AIBU to ask if ditching the dummy has ruined evenings forever?

[midlandsmummy29]

Posting here for traffic mainly.

Recently got rid of my 3 year old DCs dummy, there were some health reasons that caused a dummy to be used for so long. DC hasn’t napped for over a year, it was only ever used at nighttime to help them drop off. Was usually asleep by half 7, sleeping til around 6.30 ish.

We’ve successfully got rid of the dummy last week, apart from the first night not being so great the rest have been a lot better, no tears etc. The only issue is it’s taking forever to get DC to sleep, last night took almost to 9pm!

I’m hoping this will settle back down as obviously DC is still getting used to falling asleep without it but wondered if anyone else has had similar experiences? Have peaceful evenings been ruined?!

We had a little transition period of about a week and a half/two weeks but he did get almost back to normal. He used to sleep really early (about 6) and now is about 7pm.
Its an adjustment but they do settle again!

Thank you! I’m hoping for stories of encouragement. In one sense we are really pleased the dummy is gone but very much missing our evenings at the moment, especially given we are both WFH and often have to use the evening to do some work. I don’t want to leave DC upstairs alone, would rather one of us was with them until they fall asleep as we always have been but only took 15 minutes until now.

Would they cry if left alone? If not, it’s probably better to let them self settle. You don’t need to stay with them as long as they are safe from stairs etc.

This happened with me. Thought I'd ruined bedtime forever. It was definitely his 'cue' to go to sleep. Had about a week of misery but then was ok. (with both DC!). With DC1 he was way more attached to the dummy and had always been a good sleeper with it, so we never quite returned to the automatic sleep cue that it was but he still self-settled well after that.

Yes, they would cry. We will leave them to settle themselves eventually as we know we need to do that but would rather stay with them for the moment as it’s still early days from stopping a dummy. I suppose if it doesn’t settle we may have to do that!

Yes it was definitely a sleep cue here, DC isn’t asking for it but it’s clear they still aren’t sure how to fall asleep. DC is lovely, but a very lively full on child which is another reason we don’t leave them alone, they’d run around!

I completely understand that op.
I kept our dummies in the wardrobe just in case because I was so nervous about it. It did get better!

I’ll keep my fingers crossed! I think also with the current circumstances and DC not seeing nursery friends etc, I want to be as gentle as possible with this, even though we did go cold turkey on the dummy. It’s a lot for a little person to deal with.

Thanks again for reassurance.