pacifier sleep crutch

jonesie2010

For those whose LOs use a pacifier at night, have you thought about trying to break the habit? Or has anyone already done so with success? DD is 5 months and up until now I haven't minded her using a pacifier at night because she seemed to only need it to fall asleep, and then she would be fine for several hours until she woke to eat. The last few days, however, she's been waking more frequently and needing us to come replace it so that she can drift back to sleep. I think it's become a crutch and I'm wondering if we should try to break the habit sooner rather than later. I'm feeling anxious about it because we had a REALLY rough time with the 4 month regression and even now sleep is pretty touch and go. Anything that could potentially throw us off even more fills me with dread. On a related note, the time is coming when we'll have to wean from the magic sleep suit and I'm scared. Maybe I should just stop the pacifier and the sleep suit all at once and brace myself for a rough few days (or weeks)? Any words of advice or encouragement? I could use 'em. Thanks!

jonesie2010

P.S. I can't figure out how to fix my siggy. Also, that was supposed to have paragraph breaks but I'm on my tablet. Sorry!

Pearls+Oysters

DS has been needing his paci on and off lately as well. Sometimes he's fine without it, and sometimes he won't close his eyes without it. Luckily, he hasn't woken up at night because of it lately, maybe around 2 months but not since. That is also the time we stopped using his swaddle. 

I wouldn't wean her from the paci because pretty soon, she'll find it and put it back herself. That's what DS has been doing a few times. I would wean from the sleep suit before, and let her have her paci for a bit. We're waiting for the sleep / nap situation to regulate itself before attempting any other change. 

Good luck!

jonesie2010

Thanks for the advice! You make a good point about waiting for sleep/naps to regulate before attempting too much. The daytime naps here are still not so good. Maybe I should give it a few weeks or a month before I try anything.