Deciding when and why to ditch the dummy can be influenced by a variety of reasons 👶🏻
The recommended age to ditch the dummy often varies among healthcare providers which can make the decision confusing, conflicting, and overwhelming! 😮💨 For instance, a paediatrician 👩🏻⚕️ may have a different perspective compared to an orthodontist or myofunctional therapist 🦷
Although the dummy can be an effective soothing aid, it can become problematic if your baby begins waking at the end of every sleep cycle, needing it to be replaced 😫🆘. This pattern can lead to fragmented night sleep, frequent overnight wakes, and a lack of restorative sleep 😥
Keep in mind that the dummy itself is not the sleep association; rather, the association lies in your baby’s dependence on someone else to replace it every time it falls out 🤏🏻. This becomes particularly noticeable if they already have the ability to find and replace it themselves (typically around 7-8 months), yet still cry out for you to replace it 😫
While you can remove the dummy at any age, doing so after 6 months may lead to increased resistance. Therefore, if you don’t want to use it long-term, we recommend ditching it before* 6 months of age, before they develop a strong attachment and deeply ingrained sleep association 🤞🏻
With that said, if your baby is still catnapping, resisting sleep, or waking frequently overnight, book a consultation or download our Sleep Essentials Guide at www.settletosleep.com.au so we can support you in restoring sleep for you and your family 🩷🌸💫