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

so, how old is too old to introduce a dummy?

14 replies

cruisemum1 · 02/03/2007 12:08

i don't want posts from sanctimonious anti- dummy campaigners, just experiences from late dummy intoducers

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

tubismybub · 02/03/2007 12:25

Introduced a dummy at 5 months when DS started having an hour or so of being really cranky before bedtime. Never gave the dummy at bedtime though and he's never wanted it.

donnie · 02/03/2007 12:27

my dd2 is 22 months andhas just started with one!!! she relied on her thumb before that. DD1 had a dummy from about 3 months.

kittypants · 02/03/2007 12:32

my ds occasionaly has dummy at night time,he started at 1 as wasnt interested when smalller!

nally · 02/03/2007 12:35

dd1 didn't have one until she was 11 months. everytime we went anywhere she would see her friends and cousins or other babies with dummies. she would pick them up with interest and try to put them in her mouth. i thought it wasn't a good idea for her to do that so i bought one for her. couldn't get rid of it until she was almost 4 though. then tricked her into giving it up by saying the dummy fairy would come soon, but leave her a present. she fell for it and paraded the present around for approx 2 days before breaking it!

Original poster

cruisemum1 · 03/03/2007 17:52

kitty - hello again! jst out of interest, why did lo start at 1?

OP posts:

thunk · 03/03/2007 18:08

dd started at about 18 months on her own. She has copied other toddlers at nursery. She still hasn't sussed out how to suck it properly and chews on it sometimes. TBH, it has kept her from whinging on occasion in the car so i am not upset. She can take it or leave it on the whole though.

RubyRioja · 03/03/2007 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

aprilmeadow · 03/03/2007 18:26

My ds didnt have a dummy until he was about 19mths old, he's 22mths now. Didnt really show much interest in them before - even though i did always have them in the cupboard. He has them only at night, not sure if he really uses it but he has it in his hand and his milk in the other when he goes to bed!

IMO it's worth giving it a try, and just remember that it is far easier to take a dummy (or dabby as ds calls it) away than it is to take a thumb away

Sakura · 04/03/2007 09:51

I introduced one at about 5 months. I didnT use one before because I felt (after listening too much to other people) that I wouldnt be listening to my babys needs if she had a dummy. After 4 months of her obviously needing to suck <span class="italic">something</span>, whether it was my breast for comfort, a piece of cloth or my finger, I realised there would be nothing wrong in her sucking a dummy instead. She took to it like a dream, and now when she wakes up halfway through a nap, she sucks herself back to sleep, whereas without a dummy, Id have to rock her back to sleep. She sleeps longer stretches at night too, because again if something wakes her up, she`ll suck herself back to sleep and not need me to help her sleep. It has been a godsend.

Original poster

cruisemum1 · 04/03/2007 15:27

sakura - my thoughts exactly!

OP posts:

newlifenewname · 04/03/2007 15:32

I've just re-introduced to my son age 5 as he sucks his thumb and had a passing interest in dummies as a baby. We are going through tough times at the moment and it was part of my acknowledgement of his need for comfort.

He leaves it in his car seat at the end of the school run in the morning and collects when I pick him up.

He doesn't use when playing happily and removes of his own accord to talk.

It was a risk to try this but I am amazed by his reaction and self limiting of its use.

Original poster

cruisemum1 · 05/03/2007 13:08

ruby and sakura - my ds doesnt seem to know what to do wth a dummy. just chews/rolls it around in his mouth! I am planning on stopping bf soon adn don't know what to do when he wakes in the night for a boob (as he frequently....too frequently does. Any tips or should I just accept he won't take one?

OP posts:

Sakura · 06/03/2007 14:51

I was recommended a specific brand by my midwife. She said it was the best kind for a breastfed baby. Im sure they have them in the UK, but the brand I use is NUK. I think its a German brand. SOmething about the shape is good for breastfed babies. But if you cant find that one, try some others. My friend`s BF baby will only take a dummy made with brown rubber for some reason, not the clear ones.
Also just let him suck your finger so he gets used to sucking something other than your breast, but so its not too different, then try the dummy.

mamijacacalys · 06/03/2007 15:13

Agree with Sakura - my 6mo DD was given a NUK dummy when she started at nursery (when I went back to work) to help her get off to sleep(as up til then she had always had boob or my little finger to go off to sleep).
I have one in the changing bag which they use at nursery and one by the bed for occasional use at night - particular godsend recently when she's been teething and covering it with Bonjela gave her something to chew.
Could only find the NUK dummies at Superdrug, didn't have any at the local Boots. Expensive though, £3.99
My DS never accepted a dummy, even when teething or after I stopped bf him - he just used to suck his thumb occasionally.
Just goes to show that I think some babies need to suck more than others!

Flip