To expect my child to believe in the ‘dummy fairy’

[Fevs]

My child has loved his dummy for 3.5 years. Over the past year we’ve managed to reduce his usage to night time sleep only but we think enough is enough and the dummy has to go!
I’ve asked various friends and a popular technique to get rid is the dummy fairy. So for the past couple of weeks we’ve built this up and tonight all of his dummy’s were put in a sock (apart from the one in his mouth) for the dummy fairy to collect (she’s going to grab the one from his mouth too). In return she’s going to leave him a toy.

I think he gets it. He seems to nod and agree but whether he still understands tomorrow night is beyond me.
Did anyone else do this and it be a success?
If so was it immediate or did it take time?
And most importantly.... did it affect their sleep?
No going back now......

My Ds gave his up at 3 months Delayed speech and an appallingly sleeper , completely able to settle himself used my boob instead
Well done op. I would not even mention ones at Mils house just give her the heads up. The forget about dummies very quickly

We've just got rid of the dummy at 2.5, didn't bother with fairy, got him to throw them in the bin to rapturous applause then gave him a cuddly toy for being so grown up. Felt if he threw then away himself he'd be more likely to remember they're gone. Only mentioned for a couple of days sporadically, 6 days in and he hasn't mentioned them in days!

I get the impression from friends (and on here) that if you try it around the 2/2.5yr mark it needn’t be so complicated with rituals and stories etc but by the time they get to 3.5 they’re so bloody switched on that they expect more justification! Haha
He’s fast asleep and we only had a few minutes of whinging. I’m sure he’ll ask again over the next few weeks but I do feel so much better for chucking them out now. Although I can predict his sleep is going to suffer it was always something niggling at me to get done but we couldn’t ever face it!
Weirdly my daughter - 6 months - wouldn’t ever touch one which although in the long run will be easier I am so frustrated by now. I really believe that they help them sleep so much better! Just not interested

@TingleTots thank you for this will have to take a look but unfortunately the dummy fairy ship has sailed now as she visited last night!