DD sucks fingers and has her doggy...

[Klaw]

... and we've just spent 48 hours with Doggy being lost. As I expected she didn't suck her fingers in that period but was terribly sad about Doggy being missing. As soon as I found him she sucked her fingers.

I knew this would happen as ds had a dummy and a crochet blanket. As soon as we said Goodbye to the last dummy he forgot about his blanket.

DD is 3.1, do you think it would be reasonable to talk to her and say that Doggy needs to be put away somewhere safely so he doesn't get lost again, or would you conveniently 'lose' him again one day? (I'd put him away in her keepsake box)

I know I want to break the sucking/doggy association, I'm just trying to work out the kindest way to do it....

Could you put doggy in the blender?

[slap]

Nooo!!! you are so cruel! I asked for the kindest way [best Paddington stare]

I'd kinda like to hide him away so that she can have him back when she's older as a nostalgic keepsake....

That was the sort of thing DP would say btw, but he's as soppy about that blastest toy as she is!

Anyone else?

I appreciate Pelvicfloor's dark humour but could do with some more thoughts.....

Can you say Doggy (my DS has a "doggy" too!) has to now only live in bed so as he doesn't get lost? We have that rule so it's only confined to bedtime. Means he never (touch wood) can get lost because he never leaves the bedroom.

Weegle we have decided to try that route, Doggy stays in bed so he can't get lost. Not sure how it will work...

Dashboard I hear what you're saying. I too am wary of removing her comfort, but I know that the association will be broken with regards to her sucking her fingers and I suppose that is important to me as I suffered years of dental treatment for buck teeth and I'd rather she didn't have to go through that if it can be prevented. I should have asked the dentist when we went for a check up last.... And her top teeth are already forward of her bottom teeth [worried]

(the braces were terribly painful and I used to cry myself to sleep at night for weeks every time they changed the strength of the elastic bands that were used)

She is a very secure little girl, told me to go away when I dropped her at her first day at Playroup at 2.6 She is more than happy with a kiss and a cuddle when she hurts herself, But she does love her Doggy!

Are there any more people who think we should leave her with Doggy for now? Are there any Dentists on MN? Who else thinks it would be good to try to gently and kindly get Doggy put away?

Was she upset when doggy was missing?

whoops you did say she was sad, didn't read properly!

Yes she was sad, but not that bad, and she did cope OK during the 48hrs, and she NEVER sucked her fingers. The minute I gave him back to her when I found him the fingers were in her mouth...

I've posted requesting the opinion of a Dentist over on Health. Should really have had the forethought to ask Dentist when we had our check ups....

and she has been ok when we've talked to her about needing to cuddle Teddy when Doggy is not around, ie in the washing machine or this time when we couldn't find him