My baby girl is 4 months and I'm trying to get away from putting her in her crib dead asleep. I'm putting her in drowsy w/ her pacifier but she can't keep it in her mouth on her own. So I'm constantly going back in her room and putting the pacifier back in her mouth. Is there a developmental milestone to keep the pacifier in her mouth and when is it usually? I also wonder if I'm creating a bad habit of her needing the pacifier to fall asleep and not letting her self soothe. Should I let her cry it out some when the pacifier falls out of her mouth? I didn't have this problem w/ my first baby as he wouldn't take a pacifier ever!
Thanks!
my daughter did that and i ended up using a mobile and a radio as "white noise" and it helped
I would let her keep the paci for now, and wait a little longer to ditch it. My daughter was over it by 6 mos of age. The reason I say wait is because shes too young to 'sleep train' so the paci works for now. When she is 6 or 7 mos old, THEN you can sleep train and hopefully by the time you start that, the paci will be gone anyways.
I'm sure some moms will think I am harsh, but honestly I would let her cry a bit before rushing in. Listen to her crying to clue in to what she needs. If she whimpers for a bit see if she will settle down without the pacifier. If she can it will save you heartache later when trying to ditch it!
If she is crying for a couple of minutes go in, pat her back, talk to her soothingly, give her back the pacifier (if you think she needs it), and leave quietly. You may have to do this a few times, but she will settle down on her own.
My 2 girls both used the ortho type pacifiers (the oldest till she was 14 months, the second till she was 2), and neither of them have dental issues to date.
Four months old is too young for cry it out. She'd think you had abandoned her at that age.
The pacifier is creating a bad habit and will affect her teeth when they start to come in. You can put her in the crib drowsy, but be prepared to pick her up right away.
My son is 3 months old and I rock/nurse him to sleep and put him down fully asleep, just as I did with my 7 year old. I never worried about sleep training or self soothing. To me that's a skill that comes somewhere during the toddler years and not before. Before that they have me 100% any time for any reason. I would never ever leave a child under the age of 1 cry for sure, and in my world, probably not until age 2.
Don't worry about creating bad habits, aside from soothers, you can't spoil a baby. Enjoy the time with your little one and leave self soothing for later!
