Dummy dilemma

My LO is 4.5 months old and pre birth i was quite adamant that I didn't want her to have a dummy. About 4 days in we caved and it gave some well needed relief in those first few months! She used to only have it during the day and didn't need it at night. Since the delightful sleep regression has hit we have found ourselves just using it to settle her during the night. As such, we are now finding ourselves having to put it back in about 5-6 times a night, maybe more and I'm cursing the day i ever bloody bought one because now I think she is so reliant on it! Considering going cold turkey but don't feel mentally prepared for it. Has anyone tried just getting rid of them and riding it out? I wish I'd never bought one but I have no idea what I would do now in the early hours to settle her! Hoping to sleep train at 6 months and the general advice is to not do that with the dummy. I'm driving myself mad with how much I feel like I've made her be so comforted by it 😒 x

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Commenting to see what others say, as I’m in the exact same boat haha she’s 5 months next week and will not sleep without it 🥲x

Exactly the same! Mine had his tongue tie cut and the dr advised to use one to strengthen the muscle but we’re the same now constantly replacing. I also find the more tired he is the less it stays in his mouth which is so annoying 🤦‍♀️ I’m also planning to sleep train x

I went cold turkey with my first when he was about 5 months and he was absolutely fine! So much better without it. Said I’d never give a dummy again.. I have fml! And I don’t dare take it off her cos she loves the thing 😩 but likewise, whenever it falls out I get so annoyed at myself for even giving it in the first place !!

We’ve started taking our baby’s dummy out as we put her in bed. Sometimes she won’t bother and will stay asleep/let us resettle her then other times she will wake up instantly. All just depends on how deep she is in her sleep. X

Im glad mine never took a dummy/paci

I went cold turkey with my first at 4.5 months old. Was also sick of it.
Prepare for a tough 2 days, then a further 2 or 3 kind of unsettled days. Pick a time that works for you, maybe your partners work load is lower in 2 weeks time so he can help more for example!
Do it before 6 months if youre serious though, as I read thats when the dependency is set xx

My boy doesn’t love dummies but I bought a few recently for when he is really unsettled. I mostly use it as a “toy”, so I’ll offer it only when he is really fussy or due a nap as something for him to suck / chew on especially before sleep and then when it falls out more than a few times I give up and don’t put it back in until the end of the next wake period. Not sure if you’ve tried to slowly limit it, but I’m experimenting with as many techniques as possible to get through this phase! I also bought some teething toys for him to bite/drool on in the day times as an alternative too. Honestly I’d prefer he suck his fingers or hands but he doesn’t always find them and I’ve needed to put mittens on him now so he doesn’t scratch his head off with his razor fingernails so that’s not helped much either. Whatever comforts them through these developmental phases I’d use! Good luck!

I was just about to post the same thing. We are now getting wake ups every 15 minutes during the night to put the dummy back in and it’s becoming unbearable. I am going to go cold Turkey tomorrow and throw them away so I can’t reach for it when I’m desperate. Us mummies need some sleep! Especially if we also have toddlers. Good luck x

Thanks everyone, think I might just need to go cold turkey next week, dreading it! X

I was in the same position with my first and we got rid of it at 7 months and it wasn’t a bother to him. Have started to take it away from my 18 week old now and he seems to be doing okay without it. I’ll stick it in as a last resort. The might surprise you

I didn't go cold turkey with my first daughter. Gradually stopped, giving her other options to keep her distracted. I started to make the changes during the day and then night. See if that'll work for you as well

No advice but in the same boat! Know I need to go cold turkey but not sure I can do it. The constant dummy replacement in the night is killing me though!

What’s wrong with dummies?

An update for anyone interested...I've got rid of the dummy! 2 full days without now xx

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