another dummy thread sorry - what is the best way to wean them off?

[angechica]

DS is 2.9 and has a very strong attachment to his dummy. He uses it with a blankie which he rubs the ribbon hem and "sniffs". I don't mind so much about the blankie but really want to wean him off the dummy. He wakes in the night having lost it and shouts, "where is my do-do?" and we have to get up and look for it as he generally won't do things for himself .

Would cold turkey be the best way to go? Or should I wait until he is ready? I feel a bit squeamish about the cold turkey route. Also I worry about the dual aspect of the attachment with the toy and whether it can be separated.

I know it's not guaranteed to improve his sleeping. I've struggled quite a bit on broken sleep since he was born basically; I know that's not uncommon, but am not sure if I am just clutching at straws as will try anything to try and improve it.

Was in a very similar position with DD1 earlier this year - she was 2.3 years at the time.
We snipped the end off the dummy, which means it just doesn't work. So there was no cold turkey in terms of refusing to let her have it, DD1 was given her dummy as much as she wanted as often as she wanted it, but it just didn't work. It worked a treat, we were dummy free within a few weeks

I'd say it's worth a try, even if it doesn't work. Worst case is you have to go and buy a few new dummies!

We went cold turkey in the day and then for night time we bought a newborn dummy which was too small and ds didn't want it as it didn't "feel" right. He did cry a bit that night but the next night he went without and has never had it since

I found that having a blankie helped. We went cold turkey, but DS was much older than your when we did it (nearly 4). We had one night of sobbing with me just lying next to him, one night of a bit of whimpering for a few minutes, then nothing. He was able to get some comfort from the blanket.

The blankie stayed, and is still in use aged 8!

some good ideas thanks v much. My mum says she made me and my brother put ours in the bin on bin day and watch the binmen take them away so we could understand they were gone for good!!!