Weaning off dummy...... cold turkey?!

[BabyMummy2019]

Hey

I have a 16 month old DS and trying to wean him off his dummy. He only uses it for morning naps and nighttime but wanting to get him to stop all together.

Do you have any tips on how to stop him using it?! He's not really got any other comforters (teddy/blanket)

Tried to get him to sleep this morning without it by cuddling in etc but he got in such a state and nearly made himself sick crying, so I caved and gave him his within 2 mins he was sound asleep. 🙈

Any help appreciated xx

[WaitingForSeptember]

I would try cold turkey personally. Yes he'll be upset but he'll fall asleep eventually, & after 3 days he'll have broken the habit.

[Windyatthebeach]

Why the rush op? It's his comforter and you want to remove it. Sounds harsh.

[Ninkanink]

I went cold turkey both times. But mine were slightly older (18 months for my eldest and two years old for my youngest). I cut all the teats off and told them they were broken. It only takes a few days. They got snuggles/story/sometimes a snack when they asked for or wanted the dummy.

[BabyMummy2019]

I'll try from tonight. I'm on annual leave this week that's why I decided to go for this week so if nighttime is bad it'll not effect me too bad work wise.

Will just need to put my big girl pants on and prepare for tears later - I may get a shock and he'll just go to sleep xx

[Ninkanink]

*Snack or drink

[BabyMummy2019]

If it doesn't work - I'll try again in a few months.

No rush except my husband hates his dummy and constantly takes it out his mouth. I fully regret giving him it as we didn't do it until he was about 4 months 🙈 was recommended as he was constantly crying for a bottle then minute I fed him he fell asleep so someone said try a dummy whicx did help but I think just caused a problem down the line x

[Mrsjayy]

I would maybe lose it for day naps and just let him have it for bed for now I wouldn't cold Turkey a comforter from a 16 month old baby,

[WaitingForSeptember]

You're right to wean him off it ASAP - they can affect teeth development as well as language development.

[Mrsjayy]

Why is a problem ?

[campion]

Why do you want him to stop? He's very young and it's obviously important when he goes to sleep and he's too young to understand yet. Give him a bit more time.
Has someone else suggested it to you?

[Mrsjayy]

It only affects language if they speak with them and dental development is when adult teeth come in very few children have dummies at 5/6, thumb sucking usually goes on for longer and damages teeth.

[TwilightPeace]

I don’t understand why you want to take his comfort away from him? He only uses it when sleeping? So how would it be affecting him negatively? It won’t affect his speech or anything.

16 month old is so young, basically just a walking baby. Wait until he has better understanding before taking it away.
Are you just doing this because of your husbands opinion?

[SmileyClare]

I wouldn't have an issue with a 16 month old using a dummy for naps/bedtime.

Mine had a dummy at bedtime until they were around 2. They were then old enough to be bribed understand giving up the dummy.

Two tips worked for me;
a reward for giving up the dummy e.g. choosing a toy after 3 nights with no dummy,

And cutting a small slit in the teat of the dummy. It feels funny when they use it and they go off it.

Good luck. If he's inconsolable at bedtime without it and continues to be, I'd carry on with the dummy and revisit giving it up when he's older.
There's no point putting yourselves through a load of distress and a dummy is not harmful at bedtime.

If your husband is so against it perhaps he would like to do all the bedtimes without a dummy for the next couple of weeks?

[QuestionableMouse]

My oldest nephew gave his up on his own at about 2.5. He's four now and his speech and teeth are both perfect.

My youngest nephew never took to one and sucks his fingers which is a much harder habit to break!

Leave him for now. He's still so tiny.

[Mrsjayy]

You haven't done anything wrong giving it to him I'm the first place .

[Mrsjayy]

Only 1 of mine took a dummy and it was gone before her 3rd birthday we "swapped" it for a soft toy she had her eye on and she was honestly fine, I don't think she would have been fine at 16 months though.

[Windyatthebeach]

We used it for naps and car journeys only from a year old.
If it's dh wants rid then dh can do bedtimes and during the night imo.

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

So you're removing it because your husband doesnt like it? Seems a bit unecessary to me

[Elmo311]

I think it's good to remove it earlier as surely you can have more of a battle when they're older and more aware?!

My son went to nursery at 15months and they helped us wean him off it, as he used to have it all day and for naps and bedtime. So they started with taking it away and only giving it to him at naps, and honestly after about 2 weeks he just stopped asking for it.
We also did the same with our daughter who was 7 months old and she didn't miss hers either.

You can do it! Of course he will be upset and miss it but maybe try doing it for daytime; then naps then bedtime and see how he goes.

At once stage our son had about 5 dummies in his bed as he used to wake up crying if he couldn't find one!

Good luck x

[Notso]

I prefer the gentle approach,
get a special place for the dummy which they can access from their bed/cot,
when you put them down to sleep put the dummy in place and walk away,
if they get the dummy don't mention it,
if they don't make a big fuss and praise them.
I did this after doing cold turkey with my first and feeling really mean and guilty, I had three dummy addicts and using this method they all gave up in 5 weeks or under without a single tear.
I like this approach as the decision is the child's, you are not taking away any comfort and they can really own their achievement.