Dummy use

[Supermathsdoc]

My 4m old has hit a sleep regression. Previously I was shush-patting her to sleep for naps and bedtime (sometimes on my lap and when possible, in her bassinet) it was working well to get her to sleep even occasionally for night wakes. Sleep itself was, I would say, normal with x4, 45min-1hr naps and 3-4 night wakes (EBF) mainly due to hunger.

I was doing the shush patting as a bridge towards eventual independent sleep. But suddenly she hates it!

The patting infuriates her - she arches her back and pushes her head back. She won’t sleep in my arms (arches back) she won’t feed to sleep (wakes as soon as nipple is out despite me holding her chin) I’ve been trying everything I can think of (rocking, singing, slings, yoga ball) and the most successful is a dummy and rocking motion (previously spat it out)

its a bit hit and miss but do you think this is something I should persevere with? or should I try more of the other things (which are more difficult but do also sometimes work)

I should also mention that putting her down awake has been the biggest disaster as she screams so much that calming her down takes 20 mins and then she is overtired and settling her to sleep from that point becomes much harder. I don’t think she quite ready for that and still needs my help.

Thanks in advance!

@Supermathsdoc no clue I’m afraid but just wanted to let you know I am going through similar so you have my sympathy- it’s tough!

my boy is 4 months and after his jabs 2 weeks ago started fighting feeds, fighting sleep even more (already hated naps). I used to be able to shush pat on my lap for a nap but that stopped. Only thing we found to work was walking with him, he would sometimes cry so much fighting to sleep that the only thing that worked was him sitting up on me falling asleep without realising then I slowly lay back. Honestly it’s been a nightmare. Nighttime has been tough too, I think mine hit it a few weeks ago not sure whether it matters he was 2 weeks overdue. Last night I had my first win him going to bed no screaming and only 3 wake ups 🙃

your doing much better than me managing the bassinet and trying to put down awake.

Glad you had a better night.

are you using a dummy? I’ve used it for all her naps today and it’s been so much quicker with almost no tears. This has just made me feel so much better about using it. I’ve been taking it out just as she drifts off and leaving my hand on her chest.

I think she needed more comfort to fall asleep and it makes sense to me that a dummy would provide this for a breast fed baby more than being repetitively patted!

Getting rid of the dummy sounds like a problem for future me and present me prefers a happy, well rested baby!

Ha yes dummy’s are a future problem and I will deal with that later but for now they are needed

luckily when mine is in a deep sleep it falls out and I try use throughout the night to get them back to sleep or calm them when they are half awake/asleep

I don’t breastfeed but I should imagine babies will like a dummy for comfort