Ditched the Dummy, but how do I get my baby to sleep?!

[Had9]

So we ditched the dummy yesterday due to having weeks and weeks of him waking up every 30-45 mins through the night. Successfully he went 9-6 :O!!

Hes 5 months old. Since yesterday he wants to held or rocked to sleep, and for his naps cries if you try and lay him down. Before, he’d have the dummy and lay down and go to sleep.

I don’t want to create new bad habits to sleep. When I lay him down drowsy he screams, and I mean scream. He’s a very stubborn boy and can cry for hours and hours - if I was to let him.

Any tips on what to do 😩 please?

Erm I'm pro dummy, so for me I be giving dummy back and teaching lo to find and put dummy in their own mouth. I put a bunch of dummies in my los cot so she can find them.

I can understand the frustration at this age as they want a dummy and can't do it themselves. I went through it. As she was in side cot I literally felt around for dummy and popped back in mouth.

He may be waking when you put him in his cot because he was getting nice and snuggly in your arms. I never found drowsy works to put a lo down. I would be putting baby down fully awake.

He may of been waking every so often as it may be tail end of regression? As there's no real way to sleep train until 6 months..... except trying to settle lo in cot rather then holding I think I would try and hold out and if you really want to get rid of dummy at 6 months there's other options you could look at??

Lo is used to a dummy. As you have taken that away he is looking for a new comfort to sleep which is you. Maybe try letting him fall asleep in your arms then transferring to see if that helps if you don't want a dummy?

I'm not judging or saying your wrong just how I would do it.

Hahaha I realise that's lots of ideas. Apologies they came flooding to my brain

I would stick with dummy, this is the age where you can then teach them to put it back in. I used to chuck about 10 dummies in the cot so DD would find one.

If you are sticking with removing dummy, you need to replace with another comforoter, so a little toy or blanket or something.

Ime it is much easier to get rid of dummy when they are older and you can explain dummy fairy or bribe them

I wouldn’t have got rid of the dummy at all. You’ve hit the nail on the head - most 5 months can’t self soothe without external help. A dummy is far far easier than rocking. Waking every sleep cycle is classic 4-5 month regression stuff. I’d continue riding it out - as soon as he can put the dummy back in I bet his sleep will improve.

I would do pick up put down but try putting him down before he is nodding off. I saw it is as showing them it was ok to o be awake in their cot.

You could try white noise or a music cot toy again ideally turning off before he's asleep.

Try pre bedtime cuddles with a consistent cuddly toy that smells of you.

Thank you for the advice. We’re coming up to night 3. He’s still very upset mostly at night time but sleeps much longer without his tummy.

must admit it’s very hard at the minute though!

Hopefully things will improve very soon.