The Great Dummy Debate: When to Keep, When to Ditch

The Great Dummy Debate: When to Keep, When to Ditch

Author: Sally Woods and Bec Maher March 5, 2026 Duration: 56:28

Want to subscribe to every ep and enjoy FREE sleep tools? 👉 www.naptrappedpodcast.com


This week we're tackling everything dummy and pacifier related. If you're stuck replugging at 2am or wondering when (or if) to ditch it, this episode is for you.


Sally and Bec break down the realistic expectations around keeping the dummy, how to use it with different sleep training techniques, and the crucial windows for getting rid of it if that's your plan. Spoiler: there's a magic age where everything gets easier.


What You'll Learn:

• The two age windows when ditching the dummy is easiest (and when to absolutely hold onto it)

• How to incorporate the dummy into FURBA/time checks and pick-up-put-down

• Why waiting your timed interval before replugging creates value

• Teaching find-and-replug skills with games outside the cot

• What to do when your toddler starts throwing dummies out in protest

• Realistic expectations for overnight dummy replugs by age

• Why we say ditch the glow-in-the-dark dummies

• The connection between nap drops and dummy removal


Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:39 Somerset the skeleton joins the pod

01:58 When to ditch the dummy: the age windows that work

06:00 Why we hold onto it after 12 months

09:34 How to use the dummy with FURBA/time checks

14:33 Incorporating dummy into pick-up-put-down

17:05 Teaching find-and-replug skills with games

22:19 Realistic expectations for overnight replugs

26:19 Glow-in-the-dark dummies: our verdict

28:46 When your 11-month-old can do it but won't

29:37 The dummy-throwing protest phase

33:22 Sleep Detectives: Four hours to bed on one nap?

39:21 Sleep Detectives: Does falling asleep in the pram count as self-settling?

44:16 Fast Forward: Things you were told to expect with a baby

🎙️ ABOUT NAP TRAPPED

Hosted by sleep consultants Sally Woods (The Sleep Concierge) and Bec Maher (The Sleep Centre), Nap Trapped helps tired parents solve baby sleep challenges with warmth, evidence, and no judgement. Every week we turn your questions into practical solutions—with a side of Aldi chocolate.


Links

đź“© Get updates + exclusive tools: Subscribe www.naptrappedpodcast.com


📸 Follow Sally & Bec on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thesleepconcierge/

https://www.instagram.com/_thesleepcentre/


🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts


Ever found yourself stuck on the couch, scrolling in the quiet, while your little one finally sleeps? You're not alone, and that's exactly where Nap Trapped finds its groove. Hosted by Australian sleep consultants Sally Woods of The Sleep Concierge and Bec Maher from The Sleep Centre, this podcast meets you in that exhausted, sometimes isolating space. It’s a direct conversation between two experts who are also mums, blending solid, evidence-based strategies with the real-world chaos of family life. They break down the 'why' behind restless nights and short naps, moving beyond rigid rules to offer adaptable, practical solutions that actually fit your day. The tone is all solidarity and zero judgment, recognising that every family's sleep journey is different. You'll hear honest stories, debunk common myths, and get actionable advice that aims to bring more rest to your household, not just your baby. Tune into Nap Trapped for a genuinely helpful mix of professional insight and relatable commiseration, all delivered with a warm, Aussie sensibility. It's the kind of podcast you listen to while you're, well, nap trapped, and finish feeling equipped and understood.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 50

Nap Trapped
Podcast Episodes
What Is Sleep Training, Really? With That Sleep Doc (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:06
We made it to 100 episodes and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate. Sally's heart was beating the whole time 'cause she's that much of a fangirl.Our guest is the one and only Dr Sujay Kansagra, known to so man…
Sleep Detectives: Your Baby Sleep Q’s Answered - Ep 99 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:32
We're back in the Sleep Detectives hot seat answering your real baby sleep questions — bottles, naps, toddler boundaries, split nights, daycare schedules and a very important Fiji trip. Subscribe and never miss an episod…
The 3-to-2 Nap Drop - 9 Month Old Case Study [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:29
Is the two-nap schedule wrecking your nine-month-old's sleep — or was something already brewing before you made the drop? This week we work through a real DM case study: a nine-month-old who moved to two naps and promptl…
Should Mum or Dad Do The Sleep Training? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
Which parent should be the one doing the settling at bedtime? Can you tag team? What happens if you tap out mid-session? Sally and Bec get into all of it — and their answer might surprise you.Subscribe to the Nap Trapped…
Sleep Detectives: Early Rising, Night Weaning & Toddler Bedtime [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:13
Subscribe and never miss an episode: www.naptrappedpodcast.comSleepy Ds are back. This week Sally and Bec put on their detective hats for four real listener questions — and as always, they love a side quest.From a 14-mon…
5 Things Worth The Money (To Us) | Ep 94 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:52
Sally and Bec step away from baby sleep talk to share the five things they genuinely believe are worth the money — from kitchen appliances to travel. No affiliate codes, no sponsors (yet), just honest opinions from two t…
Sleep Detectives: Jet lag, night feeds and naps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:34
Sally and Bec are back in the hot seat answering your real-life baby sleep questions live and unscripted. From managing jet lag with an eleven-month-old to knowing when to drop a night feed, trimming nap one, tackling tw…
Snooze Member Masterclass: Small Changes, Big Sleep Wins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:39
What if you didn't need a big sleep training plan to see real results? In this Snooze Masterclass, Sally and Bec break down a real-life message from a family member whose 11-week-old is now sleeping 11 hours overnight —…
Sleep Detectives: False starts, night weaning, nap caps and dummies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:06
Sleep Detectives is back! Sally and Bec answer your real baby sleep questions — false starts, night weaning, nap caps, dummy habits and more. Subscribe and get better sleep support at www.naptrappedpodcast.comWhat You'll…