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

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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

šŸŽ™ļø 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

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


šŸ“ø Follow Sally & Bec on Instagram:

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

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


šŸŽ§ 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: 82

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