To be upset/concerned about new preschool helper and DS's dummy!

I rarely find anything about children's behaviour "sick", Twiglett

adults yes

achooally .. a slide has proved to be worth its money thrice-over

what do you term necessary? fags and booze I suppose

MrsS I am glad my ds's nursery doesn't take the same line as the one you are talking about

they don't see the nursery day as a preparation for school, they see it as trying to provide the best opportunities for play for the age they are now. They care for the children as is suitable for their current age, not based on what they will be expected to do next year if they are going to school.

"If they let one have one they'll all want one"

really? My ds has never wanted a dummy. Why would seeing another 4 year old with a dummy suddenly make him want one?

None of mine have had dummies, but ds3 has a blanky and ds1 currently has a baby's telephone toy (with a little mirror on which he likes to look at). He gets disapproving looks when out and about with that (an 8 year old with a baby toy- good grief must mutter about that one- got nothing better to do with my time).

I think that the helper should have discussed it with you first. Bit over zealous perhaps.

I must admit dd1 went through an interested in dummies stage(she has never had one as a baby) at about 2ish. I would humour her for about 10 mins then I would lose it/bin it. She was still bf and I think it was curiousity really so the sucking reflex thing wasn't an issue cos she did still suckle.

I am currently giving myself a hard look because I do think bad things about older kids with dummies and I shouldn't. i have a bf 3yr old fgs.

I think I just can't stand dummies full stop. I don't understand why you would put something in your beautiful childs face to cover it up.

But then I fed on demand so they didn't need to suck on anything else and maybe their sucking reflex isn't as needy. maybe if I had had to bottle feed/had a suckier baby I would have had one. I certainly wouldn't have deprived my baby of something if it gave it comfort.

I will have to think on.

"Muummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmummmm...

those girls over there aren't playing nicely"

Did she say hit them back?

Only joshing.

rang your mum ROFL

what did you say?

"Mum, a bunch of hobbits in my computer are being rather rude to me"

Because it's not relevant, because I'm busy with my own children, because I'm not looking round wildly for something to disapprove of every time I set foot outside my front dooor????

cost me Lego Robots and a frickin' slide to get DS to give up his nightime bottle at 3 .. almost £100

actually come to think of it neither of my ds have ever had a comfort object

no bottles
no dummies
no blankies
no stinky toys

which is lucky because you know extended bf makes children clingy and maladjusted

Franny I don't care cos an NT 9 year old who has SMA and a dummy is sick however you look at it

flight attendant my ds gave his up at 3 dd 2 still has one. Her nursery took same policy and tbh it was with no discussion with us. They just used to put it in her pocket when she arrived and ti stayed there all day. She now puts it in her pocket or gives it us when she arrives and never asks for it all day until we collect her when she gets it out of her pocket. I know the staff think we prob should stop it now but tbh i will stop it when she is ready and not let them dictate when she is ready. I can see where you are coming from in that respect and also share your opinion on the about speech as both mine are fine and my nephew isn't who sucked and still does , his thumb !
TBH i will prob try and wean her at 3 just to try and prepare her for pre school though.

F & Z, I do think it is the nursery's business. The pre-school my DDs went to specified that dummies were not allowed during the school day. Their reasoning being a) it affects speech b) that yes, they do tend to glaze over when they've got one in! and c) if they let one have one they'll all want one and d) these children are almost of school age - pre-school is preparation for school, therefore, no dummmies, no bottles, no smelly rags etc etc

I expect flightattendant was allowed to wean from her comfort objects at her own pace thus rendering her extremely laid back and hard to unnerve

if you're having a go at me carmenere she asked ..

How on earth do you all notice what other children have in their mouths? Very odd.

I want to say that as well FlightA (are you a Flightattendant??) G&T please then!

Well done for not going all guns on the 'common' 'chav' comments - i would have been livid.........have a slap on the back............

Twiglett I found your post about older children with dummies and bottles making you feel sick rather nasty

would agree with harpsichordcarrier there as well. Children change as soon as school peer group pressure kicks in- they don't need their parent to do it (sad I think really- ds2 has changed enormously in reception).

my two have never had a dummy btw.
though I do let them have the occasional fag.
you know, for comfort.

Could I just say flightattendant how well you are handling youself on this thread.

Blimey if I were you I'd be a gibbering wreck on the floor (and probably requesting my old blanky for support)

You haven't done a or a ffs once!!

Personally I don't like seeing older children (ie anyone older than about 12months) with a dummy..I think it makes them look stupid, and their parents look lazy (or too terrified to take it from them).

Obviously that is a judgement based purely on appearances but hey that's what people do.

yes but she is FUCKING well adjusted Twig