Night Wakings

[Suze]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this message board but it was recommended by a friend so I hope someone can help.

I have an 8 month old boy, who for the most part is an absolute angel.  Our problem is that he can wake during the night sometimes up to 8 times.  Other nights it's only once. However all he wants is his dummy........

I've been told that he is now using it as a comforter and that the only way around it is to take it away completely.  This isn't something I'm looking forward to I must say, however if it's the best thing for him I know I need to do it.

I suppose what I need to know is ......

Is this option too late at is age?

Should I give him something else to comfort himself with?

Thanks in advance

Suze X

[albertasweetpea]

Hiya Suze and welcome to the wonderful wacky world of babywhispering!! You will soon get addicted to us! 

A couple of things popped into my mind when reading your post...does you DS (darling son) have any thing else in his crib for comfort, for example a stuffie?? If you are going to take the dummy away, I would suggest putting the stuffie in his crib for a couple of nights first so he can get used to it, have him hug it and "love it" when he is awake and then tell him "teddy" or whatever is going to sleep with you. After a couple of nights of having his "friend" in his crib with him, attempt to take the dummy away.

The other thing that we do is put 2 or 3 dummies in the crib so that way if Molly wakes in the night for hers, she just can roll over and feel around, grab it and pop it back in her mouth! 

I wish now that I had taken the dummy away at bedtime earlier as we seem to be stuck with it and I know it will be a battle when we do take it away.

Hope whatever you choose it works for you!! Good luck and keep us posted.

[Suze]

Thanks for the advice.

DS has cuddly toys in his cot but only seems to play with them through the day..... Also tried to put a couple of dummies in the cot but this didn't work either. I have just bought him a small comfort blanket with toy attached and will try him with this. Would rather take his dummy off him now if possible than leave it until he is older.

Will probably have a few bad nights but I know it is the best thing in the long run.  My friend did the same thing & it took her approx 10 days but her little girl was only 4 months at the time.

Well I've nothing to lose so here goes.....will keep u updated.

Suze x

[Lana]

If you want to introduce another comfort item you can sleep with it for  couple of nights to get your smell on it and then give it to him before you take away the paci.

My 10 month old actually has 4 or 5 in his crib so he can always find one to put back in.

[Suze]

Well it hasn't worked so far......

Managed to get DS to sleep without paci but 45 mins later he woke crying.  Tried to comfort him and even picked him up but after 15 mins of uncontrollable distress I had to give him it back.  Sadly I don't find it necessary to distress my DS unnecessarily.   

Suppose I'll have to either put up with the night wakings or come up with another method. 

Suze x

[albertasweetpea]

Awwwwww Suze....sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it.    I totally understand you not wanting to distress your DS when he is crying uncontrolably for his dummy!! Probably makes you want to cry along with him. 

Have you tried sticking an extra 2 or 3 or 4  dummies in the cot with him? When he wakes looking for it, you can go in and tell him that his dummy is right there, use his hand to help him find one and pop it back in his mouth. I would let him fuss around for a few minutes before rushing in to rescue him. Definitely not letting him CIO, but give him a few minutes to try to find the dummy himself...he may surprise you!!

I am NOT looking forward to taking Molly's dummy away.    She only has it at night time so it's not that big of a deal but I do want to be rid of it some day. I am waiting until she is older so that I can tell her the "dummy fairy" has come and taken them away!