Teaching to Sleep - Dummy or not?

[Savingfishfromdrowning]

I'm teaching my DD (10 months) to self-settle this weekend - two things I'm not sure of...

Should I give her her dummy or not? She is able to replace it herself, but often throws it out of the cot (I usually put two in, but she throws them both out sometimes).

We always play music when rocking her to sleep and put it on a timer, but often have to restart it and re-rock her when she wakes. Should we use the music when teaching to sleep? I've noticed that even with rocking she often won't go to sleep without the music.

[krystallxx]

From experience, I'd say without the dummy if you can .. Personal choice really, I think the dummies caused more trouble then good lol.

[MamaKoala]

If she throws the dummy out then I wouldn't. You'll find you spend more time going in to retrieve it from the floor than it took to rock her to sleep.

I think if you've been using the music as sleep cue give it a try. If you find that it's not working and she's getting fussy because you're not rocking her, then switch to reading her a story before bed as a cue and put her down.

[scarlett41]

If you think this weekend is going to be hard work already then I wouldn't give her the dummy (whats a little more hard work if you are already doing the hard yards!!)

We use music with DS. I have it on replay so it plays all night and while he will sleep without it he has been sick so I go back to it for comfort for him.
Before the illness crept up we were slowly withdrawing the music after 3 months of using it. We were putting it on but not on replay and DS was coping OK because he has other strategies in place now too.


Have you got a soother like a teddy bear or one of those teddy blankets to use. DS LOVES his. He cuddles into it and won't sleep without something to cuddle into (we got caught out at my MILs house one day and gave him a facewasher to cuddle!!!) This may be an option for you!

Good Luck with the sleeping-hope it works!:fingerscrossed:

[Savingfishfromdrowning]

She has a little bunny that she sleeps with - she hasn't really attached to anything (except me lol!) so I was encouraging her to cuddle this toy and associate it with sleep. I think I'm pretty much sold on not giving her the dummy, or maybe putting it in the cot but if it gets chucked out then not putting it back. I feel so mean giving her nothing to comfort with, but like you said, it's only making it worse really.

[leebies]

Just in case ditching the dummy doesn't work for you, you could try attaching it to pjs or sleeping bag as per the raising children website under 'dummy independence'. Works well for my baby boy 9 months old.

[Ashfirst]

Can I ask what method you are using for the self settle. Are you doing the straight controlled crying or something else?

We are currently trying Babysmiles from Townsville QLD - is it so hard. But Nicolle (the sleep specialist) advised no dummies or anything. Just in the cot and that's it.

[Savingfishfromdrowning]

We are using the method outlined by Robin Barker in Babylove. She recommends no dummies, but I'm not being overly strict on following her suggestions to the letter. I think I'll go no dummy.