I received temporary custody of my 6 month old cousin 2 days ago. Last night, he woke up every 15 minutes screaming for his pacifier, which had fallen out of his mouth. To get him quiet, I would re-insert the pacifier every 15 minutes. He is teething so I understand his pain, but, I can't go through this every night, I have to rest for work. Is there anything that I can do to ween him from his pacifier in such a way that we can both get a good night's rest? HELP please!
2007-04-23 05:29:44 · 12 answers · asked by C. J. 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Thank you all for your wonderful advice and kind words! I will take everything you've said to heart. I never considered how he must be feeling right now.
2007-04-23 06:57:58 · update #1
It sounds like it might have been more the teeth than the pacifier dependancy. Try using advil pediatric drops. My Dr suggested it cause it helps with the pain and with the swelling of the gums. It also lasts 8 hrs. I would also check on his naps during the day, this little guy has gone through a lot if he is in your custody. If he sleeps well during the day, he will probably sleep better at night too!
I wouldn't necessarily take away his pacifier. He needs it right now more than before for comfort. Not only are his teeth coming in, he doesn't know why mom is not there, he's sleeping in a strange room with different noises that he's used to and so on. He might have a few rough nights but it should get better.
I wish you the best of luck with the little guy.
2007-04-23 06:02:17 · answer #1 · answered by Allie D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as he has orthopedic pacifiers doctors are actually saying it's a good thing now. It can help prevent SIDS. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Right now he is probably getting used to a new place. Make sure to put him to bed at the same time every night, and maybe even with the same CD. If he is teething give him a little baby Tylenol, or some baby ambesol.
He may be using the pacifier as a comfort object as well. Try wrapping him tightly in a blanket so that he feels secure, and rock him until he is deeply asleep.
If you truly want to ween him from the pacifier cut the tip off the end. It will take a couple horrible nights, but eventually he will be able to sleep without it. Prepare for a lot of crying though.
2007-04-23 12:35:32 · answer #2 · answered by Lenae 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it were that easy, you wouldn't have parents wondering how to get their four-year-old off the pacifier.
I don't think you can actually wean him that early. If you can, it won't be easy. Do what you can to get him to sleep without the pacifier, rocking him, walking him, etc. He's probably actually waking up and crying as a reaction to losing it. If he doesn't have it to begin with, he wouldn't wake up thanks to the jolt of losing the pacifier.
Several aspects of that plan could go wrong, though. You don't know that he'll go to sleep without it to begin with. If he does, if he wakes up in the middle of the night, he could still cry for the pacifier that he can't find.
I was wondering, though... There must be a particular reason why you would receive temporary custody of your cousin. There are very few, if any, reasons to change custody that can actually be a good experience for the baby. A divorce, death of a parent, removal of the parent's home, etc. is going to have a stressful reaction, even for a baby. It's really difficult for babies to deal with major changes. If you try to wean him so soon after this MAJOR change in his life, you'd basically be taking away his way of soothing himself.
Losing sleep is pretty much the lot of parents or guardians of babies. What I'm saying is, make sure you aren't sacrificing his sense of security for your rest.
2007-04-23 12:47:49 · answer #3 · answered by CrazyChick 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never let my babies ever have a pacifier but your kinda stuck with it with this one. this child is teething and adjusting to not having its mom. you need to stick with the pacifier i know no sleep. us moms have all been there. try rubbing some teething numming gel on his gums before night. You can also try to tylenol drops or motrin as others suggested. pay careful attention to the dose. At this age the child will be waking up many times a night regardless of the pacifier.
2007-04-23 12:42:42 · answer #4 · answered by Pazzionflower 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its quite impossible.all you can do is have patience.kids can be annoying at times,they won't understand that you have to rest for work.you need alot of patience.but together with this you can try applying some teething gel like orajel on his gum,or giving him a cool washcloth to chew at, there are certain medicines to help relieve the pain as well.maybe you can try tylenol,but these does not entirely stop the baby being fussy and let you sleep peacefully,its just a try,sometimes if they get tired of the pain and screams they might decide to rest.good luck and have patience.
2007-04-23 12:38:45 · answer #5 · answered by pye 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no not really he is still a baby and needs his pacifier especially now that his world is changing!!
The only thing I could suggest is put a stack of pacifiers next to your bed and evertime he wakes just put another in without having to get out of bed. My daughter did this for the first year of her life!
2007-04-23 12:36:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is too early I think to take it away, especially when he is new to your house. He may be crying from being afraid. We took them away when my youngest was about 2 1/2 and my oldest was 31/2. We put them in a ziploc & took them to a pregnant friend's house & put them in the crib for the new baby. They were fine after 2 days. I have also heard of people giving them to the Easter bunny or Santa. Wait a while and let him get adjusted.
2007-04-23 13:06:12 · answer #7 · answered by Elizabeth B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes! You simply stop getting up and reinserting it for him. You know what will happen if you cease doing this? He will learn to feel for it and reinsert it himself. That's exactly what my first son did. (When I smartened up and decided to stop getting up and doing it for him)(he was around 7mos. of age). A newborn, I could understand the constant hopping, but a 6month old is old enough to do it himself. And he WILL do it eventually if you stop. Yes, he will cry and fuss, but a few days of this is better than forever. My son sometimes didn't even open his eyes....he just instinctively felt around with his arms/hands til he found it and stuck it back in. It was awesome once he figured it out. It will take time, but remember, the more you do something for a baby, you're establishing a pattern for them. They are amazingly brilliant when need be!! Good luck to you.
2007-04-23 12:51:46 · answer #8 · answered by Jenintn 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he need's it, especiallly since he is going through a rough transistion right now, let him keep it. To get relief, put several in the crib. My girl (now 15 mos) used to wake up several times because she couldn't find her binky. I put 4 or 5 in there and showed her all of them. Now, she doesn't get up all night.
2007-04-23 12:44:54 · answer #9 · answered by ladybug 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
6 months is young to try and ween....if the baby is teething try giving some pain meds for infants.....secondly...you can try and see if the baby is hungry.....change his diaper too.....welcome to parent hood....your full nights sleep has just left for life.........
2007-04-23 12:35:23 · answer #10 · answered by teddybears 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋