2007-03-11 08:08:27 · 13 answers · asked by bladey2k57 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
As above, or if you really need to, make sure it's limited to just when it's really needed and make sure you don't start to rely on it iyswim.
When weaning from the dummy start slow, we are currently in this process with our 2nd who will be 2 on tuesday. Started only having it when out or going to sleep, now down to just when sleeping, in a few weeks we will try and get rid of it for sleeping too!
2007-03-11 08:16:31 · answer #1 · answered by nevine1982 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Having had a cry baby, I'm grateful to whoever invented them! They made such a difference in the early days, and resulted in a happier baby. I always tried to give it only when REALLY needed to prevent a huge dependence, and by about 4-5 months it was hardly ever needed. A little distraction usually did the trick by then. If your baby likes the dummy in the day and is still very young, giving them something else to think about (pulling faces and blowing raspberries is a good one) should do it. If your baby is older, you may be able to reason with him/her, perhaps you can help him/her post them to some babies who haven't got dummies of their own? Or leave them for the dummy fairy who will leave a thank you?
I did however opt for the easy life at night, and my daughter still won't generally go to sleep without her dummy. My health visitor suggested of 2 possible options, either put several dummies in the cot and let her learn to find them herself, or (if I ever feel brave) pick a week, write it off as useless and throw the dummies away! I would like to break my 8 month old daughters habit, as habits are harder to break the longer you have them. This rules out option 1, and I'm no fan of the crying it out approach, so that rules out option 2. Therefore I am trying Elizabeth Pantleys Persistant Pull Off method. Limited success so far, but perseverence is the name of the game... (Her No Cry Sleep Solutions book is very good). The theoery is that however babies fall asleep is how they expect to remain all night, so when your baby is nearly asleep remove the dummy. S/he will probabley complain, so put it back and wait til s/he stops sucking on it, then remove. When baby roots or starts to cry put it back. You are aiming to have the dummy out when they go to sleep. This can take a while but eventually they should be so nearly asleep that they just can't be bothered to make the effort to get the dummy and as they are so nearly asleep they just drift off. You repeat this at any night wakings. It is hard going to start with but it does seem to be getting easier, and she'll even sleep without a dummy if she is in her pushchair or car seat now. We're getting there!
If however you are thinking about preventing these problems, then do go ahead and give a dummy if you baby benefits from it, but do used sparingly. And as I learnt the hard way, never use it as a way to get your baby to sleep, its a short term solution!!!
Best of luck however you decide to go about it.
2007-03-11 16:37:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well im a mother aswell i know how this 1 feels.
The way ive done it was only give them a dummy at night and then the next week miss a night and so on that way he/she will get used to it with out a dummy! I know its hard the first night u dont give them the dummy but never give into their demands as this will make it harder on them
2007-03-11 15:14:45 · answer #3 · answered by shyness 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I gave my son his dummy at a few weeks old, not because he was a cry baby but because he was sucking his thumb, hands and fingers, I would rather the dummy than the thumb.
Now hes 10 weeks old, I only give it him now and again usually at night and he sleeps soundly. You didnt say how old your baby was but I dont see any harm in them, its just a comfort thing!
(dont think I answered the question!)
good luck!
2007-03-12 11:29:46 · answer #4 · answered by Leesa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Babies don't need dummies and if you are consistent and kind in your care of your baby then he will not need to depend on one.
2007-03-11 15:13:03 · answer #5 · answered by emily_jane2379 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is okay for a baby to depend on it. Especially newborns. Put the baby down to sleep with one. It greatly reduces the risk of sids.
2007-03-11 15:34:41 · answer #6 · answered by MsJones 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By using sparingly and taking it away before they become really attached to it around 8/ 9 months.
2007-03-11 15:13:04 · answer #7 · answered by brownsuga 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
don't give hiom one in the first place. i hate them things, they make babies look hideous and cause all sorts of dental problems
all dummies should be burnt
2007-03-11 15:39:55 · answer #8 · answered by chrissy b 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
unfortunately you havent been very precise in your question. you havent said the age of your baby which is a major factor. my sister did it cold turkey and worked within a couple of days. her baby was a toddler of nearly two tho.
2007-03-11 15:14:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
She won't become dependent on something she's never had, so don't give her one in the first place.
2007-03-11 15:56:07 · answer #10 · answered by Tula T 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋