Once, twice, three times... First, it's an opportunity for an extra kiss, then it gets difficult, and finally, it can make you completely grumpy. Waking up at night because of a misplaced pacifier can quickly become exhausting and - let's face it - a bit annoying. As parents, many of us are looking for THE solution that will help baby keep his Pacifier all night long, find it again or do without it. So, without talking about miracles, some "good night" tips work better than others: here they are.
CONTENTS :
- Children's night-time awakenings are the same as yours
- Baby loses his pacifier at night, wakes up and wakes you up: what can you do?
- Three simple tips to prevent pacifiers from falling out at night
Children's night-time 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 just won't go away, a nightmare...just 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's nothing abnormal about your child waking up. The key is to get him back to sleep, and if possible, without waking you. Here, sucking and the well-being it brings play a major role.
Sucking needs and sleep cycles
Soothing babies' need to suck helps to calm them and set the rhythm for them to fall asleep. That's why many parents opt for pacifiers, because they're a sure-fire way to accompany - and escort - them back to Morpheus' arms.
Yes, but once baby has dozed off and relaxed, the pacifier often falls out of his mouth. By the next light sleep cycle, the alarm clock won't be far away; sometimes just 30 minutes after the start of the nap, and sometimes several times a night. An alarm clock (with a fanfare) that pulls you out of bed without transition to - quickly - go and put the Pacifier back on. An interlude we could do without.
Sleeping with a pacifier: for or against?
Long discouraged, baby pacifiers have come a long way in recent years, and are now a natural part of a newborn's birth kit. Physiological, ultra-fine and made from 100% natural silicone, they respect baby's needs and health.
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However, if used incorrectly or offered at the wrong time, it can disrupt breastfeeding, lead to weaning difficulties and cause night-time awakenings.
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But the pacifier is also reassuring. It satisfies babies' need to suck, helps them let go to sleep and, according to several studies, may 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 UK and the USA, babies accustomed to using a Pacifier to sleep are less at risk of SIDS. The positive effects of using a pacifier at night include easier waking, less use of the stomach position, tongue held forward, freeing the upper airways, reducing gastro-oesophageal reflux and increasing respiratory drive.
When should baby be offered a pacifier?
To avoid breast/tetin confusion, pediatricians recommend waiting until at least 6 weeks of age to offer your baby a pacifier, but you can wait much longer - 3 or even 6 months. To introduce a pacifier, wait for baby to ask for something to suck on outside mealtimes, and simply bring the Pacifier up to his lips.
Baby loses his pacifier at night, wakes up and wakes you up: what can you do?
If you use a pacifier to put your baby to sleep, you know that night-time awakenings can be frequent, especially in the first few months, due to lost Pacifier . Accustomed 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, leads to fatigue and frustration, as well as a baby and parents who are at least a little grumpy after a restless night.
The idea is to find a solution, your solution, so that baby can keep his pacifier all night long, can do without it if he loses or finds it, and can take it back on his own.
Three simple tips to prevent pacifiers from falling out at night
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Focus on baby's autonomy
You're not planning to take baby's pacifier away, at least not yet? So you may have to be alittle patient until he can catch it on his own and put it back in his mouth easily, day or night. The good news is that this usually happens around 6 months.
💡 F rom the first signs of fine motor development, add several pacifiers to your baby's crib! You can choose glow-in-the-dark ones for easier identification, but with 4 or 5 of them, your child should be able to find them without too much searching. What's more, if he throws or scatters them, wait until he's asleep to place them near his hands.
💡 A s he gets older, you can also suggest that he hang his favorite pacifier on a comforter. Comforter-teethers are very easy to find in the bed and very practical, with their secure, baby-friendly attachment system.
During sleeping time, we recommend avoiding the use of conventional pacifier clips, cords and other strings, which could be dangerous for your child.
Also, reduce sleep-disturbing elements as much as possible. Promote a calm, relaxing environment, free from excessive stimulation before bedtime, with a routine designed to reassure and prepare your baby for a wake-free night.
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Teaching baby to go back to sleep without his pacifier
Are you thinking of weaning your baby from his pacifier? Here again, you'll need to be patient and proceed in stages.
💡 S tart by gently reducing pacifier use during the day. Leave it aside and only offer it for naps and at night. Once this stage is well established - i.e. when your child feels able to put the pacifier down himself when he wakes up and no longer asks for it - use a gentle method like the "Pacifier Fairy" to separate yourself from the Pacifier for good.
The "Pacifier Fairy" is a friend of the Little Mouse! In this book, written and illustrated by child chooses the day to part with his Pacifier. At bedtime, he places it in a small box. During the night, the "Pacifier Fairy" retrieves it and leaves a little gift in its place.
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What to replace the pacifier with at night?
💡 During the transition, to reassure your child, offer him a comforter or diaper with your scent and see if he calms down. There are also cuddly toys that reproduce the movement and rhythm of regular breathing to accompany him to sleep.
💡 If he's crying or struggling to get back to sleep, bring your little one a bottle of water to take his mind off things. And if he's old 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, remember that cuddling and singing or telling a story, especially a favorite one, is always a good way to lull baby to sleep.
To sum up, 4 tips for pacifiers and sleep
For your baby, choose a quality teat that is healthy, extra-flexible, physiological and fine, complies with safety standards and is adapted to baby's mouth according to his age.
If baby often wakes up because he's lost his pacifier, try replacing it with a comforter or diaper that smells like you (or introduce an alternating pacifier), bring a bottle of water or sing to lull your baby to sleep.
To reduce the number of pacifiers waking up, as soon as baby can put his pacifier back on by himself, place several pacifiers in the bed so that he can always find one when he wakes up. You can also attach them securely to a pacifier comforter specially designed for this purpose. Finally, set up a soothing environment with a bedtime ritual and a quiet time, which will encourage wake-free nights.
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