Hi Parents!
Wondering what your thoughts are on our 'situation'. Kai is 11 weeks old. He has never been a good sleeper during the day and is a very 'sucky' baby. In the past 2 weeks it became MUCH easier to get him to sleep - we'd put him in the bassinet rock him a few times, he'd grizzle for a couple of minutes (not upset, just havin' a whinge!) and then he'd drop off. He'd still only sleep for 1/2 hour at a time, but that's a different issue! Sometimes lately, if he was a bit upset, I'd give him the dummy and that calmed him right down and he'd go to sleep. Now, for the past 3 days he's been getting SOOO upset, unless he's got a dummy. We don't have a big issue with giving him a dummy in certain situations (we don't use it as a plug, to just shut him up), but the problem is he wakes up when it drops out. So now I'm standing there for 25 mins just plugging the thing back in . Yesterday I decided I was going to stop using the dummy and I held him and rocked him for 15/20 mins while he screamed and cried until he fell asleep. But I've done that for 2 days now and he's not showing any signs of getting used to not having the dummy. Tonight I caved in and gave it to him because I hate him being so upset. So my question/s are: is this some sort of phase (maybe to do with the 12 week growth spurt?)? Do I keep giving him the dummy, because it's better that he's not upset? Has he learnt to have the dummy to get to sleep and should I break this habit? If so, how do I do it with the least amount of distress for him? I'm worried that he will never learn to sleep for more than 1/2 hour because he won't be able to re-settle if the dummy has fallen out. I really HATE having to stand there and keep sticking the blasted thing back in his mouth . . . the 'free' time is so limited, you know??? And I'm thinking about the laundry or trying to get lunch. . . . Hope all this makes sense, sorry it's so long!