Dummy drama!!

[1sttimemum2014]

Really need some advice with our dummy drama!! My 16 month old son had his dummy occasionally during the day up until about 12/13 months and always at nap and bed time. We then decided it was just for nap and bedtime and this was no problem at all. Until a couple of weeks ago when he got ill. He only had a bit of a cold but was really unsettled and clearly unwell so we gave him the dummy (maybe not out greatest idea) so few weeks on now he won't give it up. He is having it more than he has ever had it literally constantly. If we are walking indoors / outdoors and we take it out it's like we have unplugged him and he just falls to the floor and cries. He also bangs his head when he is frustrated which makes it all worse. He won't even take it out at the groups that I take him to and arches his back and screams. We are also moving house on Friday so with all the packing etc maybe he is feeling unsettled (maybe I'm making excuses ;-) )

I would really appreciate anyone's previous experiences / advice on how to get the dummy off him and back to just nap / bed time or even not at all!!

Ignore my user name I can't remember my login details so made up something quick and used the year we are in :-)

as he may be stressed, take it slowly and reduce back to the old timings gradually

dont stress, move house first then worry about dealing with this when life has calmed down after the move

I have various experiences with my children and dummies / thumbs etc. I think 16 mo is a very difficult age to get rid of it as they are really attached yet really can't understand. Personally I would at least wait until the move is over - then probably another few months until you can start getting him to understand about it just being for naptime/sleeptime - keep it in the cot and say goodbye to it when you leave the bedroom etc.

With DC 1 we battled with the dummy for about 1 year on and off until we finally stuck our guns and ditched it forever at about 2.5. I really wish we'd waited until she could have understood getting rid of it on a balloon or something - to be rewarded with a treat (maybe 3 to 3.5). We did have to endure a few nights of crying over it which did upset me.

With DC 2 he gave up the dummy himself at 4/5 months, then started sucking his thumb. He has just stopped daytime sucking at nearly 6 - and has promised to stop nighttime sucking at Christmas - he is pretty strong willed so fingers crossed! I just don't have the heart to remove his comfort in a "forceful" way that results in him being upset.

With DC 3 she gave up the dummy at 7 months and so far no thumb (14 months) but then she doesn't sleep reliably and to be honest I would far rather the dummy or thumb than deal with sleep issues