should I introduce a dummy - votes please!

[ninja]

I know there have been a million dummy threads - but here goes....

Advice please ladies.... should I introduce a dummy? DD2 (5 months) is still awake up to 6 or 7 times in the night. She usually settles easily with a feed but last night was taking a bit longer and waking up 20 mins later etc.

I've just put her down for a nap as she was obviously tired but unusually today fighting it (I usually put her down and she goes to sleep with hardly a murmur). She had her toother and was trying to suck it so I thought about the dummy I'd bought to try her with (and to demonstate to DH that she wouldn't take one as I'm really not a fan). Lo and behold it settled her and she went to sleep.

I'm wondering whether to try it at night to try and get rid of the feeding dependency - but would I just replace it with a dummy dependency? Would I then beable to remove the dummy?

Votes please.

Thanks

I'd say no... Not at that age it's not worth it... we used one up until 3 months (the weaned off) but if you've managed until now then I wouldn't go down that route

It really is up to you. Both of mine had dummies even though I hate the look of them - it was very much a bedtime thing - I never let them have them if they weren't going to sleep or very poorly. I took them away at 18 months with no fuss at all.
There were times with DD when she was unwell that I really thought 'how can something that gives so much comfort be wrong?'
Lots of people will disagree

(If you do decide to give her one - buy a clip and attach it to her grobag/Pjs or you'll have to go in and retrieve it for her. Just guide her hand to show her where it is.)

I wouldnt either at 5 months.

My dd1 was only ever allowed one at sleep time and she always been a great sleeper, its the giving them up,
Next 2 were allowed theirs abit more often but ds gave his up younger than dd1
dd2 is 2 now still sucks hers but we'll work on that after potty training

So from my experience if you con keep it to sleep times thats good, dd1 knew she was only allowed hers in her cot

Thanks Becky

*can

Well I would have said don't start now you've went 5 months but sleep or lack of will drive you to break your own ideals

I know, I'm going through the looking for a miracle to get DD to sleep better. She was only waking once at 9 weeks, but since then it's been downhill

It will only result in you having to wean her off that too. I know a little girl who had to be persuaded to give hers up to start school

No, you will still be waking up multiple times a night to put it back in her mouth, only it could go on for much longer as she won't be able to self-sooth without it.

With DD I said that she was not going to have a dummy but gave in within a few days. She just settled easier with one. She only had it in bed and sometimes in the car on a long journey.

She had to be forced to give it up at 3yo, although with hindsight I could have done it earlier, we had DS by then and I did not want to unsettle her too much.

DS hardly used his in comparison and we took it away when he was about a year.

It really depends on the child, DD just settled much easier with a dummy. In fact, even now at 6yo she sometimes makes the dummy noises in her sleep.

DS got given a dummy at about 2.5 months after a particularly harrowing trip to the supermarket with him and dd. After 1.5 hours I had 2 things in trolley (including empty dummy box.)

I wouldn't start it at 5 months - unless you have too....!

Have only read the OP but if i were to start again with DS3 i would never have introduced it!

The other 2 DCs didn't have a dummy, they were thumb suckers from quite early on. DS3 is v nearly 1 and i am still up in the night rooting around for his dummy that he has dropped off the side of the cot as he can't settle without it. At 5 months it's likely to be teeth rather than needing a dummy imo.

I would...as your dc may find her thumb and suck that to sooth herself. It does sound like your dd wants to suck something and is looking so it could be that she takes to sucking her thumb. I would rather a dummy at night and wean a child off it when they are ready - than a child sucking a thumb or two fingers (several cirls at school sucked two fingers when they were tierd)

Thanks - yes I think teeth are an issue mumofmonsters and thinking about it she has done a bit of thumb sucking so maybe she'll perfect that (so sweet!)

Thanks for getting me through a desperate moment!

I do hope its a passing phase, its horrible when they wake more often at night! At least DS3 has never slept well!