Help! How do I wean my 8 week old off the dummy?

[danandchelle]

Hi, I have an 8 week old baby and have been using the contented baby book since she was 1 week old and it's not working at all!

Admittedly I made a big mistake by giving my baby the dummy to sleep with.

During the day she sleeps with the dummy and can only manage 1 hour sleeps. I can't get her past the 1 hour sleep cycle.

She was sleeping well at nights up until two nights ago. I was only getting up once or twice a night to feed her. I didn't need to use the dummy cos she was falling asleep at the breast each time. Over the past two nights though she's fallen asleep at the breast only to wake up 45 minutes to an hour later demanding the dummy. Then once the dummy goes in goes in, she wakes up 45 minutes to an hour later again because her dummy's fallen out. I was scared that this would happen. She would get so attached to the dummy that it would begin to affect her night sleeps.

I was going to wean her off it once she is 3/4 months old anyway because I know that's when they lose the sucking reflex and don't need the dummy anymore, but now that she's not sleeping well at night anymore because of it, I really want to wean her off it now. How can I do that at this age?

I thought of maybe buying a security blanket, letting her sleep with it and the dummy for a week and then taking away the dummy. The question is will a security blanket work for an 8 week old? Will she know what to do with it? Will it pose a suffocating hazard? Please help!

[Mahjong]

The question is will a security blanket work for an 8 week old? Will she know what to do with it? Will it pose a suffocating hazard?

IMO, an 8 week old is too young to have a security blanket in the cot.

I dont have any other advice regarding the dummy as I used one until DS was 2. He was terrible sleeper from birth, it was the only way he would sleep.
Personally though, I think she's waking becuase she's either hungry or wants comfort and warmth of you.

[FishFace]

Ok in all honesty I dont think she is waking and demanding a dummy.
at 8 weeks she doesnt even know what a dummy is.
She wakes, she cries.
She wants her needs met.
personally the fact that the dummy works is more coincidence then anything else.

i dont think a security blanket is a good idea she is too young in my opinion.

If you want to get rid of the dummy then so.You can pat her till she calms or rock her.

I just feel that she is way too young to be demanding a dummy. She is just learning the whole business of being out in the world.

[xkwzit]

Dummies didn't really work with DD1. All the baby books said that she would suck and when she fell asleep, the dummy would fall out and she would stay asleep. Well, she didn't (though would wake when it fell out, so she wasn't even getting one sleep cycle). I just stopped giving it to her, as it was creating a problem rather than solving one.

She did only ever sleep for one sleep cycle until she was much older, her day sleeps were always only 45 minutes from very early. They got longer as she got bigger and eventually went into a more "normal" pattern (at around the 6 month mark).

Some babies just aren't great sleepers. I have had one of each :D.

Cheers

[*Sparkles*]

My DS is 9 mths old and he stopped using the dummy around 3-4 mths and started sucking his fingers instead. He won't sleep unless he sucks them, so I let him. So really, I think if they need to suck something to sleep, then let them do it. Your bub will stop eventually. Maybe try again a bit later when a security blanket is a better option?

[EsSjAy]

Hi there...

Every bub is different hun, you do what you feel is best... In saying that don't be concerned about weaning him of if it does comfort him... This is the age where growth spurts are happening and they become a little more fussy but short lived...Bub's may want to feed more during this stage... This was my experience anyway...
I personally wouldn't be to concerned... Bub's is still very young and some bub's just like to comfort suck also whether they're hungry or not...
When ds turned about 3 months he fell asleep the dummy would fall out and he was fine and never wanted it put back in... He only has it now to sooth himself to sleep and doesn't depend on it overnight...

Good luck with it all... x x:)

[wombatgirl21]

ok hun,
as i have had the same thing with my second munchkin, my child health nurse told me that or some babies it is normal to be waking alot for the first few weeks.
but also if your breast feeding, i had the same problem with my youngest who is now 6 months and on the bottle. but when i was breast feeding him he would only sleep for 30 mins at night some times and it would wipe me out during the day, (thank god for in laws who stay for the first few weeks), anyway my nurse said that he probably wasnt getting the fatty milk that comes after he has drank the foremilk in your breast. so next time you feed him, try to keep him/her on as long as possible. strip bubs down to the nappy if nessasary. as long as you can get bubs to feed that few minutes longer.
as for the dummy bubby doesnt really need it in my expierience. i only used it for tyson who wouldnt suck on anything no matter what it was. and when he turned 2 i asked the same thing about loosing the dummy. and no matter which professional i asked the same answer. just throw it away and forget about it. at 8 weeks you dont need to tell bubs they are a big kid now so really all you have to do is when bubs wakes up wanting to suck just put bubs on the boob. a dummy is only a replacement if you know what i mean. the times when you are so dog tired you cant be bothered?lol
if you want something for comfort in the cot,just put a little bear in the corner of the cot near bubs feet maybe?
i hope this helps you in your endeavour of parent hood. if you want to know something about weaning and comfot items just ask your child health nurse for some info about it.
tegan