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Original poster

In a bed instead of cot, and stopped using dummy

17 replies

Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 06:38

Hi. Our son is 2 and a half. About a month ago, we took the side off his cot, and a week ago we went cold turkey and took his dummy away. Since hes stopped having the dummy, hes waking so early. He used to wake at about 7.30am ish. Now it's 5.45! Takes him ages to go to sleep at bedtime aswell. Take him in his room at 6pm and doesn't go to sleep until about 7.30, after he's got out the bed and tried coming out his bedroom about 20 times. Changing his bedtime doesn't seem to make a different. He's so tired in the daytime so he's grumpy all day. He fights a nap now too, but will sometimes go in the car. Any advice please, or anyone had anything similar when they've taken the dummy away 🤪

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KangarooKenny · 16/02/2023 07:39

12 hours is a long time to sleep, perhaps he just doesn’t need it.

Rayna37 · 16/02/2023 07:42

Was there a reason for taking the side off the cot? E.g. he could climb over? If not then put it back!!! It's madness to do this before you have to.

nameisnotimportant · 16/02/2023 07:44

Drop the nap if he's fighting it. Once they start fighting falling asleep at bedtime, then it usually means that they no longer need the daytime sleep. It will be hard at first and he will be a bit grumpy but he should go straight to sleep at bedtime.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 16/02/2023 07:47

What comforter did you replace the dummy with?

Presume he had a soft toy or blanket or something as well as the dummy to fall asleep with before you took his dummy? If not, you've been pretty mean, inagine if someone came and took your duvet and expexted you to fall asleep exactly the same as you did before.

6pm is early to start bedtime

And changing to bed and dummy is a lot of change in one go

BendingSpoons · 16/02/2023 07:57

He needs to find a way to comfort himself without the dummy. I would consider teddies or night lights. We had one that projected stars on the ceiling. I would be tempted to go somewhere in the car around lunchtime where possible to try and help him catch up on his sleep needs a bit. It sounds like he is having much less sleep now without the dummy, so getting overtired.

Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 08:08

Yes, he was climbing out so we had to

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Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 08:11

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 16/02/2023 07:47

What comforter did you replace the dummy with?

Presume he had a soft toy or blanket or something as well as the dummy to fall asleep with before you took his dummy? If not, you've been pretty mean, inagine if someone came and took your duvet and expexted you to fall asleep exactly the same as you did before.

6pm is early to start bedtime

And changing to bed and dummy is a lot of change in one go

He has a comforter too, which he still uses, but isn't as interested now the dummys gone. We had to get rid of the dummy as his teeth are starting to be pushed out abit, and had to get rid of the side of the cot as he was hurting himself trying to climb out

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Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 08:13

BendingSpoons · 16/02/2023 07:57

He needs to find a way to comfort himself without the dummy. I would consider teddies or night lights. We had one that projected stars on the ceiling. I would be tempted to go somewhere in the car around lunchtime where possible to try and help him catch up on his sleep needs a bit. It sounds like he is having much less sleep now without the dummy, so getting overtired.

Yes, he has lots of teddy's. He wants me to be in there with him, as he probably misses the dummy. But then he doesn't sleep if I stay in there with him. I do take him for a drive to try and get him to nap cos he's he's just tired, then he's overtired for bedtime which I think is why it's taking him so long to go to sleep

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Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 08:15

nameisnotimportant · 16/02/2023 07:44

Drop the nap if he's fighting it. Once they start fighting falling asleep at bedtime, then it usually means that they no longer need the daytime sleep. It will be hard at first and he will be a bit grumpy but he should go straight to sleep at bedtime.

I was thinking that. Maybe he'll get used to not sleeping in the day, and sleeping longer at night. He's just so tired by bedtime, with or without a daytime nap, and think that's also why he's taking so long, cos he's overtired

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frenchnoodle · 16/02/2023 08:17

When my now 7 year olds dummy was taken away he didn't sleep well, it was over a year and he was prescribed melotonin, which have him nightmares. I then gave in and gave the dummy back, I just wanted him to sleep a night.

Please do not make this mistake, he's 7 now and still cannot settle without it!

Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 08:17

KangarooKenny · 16/02/2023 07:39

12 hours is a long time to sleep, perhaps he just doesn’t need it.

I've tried to putting him him sleep later, like 8.30, and he still wakes really early. And then is so tired all day. I think he maybe needs more sleep than he is getting

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Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 08:19

frenchnoodle · 16/02/2023 08:17

When my now 7 year olds dummy was taken away he didn't sleep well, it was over a year and he was prescribed melotonin, which have him nightmares. I then gave in and gave the dummy back, I just wanted him to sleep a night.

Please do not make this mistake, he's 7 now and still cannot settle without it!

He can settle without it, he just takes a little longer to go to sleep, and is waking earlier. Our dentist strongly advised to get rid of it

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Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 08:48

Rayna37 · 16/02/2023 07:42

Was there a reason for taking the side off the cot? E.g. he could climb over? If not then put it back!!! It's madness to do this before you have to.

Yes he could climb out. We didn't want want take it off, but had to

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itsabigtree · 16/02/2023 08:53

6 for bedtime is so early! Try for at least 2 weeks, putting him to bed at 8. It takes a while to readjust so you won't notice a difference after a day or two.

Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 09:00

itsabigtree · 16/02/2023 08:53

6 for bedtime is so early! Try for at least 2 weeks, putting him to bed at 8. It takes a while to readjust so you won't notice a difference after a day or two.

We started taking him in at 6 because its taking him an hour and half to go to sleep, as he keeps getting out his cot and coming out his bedroom, so he isn't actualy going to sleep until 7.30/7.45. But I might try taking him in later for a few weeks. We did try for a few days putting him to bed later, but he was waking the same time as I guess he was going to bed so over tired. But if we stick to it for longer, he might settle Into a routine, hopefuly. Thank you

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20viona · 16/02/2023 09:11

6pm is way too early for bed, 7pm I'd say. Also the first month after changing to bed and removing the dummy is hell and you have done both at once so I aren't surprised they are unsettled.

Original poster
Sunnybrown · 16/02/2023 11:35

20viona · 16/02/2023 09:11

6pm is way too early for bed, 7pm I'd say. Also the first month after changing to bed and removing the dummy is hell and you have done both at once so I aren't surprised they are unsettled.

I've only been taking him at 6 because it's taking him an hour and half to settle and and go sleep . I did try taking him in later but he'd end up going to sleep at 8.30 and still waking at the same time. So was just even more tired. Maybe I need to stick to a later bedtime for a bit longer

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