AUBU to let 2.5 year old sleep with dummies?

[Sausages18]

DD is 2.5. She has always been a sucky baby and sleeps / naps with dummies. No dummies when not in bed. She loves them. It makes everything easy - she is happy to go to bed, happy to nap. We don’t have problem bedtimes, know she can sleep when travelling fine, know grandparents or babysitters won’t have any problems. I’m pregnant with our second and tired, so not having bedtime or sleep dramas is wonderful. We stopped using them for a few months when she was two and she wouldn’t nap at all in the day which was a pain.

But - I feel terrible and that I am copping out. I hope with only using at bedtime this won’t cause speech problems (we don’t have concerns in this area). Do I need to get rid of the dummies and deal with the fallout?

The other thing is thumbsucking. I sucked my thumb for years, my sister did, and my husband did too. DD has started sticking her thumb in her mouth when very tired. My reasoning is that the dummy help keep thumb sucking at bay - and at least we can take it away down the line. But is it encouraging thumb sucking too?

Am I being unreasonable to keep giving her the dummy for, essentially, my own easy life??

Yanbu. They are a sleep aid, just like a favourite blanket or teddy. We did the same, they stayed in bed and were for sleeps only. Zero teeth or speech issues (unless they make the little fuckers talk more which would explain a lot).

We tried getting rid at 3y3m. Ended up massive family disaster overlapped so we decided to put it on the back burner whilst we saw that through then once strong enough, tried again. She was definitely done by her 4th birthday but honestly cannot even remember the date.

Dc2 didn't even entertain a dummy from day one. Thankfully he isn't a thumb sucker but I'd take dummy over thumb any day.

4 of mine had a dummy and they’d given up by 3 years which was later than I’d have liked but needs must
My dad told me to chill-they wouldn’t have them by the age of 15
(Saying that I know of a 17 year old who still has them-doting grandparents who never said no)
Don’t worry too much-if she’s still got one aged 4 I’d get her to put it out for the dummy fairy who takes them for babies and leaves a lovely present for the older child
(Worked a treat for my lot-it only cost about 3 quid for a toy and a bag)

Well if YABU then so am I as my 2.5 year old still has them for sleep. I keep thinking we should get rid but then it is only for sleep and he is so good at going to bed.... we also have a newborn so have decided not to rock the boat just yet.

Both of mine are thumb suckers. At least you can remove the dummy at a later point. Basically do what you can to make your life easier now and when the baby is born.

My nearly 3 year old has only given them up and he's handled it like a dream.I think this is because he is ready, so it was a stress-free experience for all.So IMO, YANBU

My girl was 3yrs 4 months. Had a total understanding of giving them up in exchange for a barbie she really wanted.

She ended up with chicken pox the following week and never asked for it once.

Now she sleeps like a dream and goes to bed no issues at all.

Do it when you are both ready ❤️

YABU because her mouth is forming and dummies can lead to orthodontic issues. She may end up with braces because of this.

FIL is a dentist and hugged me when I told him we weren't going to give DS a dummy. YABU at that age to still be giving a dummy.

If YABU then so am I, mine has them for sleep. He's been checked at the dentist regularly since he was 9 months and no issues yet, his speech and language is complimented. They fall out as soon as he drops into a deep sleep. I'll get rid of them when he's 3ish if he's not self weaned off it before, he's much less arsed than he used to be, I intend to use the dummy fairy.

fanny and hands do you know if there is a big difference between thumb sucking and dummy sucking in relation to mouth forming? If she doesn’t have the dummy I have a strong hunch it will be the thumb. Is the thumb better do you know?

Yanbu. Ds is 3 and still has his on a night.

His teeth are fine according to our dentist

Not good for their teeth.

I would give it to her, I doubt you can be doing much damage form just having it at sleep times.
For what it’s worth, I have never had any speech problems or braces, always had straight teeth etc and I sucked my thumb for years (as in, I still do if I need comfort in distressing times). Unlikely they’ll have a dummy at 15 but because you can’t throw it away I know a couple of adults who still thumb suck so I wouldn’t risk it

I didn’t drop mine until I was five. My DM tried her hardest but every time I visited my DF at the weekend he would send me home with some in my bag...

I don’t have any speech problems and my teeth are very straight.

Dummies are better than thumbs, according to dentists.

My son still has his and he's 3, no teeth or sleep issues. However, I can guarantee.... in fact I'll just go check.... yep its already fallen out of his mouth. I wont give it him
back and he hardly ever wakes during night, wanting his dummy, so my theory is that as it helps him drift off to sleep and its not glued in his mouth all night, it cant be doing that much harm. He doesn't use it much in the day, sometimes if hes tired he night ask for it and he'll sit down and watch TV for a bit.... i try not to let him nap during day, and once he's had quiet half hour or so he's usually back off causing havoc no dummy in sight

Dummies are much better than thumbs for teeth.

I'm a dentist and both my DC had dummies, which we took away when they were about 3. My youngest had a very small anterior open bite which closed within a month of the dummy going (I monitored it closely).

A consultant orthodontist I worked with thought dummies were really good for general ENT development, because of the sucking.

Don't feel guilty about the dummy - it's hard enough being a parent give yourself a break 😊

Sounds like my DS. Was a perfect sleeper and I believe the dummy really helped! We got the glow in the dark ones so he could see them in the middle of the night so he'd just pop one back in his mouth if he woke up!

He gave the dummy up aged 3 at Christmas - we swapped it for presents and when he asked for it at bedtime the first night we said we'll have to take the presents back if you want the dummy. He never asked for it again 😊

Don't listen to the people who mention braces etc

My dentist told me not to worry and that any overbite would disappear quickly. And he was right. My 3.5 year old has the most gorgeous set of teeth.

If she gains comfort from a dummy, why not? Another word for a dummy is a 'soother', an apt description, or 'pacifier'.

She'll give up the dummy soon enough.