Ditching addicts dummy - help

[BabyTed]

I have been advised by my doctor to stop using the dummy for my 21 week old. He has developed a lump in his mouth which the doctor says is down to the dummy rubbing and making it sore. It has started to interfere with his feeding a bit.
Does anyone have and tips or suggestions for getting rid it. My son is very dependant on it for getting to sleep and it is sometimes the only thing which will calm him when he gets very upset.
I am planning on going 'cold turkey' in a couple of weeks when my partner has some time off work and can give a bit of support. Was wondering if there are any kinder ways to stop him using it. Kinder to him and me!! I am absolutely dreading it cos it is going to be night after night of tantrums, not to mention the days!

It definitely has to be a cold turkey approach as there is no way of weaning it!! Our lo only had his at sleep times and then we found it he was only having it at home and nowhere else so we decided to make the break. It was a tough first week but then within 3 weeks he was over it and we couldn't remember him with it!!! He was 18mths though so it is a bit different. What I would say to you though is whilst the first week may be difficult, perservere as the younger they are when its removed the easier they find it. He'll forget very quickly that he needed his dummy. Has he got a blankie? Perhaps if he hasn't youcould introduce something else that he could get attached to and feel secure with?

Blankie sounds like a good idea. At the moment we are still swaddling him because he pulls his dummy out in his sleep, or when dropping off to sleep and is unable to put it back in so cries. Since the dummy won't be there to take out he might be able to cuddle up to a blankie (probably a muslin so we can easily replace it) and get a bit of comfort from that.

Trust me when I say you'll be glad of it in the long run as you'll no longer have the 3am scrambles to find where the dummy is or panic when you're out and don't have one (or am I the only one with the worst memory in the world!!!) Its defo easier now than say at 4 or something and like i say my lo seems to have forgotten he ever had one!!! I hope it all works out

Hi, Poor you and your lo. Its good that you will have your partner around to support you both. If he was older I'd aggree with cutting back to just nap times but I think as he's little you'll be best just stopping it one day. Go out in the car alot so he can sleep there for the first few days if he wont settle. I aggree a comforter is a good idea too. My ds has a muslin and my dd a silky comfort blanket with loops/tags round the edge from comfortblankets.co.uk . I only give it to her at sleep time so she associates it with sleeping. Maybe your lo will find his thumb, or is that bad for his mouth too?