Weaning dummy without crying?

[Anna**]

Does anyone have any tips on weanign the dummy without control crying?

I personally cannot stand dummies and had always vowed not to use one, but like many people who make these silly vows before having a baby, resorted to one in desparation when my very 'sucky' DS was 5 months old and I couldn't handle the constant hourly comfort feeds around the clock.
Anyway, he has become really dummy dependant to the point that if it falls out in the night he will cry until I put it back in ... then he zonks straight off again (he doesn't even need a cuddle). This is happening every hour or so throught the whole night!

I've tried putting a heap of dummies in the cot so he can find one and put it in himself, but he still woke and cried - I often found him waving a dummy around in his hand and not making the connection to put it in his mouth.

Sooooo... I'm thinking the dummy might have to go, unless there is another suggestion??? Would restricting his daytime use of the dummy be a starting point?

[MeredithD]

Sorry Anna, I don't have THE answer for you although thinking I might need it too soon.
My DS relies heavily on the dummy for sleep and we also have some night waking just to put it back in. I'm trying to teach him to do it himself but I do think its tricky for them when they are half asleep in the middle of he night and its a dilemma as to wether to let them wake up a bit more and figure it out or put it back in quick so they go off to sleep again quickly. Currently I'm opting for the later, espcially as I have the cot right next to our bed.
I'm not really at the point of wanting to get rid of the dummy yet but I have read some techniques from the "No Cry Sleep Solutions" book. The basic theory is to try and wean bubs slowly to go to sleep without needing to suck. Sit with your baby as he sucks dummy to got to sleep and when drowsy but not quite asleep,try removing dummy. If crying starts then put dummy back in and try again. Kep repeating until baby finally sleep without dummy in mouth. Do this every night shortening the time that you allow them to have dummy before removing but not pushing them so far as to upset and cause crying IYKWIM. Very gentle process but also likely to be VERY time consuming.
I like the concept but not sure I could muster he energy and patience atm.
Sorry can't think of anything better but I will watch this thread for any other tips.

Oh, I should add that the book does suggest just trying this "weaning" just with putting them down for the night at first. Don't worry about day sleeps or night waking until you've mastered the main sleep block. The hope is that those will naturally follow and use of dummy not needed without much effort after this.

[aussienic]

I have no answers.. I hope it works itself out soon.. my first son was the only one of mine to want a dummy and he had it till 2 and a half. He used to wake lots to have it put back in his hand. He rarely sucked on it overnight just liked to hold it..

maybe a night or 2 of ignoring him when he calls out so he learns to put it back in himself? he will learn eventually I also had a glow in the dark dummy..

[Katew]

HI Anna

I got rid of the dummy when my DS was around 7 months old as i couldn't put up with the wakings 3 or 4 times a night to put it back in again. It was the best thing i ever did. I started with the morning sleep because he was the most tired and ready for sleep at this one. I found he only cried for about 5 to 10 minutes before putting himself to sleep - i was very determined so from then on there was no more dummy, they were all thrown out. I settled him back to sleep at night by patting him on the back. After a few days he started sleeping through the night. I think that it is important that when you decide to get rid of the dummy you can't bring it back at all. Maybe you could try the crying thing as you might be surprised (as i was) at how little time it takes. All babies are different and i think i was maybe lucky that it wasn't such a big deal for my DS. You never know you may also find it not so bad.

Good Luck.

[Rachel]

Hi Anna, our DD has become very dummy dependent during the day (not at night though, weird huh!). I was speaking to a mothercraft nurse about it that also runs a sleep school. She said that it usually takes 24 hours to get rid of the dummy. She said to start first thing in the morning, that is take the dummy away and settle in other ways. She said they will cry because it is a new thing to them and not what they know, but they will quickly learn to settle without it. She also suggested giving them a toy that they could suck on if they wanted. I haven't done it as yet because I am worried that it will muck up our night sleep which is currently great so don't want to rock the boat iykwim. I don't think there is a way to get rid of the dummy without crying I'm sorry.

[Annikas_Mamma]

Hi Anna, know that you're not alone in this! Annika's night waking got so bad (getting up every 40 minutes!) that we had to take her to Torrens House. hey actually suggested keeping her up an extra 15 minutes with each nap time, and before she goes to bed, so that she is very tired when she goes to bed. Annika has slept a lot better since then. I'm not sure if this can help you, but I hope so!

[chocolatecatty]

I threw out the dummy when Caty was about 4 months old. She cried for about two days but after that was fine, forgot it ever existed ect. Then I stuuuuupidly got her another one (she had 24hr gastro and I was feeling quite sorry for her) and it's become a real problem with her waking in the night. She can go to sleep without it fine, but if she wakes during the night (usually around 4-5am) I can't get her back down without resorting to it. I HATE the fact she falls straight asleep once it's in. So I'm trying to get rid of it. Ha, we have someone living upstairs though whom I don't want to wake, so it's a bit tricky...

I think you're confusing 'crying' with 'control crying'? Isn't control crying a timed thing? If you chuck the dummy, of course there will be tears, but that doesn't mean it's control crying. Even if it's a week of tears, it's worth it if bubs can survive without a dummy, IMO anyway.

I would start with restricting the dummy during the day...I got into the habit of chucking it in for no good reason...very bad habit!

[JoMarie]

Nicholas is 3 months now and I am considering getting rid of the dummy. We practically forced it on him to start with as he has reflux and we were told by dr's and the CHN that a dummy was a good thing. Now, I am wanted to get rid of it as he has become dependant on it to settle, so when it falls out, he cries for it. I can't remember having this with my DD, she had a dummy until she was 2 1/2, but then threw it away herself! Good luck with it, I hate him crying, but I think it is to be expected until they get used to it.