Once, twice, three times... First, it's an opportunity for an extra kiss. Then, it gets difficult and finally, it risks making you completely grumpy. Waking up at night because of a misplaced pacifier can quickly become exhausting and – we're not going to lie – a little annoying. As parents, many of us are looking for THE solution that will help baby keep his pacifier on all night, find it or do without it. Also, without talking about miracles, some “good night” tips work better than others: here they are.
SUMMARY :
- Children's nighttime awakenings are the same as yours
- Baby loses his pacifier at night, wakes up and wakes you: what to do?
- Three simple tips against pacifiers that fall out at night
Children's nighttime awakenings are the same as yours
There are many reasons why newborns, babies and children can wake up in the middle of the night: hunger, pain, a particular noise, the excitement of the day that doesn't let up, a nightmare...like you. Not to mention teething or the discomfort of a full diaper. Finally, because a night is made up of several phases of more or less deep sleep , there is nothing abnormal about your child waking up. The challenge is above all that he goes back to sleep and if possible, without waking you up. Here, suction and the well-being it provides play a big role.
Need for sucking and sleep cycles
Soothing babies' need to suck helps calm them down and give them a rhythm to falling asleep . This is why many parents opt for the pacifier, because it is a safe way to accompany them - and accompany them - back to the arms of Morpheus.
Yes, but once baby is dozed and relaxed, the pacifier often falls out of his mouth . In the next light sleep cycle, waking up will not be far away; sometimes just 30 minutes after nap time, and sometimes several times a night. An alarm clock (with fanfare) that pulls you out of bed without any transition to - quickly - go put the pacifier back on. An interlude that we could do without.
Sleeping with a pacifier: for or against?
Long discouraged, the baby pacifier has evolved a lot in recent years to now fit naturally into the newborn's birth kit. Physiological, ultra-thin and 100% natural silicone, it respects their needs and their health.
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However, if used incorrectly or offered at the wrong time , it could disrupt the smooth progress of breastfeeding, lead to weaning difficulties and be accompanied by nighttime awakenings.
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But, the pacifier is also reassuring . It fulfills babies' need to suck, promotes letting go to sleep and, according to several studies, could offer additional protection against the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
According to several studies to be confirmed carried out in New Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, babies accustomed to using a pacifier to sleep are less concerned by the risks of SIDS. A less easy awakening, a less used position on the stomach, the tongue held forward, the liberation of the upper respiratory tract, the reduction of gastroesophageal reflux and the increase in the respiratory drive, would be all positive points linked to the use of the pacifier at night.
When should you offer your baby a pacifier?
To avoid breast/pacifier confusion , pediatricians recommend waiting until at least 6 weeks of age to offer a pacifier to your infant, but you can wait much longer, 3 or even 6 months. To introduce it, wait for your baby to ask for something to suckle outside of meals and simply bring the pacifier to his lips.
Baby loses his pacifier at night, wakes up and wakes you: what to do?
If you use a pacifier to put your baby to sleep, you know that nighttime awakenings can be frequent, especially in the first months, due to a lost pacifier. Used to falling asleep with it, your little one finds himself helpless when he has to do without it . A situation which, if repeated too frequently, causes fatigue and frustration , in addition to a baby and at least grumpy parents after a broken night.
The idea is therefore to find a solution, your solution, so that baby keeps his pacifier all night, can do without it if he loses it or finds it and knows how to take it back on his own.
Three simple tips against pacifiers that fall out at night
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Focus on baby's autonomy
You don't plan to remove your baby's pacifier, at least not yet? You may therefore have to be a little patient while waiting until he can catch it on his own and put it back in his mouth easily, day or night. Good news which is generally announced around 6 months.
💡 At the first signs of fine motor skills development , add several pacifiers to your baby's bed ! You can choose them phosphorescent for easier identification, but already, there are 4 or 5 of them, your child should find them without looking too hard. Moreover, if he likes to throw them or scatter them, wait until he is asleep to place them near his hands.
💡 As he grows up, you can also suggest that he hang his favorite pacifier on a cuddly toy. The comforters are very easy to find in the bed and very practical, with their safe and baby-friendly attachment system.
During sleep time, it is recommended not to use classic pacifier clips, cords and other strings which could be dangerous for your child.
Also, reduce sleep-disrupting elements as much as possible. Promote a calm and relaxing environment , without excessive stimulation before bedtime and with a routine that will aim to reassure and prepare your baby for a night without waking up.
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Teaching your baby to go back to sleep without their pacifier
Are you considering weaning your baby off his pacifier? Here again you will have to be patient and proceed in stages.
💡 Start by slowly reducing pacifier use during the day . Leave it aside and only offer it at nap time and at night. Once this stage is well established - that is to say when your child feels capable of putting down his pacifier himself when he wakes up and no longer asks for it - use a gentle method like the "Pacifier Fairy" to separate yourself definitely lollipop.
The “Pacifier Fairy” is a friend of the Little Mouse! In this book written and illustrated by child himself chooses the day on which he will part with his pacifier. At bedtime, he places it in a small box. During the night, the “pacifier fairy” picks it up and leaves a small gift instead.
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What should you replace the pacifier with at night?
💡 During the transition, to reassure your child, offer him a blanket or diaper with your scent and see if he calms down. There are also soft toys that reproduce the movement and rhythm of regular breathing to help you fall asleep.
💡 If he cries or struggles to get back to sleep, bring your little one a bottle of water to take his mind off things. And if he's big enough to fend for himself, consider the silicone training cup . Unbreakable and leak-proof , he can keep it with him without risk.
And if nothing works, don't forget that cuddling and humming or telling a story, especially your favorite, is always a good way to lull baby to sleep.
To summarize, 4 pacifier & sleep tips
For your baby, choose a quality, healthy, extra-soft, physiological and fine pacifier , compliant with safety standards and adapted to the baby's mouth according to his age.
If baby wakes up often because he has lost his pacifier, try replacing it with a cuddly toy or a swaddle that smells like you (or introducing an alternation), bring a bottle of water or hum to rock your baby.
To reduce pacifier awakenings, as soon as baby knows how to put his pacifier back on his own, place several pacifiers in the bed so that he always finds one when he wakes up. You can also hang them securely on a comforter-pacifier specially designed for this use. Finally, establish a calming environment with a bedtime ritual and quiet time, which will encourage nights without waking up.
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