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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To still give my 5 yo DD a Dummy?

52 replies

KrystalTips · 21/09/2007 18:15

She only has one for bed but sometimes she comes home from school and sticks one in her gob. I really want to get her out of this bad habit but she is such an adamant little madam that has to get her own way - I know I am too soft my DH has told me.

Should I let her carry on with the Dummy and hope she grows out of it or stop her having one and if so HOW???

OP posts:
ScoobyDooooo · 21/09/2007 18:19

I think you should try & take it away at this age i am sure it is bad for there teeth but i may have dream't that

In no way am i judging you though because my ds was exactly the same we managed to get it off him at 3.5 years in the end, when we moved house we said dummy got lost & he had to sleep without it, it actually worked, he did ask for it alot, he only had it at bedtime but he also a a little doggy teddy he slept with, in the end he just forgot.

One of my friends decided her dd had to get rid of hers so at christmas she said they had to wrap the dummy up & said it away with father christmas for another baby to have who needed one. This worked she made her help wrap it & put it under the christmas tree then on chritmas eve father christmas toke it away & left her dd presents

Maybe you could do this?

giraffeski · 21/09/2007 18:19

Message withdrawn

pagwatch · 21/09/2007 18:20

If you want her to stop just put it in the bin. There is nowhere to go from there really is there. And I have found that if I really cannot provide something for my kids instead of chossing not to then my whole approach, tone etc is different and it is far far easier

MaryBleedinPoppins · 21/09/2007 18:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HappyMummyOfOne · 21/09/2007 18:23

Its hard to take something off a child that they find a comfort so no YANBU.

However, she is old enough to take it away from her. DS had his until around 3 when we "lost" it. He hunted round the house for 10 mins or so and gave up. Bought him a new teddy for bed and he never missed the dummy.

The xmas idea sounds good though, she is old enough to understand it and perhaps you could say santa will leave X in return for the dummy - if its an item she really wants she may give the dummy up willingly.

ComeOVeneer · 21/09/2007 18:23

It will cause problems with her teeth (if it hasn't done so already) at this age she really is too old for one. No particular advice on how to get rid of it, but get rid you must.

Original poster
KrystalTips · 21/09/2007 18:26

Thanks.

I agree she it too old for one. We have been trying to get her off it since she was 3 to no avail .

I have tried the Christmas idea which works for all of 1 day .

OP posts:
Twiglett · 21/09/2007 18:34

oh bribe her

let her choose something if she doesn't use if for 7 days

make her count the days of not using it

lots of encouragement .. do not waver

have a throwing them out ceremony on day 7 then take her to the shop to get her the special present

MaryBleedinPoppins · 21/09/2007 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Twiglett · 21/09/2007 18:35

christmas is too far away

7 days isn't

you could do a count-down to special present chart

ScoobyDooooo · 21/09/2007 18:38

But once it's gone it's gone,no giving in you can't magic something back which you have not got can you nudgr nudge.

Lorayn · 21/09/2007 18:40

Sorry but you really need to get rid of it, it can seriously damage both their teeth and their speech.
On a positive note, it really wont be as bad as you think, both mine had dummies and I was ready for a riot when I took them off them, they seem to be more comforting to the adults than the children after a certain point iyswim.
Anyway, being at school, and 5yo already, it should be much easier to explain.
Good Luck.

DirtyGertiefromnumber30 · 21/09/2007 18:43

my sister had hers 'til she was 10

DirtyGertiefromnumber30 · 21/09/2007 18:43

my sister had hers 'til she was 10

jennyjane · 21/09/2007 18:51

Just an idea .....Tell her there are only so many dummies in the world and that now she's a big girl, she needs to give it back so someone else can have it. Then ask to leave it out for the dummy fairy to collect and write a note telling the fairy of a small present she'd like for giving it up to someone else. If you help her write the note the day before,you'll know what she wants. Then leave dummyand note out overnight to be "swapped over". This worked for my 3 year old giving up her night bottle for a mug of milk instead, - not sure if 5 may be too old for this approach, but you may be able to improvise something on this theme - good luck anyhow.

Lorayn · 21/09/2007 18:56

Good suggestion there, we have fairies for EVERYTHING.

Cathy10 · 21/09/2007 22:05

I had the same problem and it got embarrasing when my four year old started asking for her dummy just as we were leaving nursery school for all the teachers to hear, I didn't want to do as they suggested and say that santa took it away (the bad man!!) so let her chew on it the entire duration of our holiday away, in the car everywhere, something I wouldn't normally let her do, then when we came home my DH SUGGESTED to her that she was a big girl now and far too big for a dummy (we had been hinting this idea for about a year) and can you believe ( I still can't) she put it into the bin HERSELF and witnessed it getting thrown away. And you can't go back on this. No problems not a minute, she was ready for it and she agreed, that was the answer but you have to really want to and you have to put the idea in their heads. "get that silly thing out of your mouth" etc. It DOES ruin their teeth.

chaostrulyreigns · 25/07/2010 22:45

I think she's a bit old,it's difficult though if she has it for comfort.

Is there anything you could persuade her to swap it for?

BoysAreLikeDogs · 25/07/2010 22:48

OLD THREAD ALERT FOLKS

Chaos what are you DOING?

Thread from 2007

Valpollicella · 25/07/2010 22:49

But Chaos, if they can limit it to bedtime then who cares?

She's only 5?

chaostrulyreigns · 25/07/2010 22:51

BALD

giraffesCanDanceInTheSun · 25/07/2010 22:51

shes 8 now

chaostrulyreigns · 25/07/2010 22:54

Wondre if any suggestions worked?

scottishmummy · 25/07/2010 22:54

how do old threads get revived?is it reposted again or what

BoysAreLikeDogs · 25/07/2010 22:55

aaargh sorry

are you on a challenge?

(remember them? cod's challenges I mean; it all went 'orribly wrong)