as satisfying to baby because these are not a uniform shape so suction vacuum harder to form.

Certainly encourage sucking where you can. Sucking is naturally soothing and settling for baby. So try and help her suck hands/fingers. Maybe a cloth? Although that is very unhygienic.

Without something to suck on, it's likely she will cry. How do you feel about that? You can stay comforting her to go to sleep, bit she will cry while you're doing that. If you were asking here for a Magic Wand that will work so that she calmly and quietly goes to sleep easily without feeding to sleep - there isn't one. A dummy is what achieves this and you don't have that option, so you need realistic expectations of crying levels.

I would suggest putting her in the cot fully wide awake, with her comforter. Then it helps to place your hand firmly on her chest. This offers the reassurance that you are there, let's her know you're still there even when she closes her eyes, and also helps to still her body movements.

Patting sometimes helps. Or shushing. But basically it just needs perseverance. Keep on lying her back down, firm hand on her chest, be compassionate and reassure her you ate helping. Then just keep on going until asleep and cheek out once she's fully asleep. Do this for a good 3 weeks for every sleep time and night wake up and she'll make improvements.

Thank you. Exactly tthe response I was looking for. She has taken a liking to sucking the silk labels on her muslin cloths so she has found a new comfort, of which I will encourage.

Tonight she rolled over and went straight to sleep! I don't know why she couldn't do that for the last 4 weeks!! I hope it's not a fluke