Over the past 5 nights, my sweet 7 month old has started waking every hour whimpering needing his pacifier put back in. He has never slept longer than a 6 hour stretch without waking up to nurse, but his new every hour need for me to replace his pacifier is exhausting. I can't get any sleep! I still nurse him two times at night (which I would be quite happy to continue to do if he weren't needing hourly pacifier attention as well). My husband and I really don't want to have him "cry it out" and are desperately hoping that a magic night will come where he will find his pacifier in the crib and put it back in his mouth. Until then, I don't know what to do. . .but know that I can't continue to get up every hour. Please help!
Honestly, if he won't put the pacifer back in his mouth on his. The only option I see, is putting him to sleep without it. That way he won't lose it and wake up. Only a suggestion.
K.
K.,
I feel your pain. My son just went through that, and he could't cry it out because his 3 year old big sis was in the room right next door. We got one of those little stuffed elmos about 12 inches tall and put extra pacis on his arms. So you aren't looking for them as well as he is. Elmo is always close to our son and he knows elmo has the pacis and he just cuddles elmo and sucks his paci at the same time. Also if your son has a security blanket, pull one of the corners through so the paci is stuck on the blanket and let your son play with it durring the day so he learns the paci is on the blankie
Good luck
K.,
I have a 7 and a 2yr old. It sounds like you are breastfeeding him. If so starting him on formula would make him feel like he has something in his tummy and maybe he would not wake up and nurse so much. If you still want to nurse take the breast milk and mix it with 2 tbl spoons of baby oatmeal, I had to start this at 4 weeks for both my kids they always wanted to nurse. Also he souds like he is very dependent on his passy. But my daughter was the same way.
hope you sleep,
N. ____@____.com
It's probably a temporary thing. A lot of kids wake more often when they're teething or about to hit some milestones.
Personally I wouldn't let him cry it out, especially when the solution to getting him back to sleep is as easy as a paci. I've heard of some people putting several in the bed with the baby so it's easier for him to find.
My husband and I are going through the same situation. Our daughter is 6 months old, and it has been going on for about 1 1/2 months. I would also love to hear some insight from any mothers out there on this. My husband and I are in desperate need of sleep!
Thanks!
Hmmm....my first thought was take that paci away, day and night. It will be hard for a few days but kids are resiliant and re-adjust quickly (well most). Is easy to give in and that perpetuates the problem. Let baby cry for 10 min, if it goes longer than that go check, lay him back down say night night, or whatever is typical for bedtime..and go- give another 10 min. Like I said it takes time but will even out. By 7 months my son got rice cereal and fruits and veggies (puree) during the day and water in a bottle and was mostly sleeping throu the night w/out breast feeding. (there was nights when his teeth were getting the best of him) But sleeping throu the night was more typical. Good Luck
Hey K.,
I am the mother of a happy 11 month old. She likes her pacifier or "nummy" as we call it. We only let her have it when she is tired and going to bed (mostly). I had your same issue and concern with letting her cry. I finally gave in and tried it for two or three nights and she QUICKLY learned to find her nummy and put it back in her mouth on her own. Iknow that letting them cry during the night is EXTREMELY hard, but if you can try just one or two nights that may be all you need.
Sorry there are no "Magical Words of Wisdom", but good luck. Hopefully it will go as easily for you as it did for me.
S. R
My son did the same as yours. We just bought about 5 pacifiers and put them in the crib, so that they were easier to find. That first night, he cried out instinctually. I didn't rush right in, and it wasn't long before he found one of the many pacifiers himself. After that, it was no longer an issue.
Good luck!
Get rid of the pacifier NOW! You don't want him to suddenly be two and not able to speak properly or have buck teeth because his mount has shaped around a paci. Plus they carry tons of germs. I know how hard it is, but sometimes, letting them cry it out really works. Make sure your baby is dry, has something on his tummy, is safe, and warm....if you know all of his needs are met, then he needs to learn that night time is for sleeping. The more you go to him and keep him stimulated, he will keep playing you. Infants are smarter than we give them credit for. We go to our son only once a night with food. If he wakes up again and is not wet or cold, we leave the room. Try giving him a bottle of expressed milk so there is more on his tummy to keep him satisfied. Having more at one time might help him make it through a bit better. Their bodies digest breast milk much faster too becuase there is so much good stuff it in for them. Maybe trying a formula during the night would help him go longer too. Good luck, if anything, talk to your pediatrician.
K.,
My daughter did the same thing. One of my friends has a daughter who is 2 months older than my daughter. She told me to let her cry. Of course I did not want to do that, but we were exhausted. She cried for 13 mins. and went right back to sleep. I know it was 13 mins. b/c I was starring at the clock!LOL! She cried about 5 mins. the next night and that was that! To think that we were sleep deprived, crankyk, and crazy for months when I could have just solved the entire thing in under 20 mins.! It will be hard, but just try to let him cry for 15 mins and see if it works. Good luck!
At that age, we started clipping the paci on DD's pj's and she could find it herself
