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5 year old said goodbye to dummy and now can't sleep

2 replies

Emmalou · 13/09/2005 07:09

My 5 yr dd has had a dummy at night and for naps since she was a baby. She has always slept brilliantly, heading off to bed at 6.30 and sleeping 12 hours and only gave up her nap when she started school (she gets very tired ... slightly hiperactive ..). She has caught impetigo for the 2nd time, this time around her mouth and nose and the dummy hasn't been helping her get rid of it. We explained the dummy fairy could come and take it and leave her a present. This worked brilliantly the first night but since then she says she's devastated about giving it up and wants it back. She just lies in bed and cries for hours, coming down every so often for comfort. The did try lying down with her but then she wants me to do that every night and I think she needs to do this on her own. I feel awful doing it as she loves her dummy but I really do think it's time and she can't have it while she's ill anyway. Should I keep going? I feel so sorry for her.

OP posts:
julesgs · 13/09/2005 19:01

Oh Emmalou, I don't know what to say but I am probably going to be in the same predicament as you soon. My DD, nearly 3, adores her dummy although she only uses it in the car and when she goes to sleep with the odd exception when she has had an upset or is tired. She has a dwindling suppy of "narnars", the remainder of which will be presented to the narnar fairy at Christmas, but I don't know if the reality that she can no longer have her narnar will sink in.

I appreciate your dd can't use her dummy while she is unwell, but if she only has it at night to go to sleep, is it doing any harm ? I know she is 5 but she is still very young and what with starting school as well, maybe letting her have it a little longer might help ? I think I would probably give in really quickly anyway!!!!

magnolia1 · 13/09/2005 19:31

I agree that now probably isn't the best time in regards to starting school but my kids have had impetigo and its awful so if the dummy stops it healing then she can't have it anyway. It would be a shame to give it back to her when it's cleared up but if it's really causing her distress I would probably give in. Saying that maybe a couple more days would be a good idea, if you can stand it

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