Ditch or keep the dummy?

If you've been considering ditching your baby's dummy - just hold on a minute and consider these few things before you make your decision.

Dummies are a super helpful settling tool to use with newborns to settle them to sleep. Similarly for babies over 8 - 10 months of age, they're pretty independent by then with using the dummy and can put it in their mouth independently so it's a bit of a non issue.

There is this murky age from 4 - 8 months where they're probably not independent with using the dummy and it can wreak havoc at sleep time because they need your help to use it (which can lead to 'dummy runs').

So if you're trying to decide whether to ditch the dummy or not - ask yourself these two questions:

1. Is my baby waking frequently overnight, during naps and needing my help to replace the dummy?

2. Is this an issue for me? Is it bothering you and do you want to change this?

If the answer is YES to both of these then it might be time to consider ditching the dummy.

Now if you're going to ditch the dummy - you need a plan in place for how to move away from using the dummy because your baby is currently dependent on it for sleep. Now that would include choosing a responsive settling method to support them to go to sleep without the dummy. 

Here is a link to check out the 4 - 24 month sleep guide which contains all my recommended settling approaches, feed and sleep routines and loads more to help guide you through this transition.

You've got this!

Jazz x 

PS Keen for support with your little one's sleep? I'd love to help! You can book in a 15 minute discovery call with me to chat about your little one's sleep and how I can help you.

Are you following me over on IG? Head to @lets__sleep  and follow along for lots of helpful sleep tips and client stories :)