HELP - Dummy keeps on falling out!

[meiko]

I have 13 week old twins. One of them is totally dependant on his dummy. He goes to slepp at 8pm and falls asleep fine. If dummy falls out he keeps sleeping. He then wakes around 2.30am and for rest of night keeps dropping dummy out every 10 or 20 mins and crying. What should I do - think i am going to crack up!!

[mrspoppins]

One idea...Get rid of the dummy altogether

difficult as it may sound, you will have a few nights of them not going off to sleep very well but they will get used to it and by the sounds of it, you aren't getting much sleep anyway.

Dummies are great things and I used them for the first few weeks with both of mine, though got rid of them at around 3months so that they didn't become dependant on them.

Replace them with a snuggley muslin or special bedtime toy that they can snuggle up to. One tip though..get them used to the idea that a clean snuggley is a lot nicer than a smelly one...can't bear those disgusting germ laden rags that you see some kiddies with!!! and that it is only used when they go for a sleep.


Another thought...Could he be hungry at 2.30am? He is still very little...If not weaning yet, you could try giving him a little few mouthfuls of something at bedtime...both mine had this at 3months and they are a very healthy 14 and 8 now or if bottle feeding, try a more substantial formula or give another feed if breast or bottle at 2.30. Perhaps try this before you try getting rid of the dummy in case the dummy is not the issue

Good luck sweetie...it doesn't last forever though it feels like it at the time. Let us know how you are getting on.
xxK

[2labs]

my ds (17 wks) is very similar - goes to sleep wit a dummy but stays asleep if it falls out, until much later in the night. If he wakes crying after 2.30 I always assume it's hunger - if I feed him he goes back off for a long time, whereas if I keep sticking his dumy back in it invariably comes out and he cries - think he's telling me that's not satisfying him! Maybe it's the same with your dd.

[2labs]

your ds, even . Sorry, having one of those mornings!

[meiko]

thanks mrs poppins. have discovered he has reflux so think that is making him worse. have switched to a different formula which is thicker and meant to aid digestion so i'll see if he settles better now and stops screaming so much

[meiko]

thanks 2labs. don't worry. i still haven't worked out what the whole dd ds thing stands for as well as many other abbreviations used on here. think i must have lost a few brain cells during this whole baby business. have 3 month old twins and 20 month old so think i struggle to think straight!

[Beabea]

ds - dear son
dd - dear daughter

[mrspoppins]

Reflux explains a lot then.it is very painful..one tip...don't wind reflux babies when feeding them. It isn't necessary at all really for any baby but is traditional. Simply sitting them bolt upright every so often during feeding with naturally bring any air to the surface without forcing it up which brings up milk too. Also feed as upright as you can for them as they will ingest less air anyway.

My 8 yr old had very bad reflux along with a few other difficulties but we got over it. Certainly the method of feeding made the hugest difference.I remember sitiing her upright, muslin under her chin and she'd be fast asleep and then burp...smile...and sleep again!!
xxK

[sleepfinder]

I would get rid of the dummies immediately. You might have 24 hrs of screaming, but then it will be over and they'll be forgotten.

I have a 14 wk ds - at 8 wks we dispensed with the dummies because of this reason - they helped get him to sleep but if they fell out, all hell broke loose.

Now he falls asleep and stays asleep.

Good luck - sounds like you certainly have your hands very full!