Hi I'm just looking for anyone that's been here and can give some light at the end of the tunnel... sleep deprived and fed up - dummy story below...
DD has always had a dummy, during lockdown she suddenly got very attached to it during the day so we stared a 'dummy only for sleep' rule which she got right on board with, putting it in a box when she woke and not asking for it during the day. Brill.
She still had the dummy for sleep and naps, always been a good sleeper (11-12hrs at night) and a good 2 hr nap. Don't think we've had any sort of sleep regression since about 1yo so it's been a dream. Rarely go in her bedroom after putting her to bed (I know, amazing right!!)
Anyway last week she started putting the whole dummy in her mouth and nearly chocking. Sort of messing around but also then doing it once in the cot (watched on monitor). She's having a phase of testing dangerous things including seeing what makes her choke...?!
Anyway we kept a close eye on her that night and took the dummy away once she fell asleep and she didn't wake. She did the same near choking routine with the dummy the following night. We told her no but that always eggs her on. We discussed and googled and decided that there was a risk of her choking and it had to go. Otherwise. I wouldn't have even revisited thinking about the dummy until closer to 3. (She's only just 2).
We did the storyline, dummy fairy, she put it in the box, waved bye bye. First night wasn't too bad. We reminded her where it had gone but she was grieving for it!! Maybe 40mins of wailing (not really crying just frustration) and we soothed her through it but also left her to self soothe too. The following night it was maybe 15-20mins so we thought we're on the right track.
Que day 3, no nap, just wailing in the crib then going into hypness, back into tired wailing. Clearly can't get herself into a sleepy state (I know, the dummy did that right?!)
One week on and there's been no naps at home, she's exhausted and irritable all the time. Last night was 2hrs to get into what felt like a distressed sleep and then waking all night wailing. It's getting worse.
If we hadn't taken it away for the choking reason there's no way we'd be sticking with this, she's clearly not ready. I worry this isn't going to pass quickly and she's developing sleep problems which will impact on her (tired, irritable) and us (same...). OH says we can't break now and we'll never sleep easy thinking about finding her choked on a dummy.
Anyone got any words of experience, or ideas for something that can replace the dummy for soothing? She loves soft toys but doesn't want them in the cot. Gets angry if we try and give them to her. Me stroking her head and shhing doesn't help much either.
We have a good bedtime routine - bath, books, milk, story in cot, room feels like lovely sleep environment... do we just need to ride it out???