Dummy only for nursery?

[Snowhite12]

Hi,
My LO is 17 months and has only ever had the dummy for naps and when she woke up early in the morning (before 7am).

She started waking up earlier in the morning for it so I decided to ditch it, which has gone well considering. We still have a bit of crying before naps but she's fine at night/ in the morning.

Problem is I can't see how we can ditch it at nursery for naps. Most of the other children have one and she's constantly asking for her dummy and trying to steal one while there.

Is it too confusing to just have the dummy for naps at nursery but never at home?

[eatingonlyapples]

No. I'm an early years educator and actively discourage dummies - sorry that your nursery doesn't. They really do harm children's speech when overused (not saying that you overuse them, but other parents do).

Your daughter will get used to not having it especially if you're consistent, it'll be so confusing to her to have it in one place and not another - even if she sees others having dummies. You do need to let her key worker know (and the other room staff) that she is not to have a dummy. Soon she won't care. It might be a difficult transition but it's less confusing for her than being allowed it at nursery but not at home.

[Caterina99]

We had the opposite. DS (18m at time) had his dummy at home for naps and bedtime, but when he started at nursery they allowed it for the first couple of weeks and then got rid and he was fine. That did give me the motivation to wean him off it, which took about 3 days.

If your DD doesn't use it that much then personally I'd get rid entirely and tell nursery she doesn't have one.