4 year old travelling - dummy

[AmySma1i]

Hi all,

Hope you're all well!

My 4 year old DD hates travelling and gets super upset when in the back of the car, we've tried many different distractions, but the only thing that reasonably calms her is her dummy ( she has it for bedtime as well). We visited grandparents this weekend and they immediately berated me for letting her have it in the car, but she'd be distraught travelling without. Should I be ditching this for car journeys or will she feel calmer over time or am I being unreasonable in seeing no issue with this as it makes her happier?

Currently it isn't damaging her teeth or speech otherwise I'd definitely consider

[mamabear715]

Am loving these latest dummy posts, great to read about relaxed mummies letting their babes have that comfort!

[AmySma1i]

@Mariposista

Hugs, kisses - all great as many as possible for as long as possible. But dummies, bottles, nappies? No way

We've definitely tried to limit the dummy and bottle usage and will look to get rid soon, but she needs the nappies at night otherwise she'll be sleeping in wet sheets every night

[AmySma1i]

@DC1214

From memory she did use it at bedtime and we removed it once she was asleep. Main use was when she was overtired, the minute she started using it her whole body relaxed instantly. I think there’s a world of difference between using it for selected circumstances and wandering around with it in their mouths at all times. Sounds like you’re giving it plenty consideration, she’ll be fine!

She's exactly the same! As soon as she has it in for bed she's a whole lot calmer and gets such better sleep because of it, we tried taking it out last night buy she must have woken in the night as she woke up with it in her mouth again this morning

[londonrach]

I don't know a single child over 2 with a dummy unless they have sen. Four is very old for a dummy and could damage her teeth. Car games, singing, music. My DD loves her soft bunny to hug

[CatchMeIfYouCanCan]

@AmySma1i

We've definitely tried to limit the dummy and bottle usage and will look to get rid soon, but she needs the nappies at night otherwise she'll be sleeping in wet sheets every night

You have to go through that wet bed pain to get past the bed wetting, that’s one way they learn. We discovered peapod mats to help protect the bed if they do wet themselves...

joizi.co.uk/products/peadpodmats-medium-washable-bed-pads?variant=31824318398516&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2MWVBhCQARIsAIjbwoOybDuo16P9wh3SPIepM4oNXAo_LC8sBUVxriDKADAWC7xF0v7nbvoaAiMLEALw_wcB

[Yupbutnobut]

@AmySma1i

We've definitely tried to limit the dummy and bottle usage and will look to get rid soon, but she needs the nappies at night otherwise she'll be sleeping in wet sheets every night

Are you sure? 4 is very old for a girl to not have had the hormones kick in yet. Are you sure she's not waking up in the morning then weeing in her nappy? Start checking her nappy when you go to bed, i will bet its dry. Take the Nappies away and teach her to get up and go straight for a wee. You're babying her way too much it's not going to do her any favours going forward especially now she's at school.

[crumpetswithjam]

I'm not entirely convinced there isn't any underlying SEN here to be honest.

Or possibly just very lazy parenting, in that taking bottle, dummy and potty away creates quite a lot of extra work for whoever is supervising her at the time.

[crumpetswithjam]

I'm confused. You said she was 3 years 9 months in a post last month.

And that you're going to Australia next month. And that she wasn't potty trained at all.

So what's actually going on?

[Maray1967]

I’d got rid of bottles not long after 13 months but DS2 had a dummy at night until almost 5 - until I got a big telling off from the school nurse. Mine has got crooked teeth but dentist says the way they are crooked means its not mainly due to the dummy.
We did cold turkey with a much desired cuddly pterodactyl he’d seen in the museum. We had a couple of disturbed nights but got through them and that was it. You have to stay strong and chuck them all away - outside bin . Do g start on a school night. Half term is coming up - good time to do it.