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Original poster

Getting rid of dummies

9 replies

StepsRoadmum · 21/06/2018 22:37

My DS is just over 12 months old and we were advised by the hv to start thinking about getting rid of his dummy. Other friends have said wait until he's old enough to understand a bit better. He only has one for sleeping but I'm not sure he'd go to sleep without one. What are your thoughts on this? When did you get rid of dummies and how did you go about it?

OP posts:
daydream86 · 22/06/2018 20:54

about 14 months old we went cold turkey with my girl, im not sure if that’s what’s advised to do but it worked for us, She had a bit of a love hate relationship with her dummy so In not sure she was ever really that strongly reliant. it was fine though wasn’t anywhere near as bad as we thought, just a bit unsettled for a few days and needing a bit of extra attention. So glad we did it fairly early. Hopefully someone else will be along to give some good advice x

Youvegotafriendinme · 23/06/2018 00:11

DS had dummy all the time from about 6w then We only gave it at nap and bed times around 15mo for about 3/4 weeks then we took it away completely at around 17mo. He took slightly longer to go down for naps and bedtime but this only lasted about 3-4 days. He sleeps better since it’s gone and I wish we had done it slightly sooner

Member212711 · 27/06/2018 16:22

Not sure why you need to take it away at all to be honest. If it's only for sleep - and it works - why change? It is certainly not doing any harm. My DS went on until 3 I think at night and then gave it up himself. As you will see from the comments everyone has a slightly different story and it's what works best for you and your family!

Original poster
StepsRoadmum · 29/06/2018 23:42

@Member212711

The main reason is because I'm not sure it really does work that well. It certainly helps him to settle but he will often wake up in the night because he's lost it. The times he can find it and put it back in he settles quickly but the times that he can't he gets upset and is very hard to settle. While you're right it isn't doing any physical harm, the numerous wakings are really starting to take their toll on both myself now I've returned to work and him as he is not sleeping well and is being woken up in the mornings to go to the childminder. I can't help but think that if he could sleep and settle without a dummy then he would sleep better and a week or so of difficult nights will be worth it in the long run.

OP posts:
soundsystem · 30/06/2018 18:50

We took DS's away at 12 months for exactly the same reasons! He went to sleep easily with it but it got to the point where he was waking multiple times wanting it out back in.

We went cold turkey, and introduced a "lovey" at the same time, so he had that to cuddle for bedtime and naps. First night there was some crying but lots of cuddles and stroking got us through it. Second night there was some grumbling but not much. Third night he just grabbed his lovely and went to sleep!

Good luck!

RayRae19 · 05/07/2018 22:48

My DD is 12 months too and I was just thinking this the other day! If it's impacting sleep then maybe it's the right thing for you all (although we combated this by putting 4 other dummies in the cot!) but the only other issues I can think of are causing problems with teeth (and so many that you get now are orthodontic) or inhibiting speech development (which obviously isn't an issue at night).
What reasons did the HV give to take it away?

Cold turkey really is the only way that makes sense, unless maybe you take it away for naps first and then for overnight? But as others have said, if they're older then you can explain (some people have them leave them out for a fairy or Santa to take).

I think we're going to keep ours a bit longer, I feel a bit mean having got my LO so reliant on it and then taking it. Her nursery have started letting her have it during awake time though which bothers me, so I was wondering if it might be best for her to not have it at all...

Original poster
StepsRoadmum · 07/07/2018 15:39

@RayRae19 I think HV's main concern was over reliance in the day inhibiting speech development but I know I don't really need to worry about that as he never has it unless he's sleeping/napping. I know what you mean about the reliance and then taking it away, it does seem quite mean just to take it off but I'm hoping he'll forget all about it quite quickly. I think I'll go cold turkey but if he's still really upset after a week I might just leave it and try him again when he's a bit older and we can do the whole leave it for Santa thing. Someone else suggested several dummies so might try that for a bit if we decide not to get rid.

OP posts:
ElyElyOy · 08/07/2018 19:41

I take my sons dummy out when he’s asleep so it doesn’t “drop” and wake him up. I also leave a few in his cot and sometimes he puts them in himself. Maybe you could try that and once he’s adjusted to that take it away altogether (or continue with it, if he isn’t waking then there isn’t a problem I suppose)

RayRae19 · 08/07/2018 21:44

@StepsRoadmum sounds like a plan! You can always go back to it if it doesn't work out. I guess I'm just not brave enough, we've got so many other things like teething and allergies popping up and causing night dramas that I'm not sure I can do it right now!
Hope you find a solution that works for you Smile

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