Needs pacifier at night
| Q: | My 8 month old is quiet attached to her pacifier. She is able to fall asleep when put to bed by herself if her pacifier is in her mouth. However she is waking sometimes 10 times a night when her pacifier falls out or she wakes and can not go back to sleep on her own until I roll her onto her tummy and put back her pacifier. I know she will be able to place her pacifier back into her mouth soon but I am really needing a good nights sleep now. What do you suggest do I sleep train her ? if so do I remove the pacifier at night (and make her self sooth) as she can’t put it back in yet and would have to get up to her anyway. She does not get breastfeed during the night. Is it time for tough love. Regards Vanessa |
| A: | Dear Vanessa Your baby is old enough to learn to use her pacifier independently now. This means its time for sleep coaching but this does not need to involve any crying. Step 1: Each time she needs the pacifier during the day, put it in her hand – not her mouth. She must pop it in her mouth on her own. Step 2: Once she can do this in daylight hours, its time to let her do it at night. Each time she cries at night put the pacifier in her hand and she must pop it in her mouth. Be sure to always offer her doodoo blanky first. Step 3: Once she can put the pacifier in in the dark, guide her hand to it when she cries until she can get it on her own Step 4: Put lots of pacifiers in the cot so she finds them on her own Step 5: Leave her to fuss for 5 min before responding – giving her chance to sort herself out with her doodoo or pacifier. All the best Meg |
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