Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

Help - Loosing the Dummy on Monday!

24 replies

madhide · 28/04/2006 21:29

Have decided that Monday is the day that it needs to go DD is 22 months and is becoming increasing dependant. Only used to be for sleep but now asks for me me (dummy) for most of the day and think it is now time to go.

DH is questioning if this is the right time and I really don't know but do know that I don't want this to carry on

Any help or advice greatly appreciated

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Nbg · 28/04/2006 21:36

I'll probably not be much help but we just went cold turkey with dd.
Didn't even set a day, we just decided that it would go.

DD was fine with it. Didn't cry or create and when she asked for it we just simply told her that it had gone and that she didn't need it anymore.

I don't know how much of that she understood but it worked!

Try to limit the use of it this weekend especially in the day and maybe when you go to bed check in on her and take it away.

Beauregard · 28/04/2006 21:57

My dd1 (4) still has her dummy although now only when desperatly tired or in bed.I know she really needs to lose hers too but havent the guts to do it.Her teeth have already been shaped by it as she has only ever sucked cherry teats .She has always been very mature for her age and i feel that this is her only babyish habit and i know that she would only resort to sucking her thumb instead and her dentist said that that would be if not as bad /worse.At least with the dummy i know its clean and can limit the use.I feel that im not strong enough to just remove it (have depression and severe anxiety)and i know that she would be devastated .If you feel strong enough to lose your dd's dummy then go for it ,at least she isnt 4-good luck!

moono · 28/04/2006 22:01

ds3 is 3.4 and dh is starting to ask when he will lose the dummy. Must admit, I am reluctant to take it away just yet as he loves it, only has it at bedtime and I see no reason to just yet. In a few months, yes, but not yet. As long as they aren't wandering around all day with it constantly stuck in their mouths, I don't see the need to be cruel and take it away yet.

moonshaddow · 29/04/2006 12:22

do it do it do it!!

it will be two or three days that will soon be a very distant memory and will make you wonder why on earth you didn't try it before! the gain is better than the pain - for you both.

imo anyway!

good luck.

RedTartanLass · 29/04/2006 13:08

Oh god luck, my ds2 was about 8 months when we decided enough was enough. Getting up about 20 times in the night to put his dummy back in his mouth, was killing us!! He had 2 nights of screaming the house down, it was awful, the third night he slept though for the first time ever!!! Actually to be truthful, probably the last times as well

Anyway I'm sure it will be easier if he's older and you can give and explanation!! My Ds2 still has a bottle at night and occasionally during the day he'll ask for it. I say "Yes you can have it, but you have to go to bed" Most times he decides he'd rather be up with no bottle, but occasionally he will go back to bed for a wee lie down with his bottle.

Anyway Good Luck

cheltenhamgal · 29/04/2006 13:56

my friend's girl(age 5)came to stay just before xmas and she still had a dummy at night time. Anyway we basically lost it somewhere in the bedroom, and it was so late did not want to turn the room upside down looking for it. I told her that the elves had come to take it for Santa for the new babies dummies. She never cried or anything and the Mum was amazed when I told her the next day and she still hasn't had it. I realise that 22ths is alot younger so not sure if this story helps but just wanted you to know there is light at the end of the tunnel, good luck

nightowl · 29/04/2006 14:06

we asked ds to just limit his to night times for a few weeks and then that we were going to take his dummies to somewhere for little babies who hadnt got any. he was fine with that and we didnt have any problems.

MagicGenie · 29/04/2006 14:09

Similar story to cheltenhamgal...my friend told her DD the tooth fairy had come to collect her dummy, cos she needed it for another little girl.

If you're resolved to do it, then go for it.

stoppinattwo · 30/04/2006 15:15

Do it, as moonshaddow and RTL said. Whole world of hurt for about 3 days then it will be as if there was never a dummy in the house. But dont crack, cos otherwise it makes all those tears for nothing. It is so worth it, just make sure the days you pick to do it are days you can keep a strong will IYKWIM, Mine were a little bit olde 2.5 dont know if that makes it any easier or harder, good luck

Original poster

madhide · 30/04/2006 21:31

Thanks everyone for all your advice. We have been with family all day today and left DD with sister in law whilst we went out for a couple of hours and she didn't ask for the dummy once yet as soon as I came back she asked for it and when we put her in the car to come home she asked for it straight away and then thew it out in the car and we had to stop half way home to search for it!

I think it is becoming a real association thing for her at the moment so am decided that it is going tomorow but not sure whether to show her that we are throwing it away or cut the end off or just put her to bed without it and explain that it is now gone?!

OP posts:

beetle73 · 30/04/2006 21:39

Good luck Madhide. DD 21 months and doing exactly the same as your DD. Not feeling quite ready yet, but probably soon, so do pass on any hints.

oasis · 30/04/2006 21:51

Goodluck Madhide, my DD also 22 months and has just started a cold and is demanding her dummy throughout the day also, much to my concern. If the time is right for you lo I would just let her wake up and they are all gone and take it from there. Any hints and tips will be useful for when we take the plunge and become a dummy free zone.

singyswife · 30/04/2006 22:00

Hi I decided when my dd was 3 (just before she stared nursery) that enough was enough. She had only used it at bed time and for a short time after I had dd2. Anyway I decided that as she is so girly and so into fairies that I would tell her it was going to the dummy fairy. We went out for the afternoon and she voluntarily placed the dummy on the door step, when she came home there was no dummy but there was a note saying that it was nice of her to be giving the mummy faries her dummies for there babies and there was a penny for her to spend. After 2 days she hadnt asked for it so the faries sent another note to say that she was to get a present for being so nice. She got a space hopper and never asked for her dummy. that worked for me. dd2 is now asking if she can give her dummy to the fairy babies soon too. Hope it works with her.

Original poster

madhide · 30/04/2006 22:01

Do you think I should wait then until she is able to understand about the fairies?

OP posts:

singyswife · 30/04/2006 22:13

She is your child, for me this was the right thing to do but you know your child and know what she beleives/understand. Personally I would just persevere with cutting back on the dummy (dont take it out with you, put it in a high cupboard through the day) and only use it at night just now. I know I didnt consider it with mine until they were older that your dd but as I said she is your child and they are all different. Good luck anyway.

RedTartanLass · 01/05/2006 07:58

Is today the day then, madhide?

cheltenhamgal · 01/05/2006 17:55

oh my god, see I tempted fate my dd stayed at her friends last Fri(so I cld go and see Take That !)and she had a dummy at night, she is nearly six

Original poster

madhide · 01/05/2006 19:00

Well it has gone okay so far we put her in the car for daytime sleep and she was so tired that she cried for a while and then went off to sleep after about 20 mins so not too bad but have just put her down and she is now crying but not too badly just really whinging and saying me me.

Have given her Medised.....I know I know but she does have a little snuffle and thought it would help her drop off.

Oh no am I such a coward I can't even do it properly!

Right am off downstairs to get a large glass of vino have a feeling it could be a long night!

OP posts:

RedTartanLass · 02/05/2006 22:42

How did yesterday go?

snuffy143 · 03/05/2006 12:12

DS threw his in the dustbin on his 4th birthday in a little ceremony. Had only used them in bed but was previously catatonic at the thought of not having them. We told him now he is 4, he is a big boy and didn't need them. All went in the bin and he has never mentioned them since. Ever. Never ever. Kids, eh?!

Original poster

madhide · 04/05/2006 09:26

Thanks for asking Red Tartan Lass

All going well so far she had a day time sleep yesterday without it and went to bed with a few tears last night but was asleep within 5 minutes and slept through without waking!

She is at nursery today so I am not sure how that will go they tell me she doesn't have the dummy all day apart from nap so she may struggle to gown down for a sleep then

OP posts:

tegan · 06/05/2006 20:39

We went on holiday last week and when we came home we told dd that we had lesf her dummies in the caravan and she hasn't asked for it since.

UCM · 06/05/2006 21:44

My DS has had a dummy at night since about 8 months. He is now 2.5. I want to get rid of it too. I know I will have to psyche myself up for it though, as he won't go to sleep without it. One day I will just throw it out. The one thing I am very strict on is not having it during the day and he knows this, he puts it on the bedside table as he leaves the room, but the damage to their teeth is done at night (which is why some teens are told to wear a brace at night)

I can't win but will be binning it soon.

tegan · 07/05/2006 07:48

We thought it was going to be a real problem seeing as dd had 2 to go to bed with but we got home from our hols nd told her we had left it in the caravan and she has been fine. I did make dh take her out for an hour yesterday so I could sweep the house for them all.

Flip