Dummy Run

Giving your bambino a dummy either feels like the right thing to do or is something you would not consider as a parent. With the best intentions in the world there are some cases when the use of a pacifier is simply a necessity (bath time with tiny twins springs quickly to mind).

 There is one fascinating tip, however, that no parent believes until they see (or hear) it with their own eyes (or ears). That I will shortly enlighten you with.

Whilst babies do naturally have a suckling reflex until the age of about four months (varies from baby to baby and equally varies as to how strong it is) after this they should not have the urge to suckle in the same way. At this age your baby could (depending on weight of course) be sleeping right through the night (and I mean without a dream feed!) but they are unlikely to do so if they go to sleep with a dummy. If your baby sleeps with a dummy the chances are that you are familiar with the in out in out shake it all about experience that ensues. Baby, being to young to put the dummy back in when it falls out, keenly misses it and cries out for it and mummy or daddy as a result are forced through a painful night of dummy rescue.


TOP TIP: Once your baby's suckling reflex seems to have subsided (does not keep dummy in as easily, or can be tested with a clean bent index finger inserted just into your baby's mouth to see whether they suckle and hold); REMOVE the dummies altogether, go absolutely cold turkey, throw the dummies away if you have to (although one or two for emergencies and plane journeys can be helpful), but absolutely do not give in to the temptation to put the dummy into your baby's mouth during the night.

Astonishingly, your baby will (in my experience) forget that they ever had a dummy and sleep more soundly through the night. They will not feel deprived or cry out for it, they genuinely will not remember they ever had one.

It has to be seen to be believed but it really works- just remember to set your alarm from now on- you may need it!