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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to introduce a dummy at 2.8 yrs old.

24 replies

Enjoyingthepeace · 27/10/2015 06:22

Neither of my children had a dummy as a baby. I don't have a problem with them, just neither child wanted one. They Are Now 6 and almost 2.8.

A friend accidentally left one of her baby's dummies here when she visited. My DD initially became very attached to it. Wanting it whenever I read to her, had quiet cuddles with her or watches cbeebs. I would always take it from her, to much upset, but didn't throw it away because my elder DD begged me to keep it for her dolls! With time my younger DD lost interest in the dummy.

Anyway, DD has been waking earlier and earlier in recent weeks. We have gone from 7-7 to 7-5. Yesterday morning, as I stumbled to her at 5, I stepped on the dummy. Without giving it any thought, I picked it up, walked into her, passed her the dummy and walked out. She slept until 7.40. I then took the dummy and she didn't have it again all day. This morning she woke at 5, and I repeated the above. Immediate silence and no noise since.

Would it be utterly daft of me to allow my 2.8 to have a dummy at night time, when she went through baby hood and beyond without one? What's the downsides, because atm, it just seems fantastic!

OP posts:

Sirzy · 27/10/2015 06:24

Yes it would be daft. Most people are looking to remove them at that point not introduce!

MythicalKings · 27/10/2015 06:27

Every dentist would say no to a dummy once teeth come through.

Cookingongas · 27/10/2015 06:31

Teeth are the downsides. Dummies are fine for babies but intended not to be used once teeth form ( not that people listen to this- myself included) I let dd1 have hers back at 2.4 as I had dd2 who was a baby and used one and dd1 became jealous. She had it at night only. my dentist pointed her finger firmly at the dummy as the reason for dd1s overbiteit was hard to get rid of the dummy. Not worth it IMO

ftmsoon · 27/10/2015 06:36

Afaik the dental advice is to remove at the age of 2. Giving her one now is setting her up for teeth problems and a massive fight for getting rid later.
IMO it is also a bit disgusting that you kept someone else's used dummy for your DD's doll.

NickNacks · 27/10/2015 06:39

Did you really give your dd a dummy that belonged to another child?

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 27/10/2015 06:41

Definitely don't do it. DD1 is 23 months and has only ever had it at bedtime but I'm already dreading trying to get rid of it. DD2 is 4 months and will never be getting one!

Original poster

Enjoyingthepeace · 27/10/2015 06:47

Thank you. I have seen sense!

Did you really give your dd a dummy that belonged to another child?
Nicknacks, I'm about to blow your mind with science. Boiling water not only makes tea but can also be used to sterilise things, including.... dummies. It's genius.

OP posts:

Pseudo341 · 27/10/2015 07:20

It may not but sensible but my DD is nearly 2 and only sleeps 9-5 at the moment so if giving her a dummy got her to sleep for a couple more hours in the morning I'd do it because I'm so shattered and so is she.

My eldest had a dummy until past her 4th birthday as she was still frequently spending half the night awake doubled over with tummy pain due to ongoing digestive issues up to then so no way would I have taken her comfort away. We got rid of it with no problems at all a couple of months after her 4th birthday.

I wouldn't go to it as a first choice though, 2 early starts might just be a very short lived phase and you could quickly end up regretting it. I'm nearly 2 months in to DD only sleeping 8 hours a night so I don't have any willpower left.

TiffanyAchingsFeegle · 27/10/2015 07:55

nicknaks I'm about to blow your mind...

Only1scoop · 27/10/2015 08:00

Well you 'stepped on it and just passed it to her without thinking' so guessing no boiling water involved there....

And yes of course it's ridiculous.

OwlinaTree · 27/10/2015 08:01

Could you try some gentle sleep training? I've had a lot of success with the baby whisperer methods. She does not tell you to abandon your child crying, but does show you how to help them learn to self settle.

NickNacks · 27/10/2015 08:12

You did not sterilise it!

You let your daughters play with, stepped on it, then put it in a 2yr olds mouth! That's disgusting!

TiffanyAchingsFeegle · 27/10/2015 08:17

Blimey, sounds like NickNacks had her nose pressed up against the window.

OP I'd close your curtains from now on.

FWIW, I did anything and everything I could for precious sleep. I know it would be wrong, but I'd still let my DC have the dummy....

Original poster

Enjoyingthepeace · 27/10/2015 08:17

Oh goodness no I didn't sterilise it after my own child had used it and played with it!!

But certainly after another child had used to, which was your ridiculous concern!

OP posts:

Original poster

Enjoyingthepeace · 27/10/2015 08:20

It would appear the science of it all did indeed blow the mind of poor nicknack

OP posts:

MrsJayy · 27/10/2015 08:26

I wouldnt it will be ythe novelty of it not the comfort she is getting something to chew on , if she gets up just put her back to bed. Most parents are taking the dummy away tell her its friends dummy and bin it.

Original poster

Enjoyingthepeace · 27/10/2015 08:29

It's in the bin. I needed telling. The extra sleep was just so glorious. Thanks for the sensible advice and for the laugh nick

OP posts:

MrsJayy · 27/10/2015 08:33

I just read you had got rid just replied without reading bet it seemed like a genuis idea though

Quiero · 27/10/2015 08:43

Surely to clean a dummy you just put it in your mouth first?

MrsJayy · 27/10/2015 08:54

Or dip it in jam sugar kills germs according to late mil im not even kidding caught her dipping dds dummy in a jar

CottonSock · 27/10/2015 09:03

My two and a bit year old keeps putting her dolls dummy in her mouth... Unsterilised like most things in my house... I dislike it and she knows. I think it's just like a role play thing, maybe the same for your DD.

dalmatianmad · 27/10/2015 09:33

Niknaks get a bloody grip, we don't all live in a sterile bubble!

Excited101 · 27/10/2015 09:40

Well done op, it was the right decision to bin it

d270r0 · 28/10/2015 22:06

She sounds about the right age to be giving up a nap- if she is still having nap in the daytime then yes, she will need less sleep at night. Either put her to bed later or shorten/ stop the nap and she will sleep later. Definately do not give her a dummy. You will never get it off her again!

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