Getting Rid of the Dummy

[stephinthealps]

Am afraid, mmmm am very afraid of tackling this but just took DS to the dentist who said that it is a problem that needs to be tackled or it will affect the alignment of his jaw.
Must admit have buried my head in the sand a bit as he only has it naptime and bedtime and it hasn't had any affect on his speech or any other probs to date.
To add to my woes he is 26 months and we are in full scared of the dark, monsters etc mode and he comes into our bed every night around 3.30-4am. Not a big problem but I am pregnant so don't really want this continuing.
Am considering tackling the dummy and sleep issue at the same time this weekend. Anyone think I am mad tackling both? Anyone got any suggestions as to how to retain my sanity?

I got rid of ds's dummy when he was 15mths, it only took about a week. I think it's harder when they get older and can complain about it being gone! Can you try putting him down for a nap without it, and get him used to that first, before cutting it out at bedtime? You could also try the good old "dummy fairy is coming to take it away and bring you something nice instead" trick, and see if he falls for that.

With the sleep thing, would a nightlight help? I would be inclined to take him back to his bed every time he gets up, leave him a little light on, and maybe get him a kids' clock where he has to wait until the right time to get up.

he's got a light on in his room and a bear with a light in its tummy - the waking is definitely a habit, attention thing that just needs to be broken. Am thinking about trying the dummy fairy just think that once he has got his present he will pretty soon want dummy back!! Am going to have to be brave....

This is the first time I have ever heard a dentist comment on the jaw, what does the doctor/health visitor say? Do you know anyone who has an odd jaw due to dummy usage? I don't. DS1 had a dummy for bed until he was about 3 ish. He just did not want one anymore, he switched his affection to a soft bear that he could chew on. DS2 is 22 months and is waking once a night at the moment and seems to be scared, so we have just been sitting with him in his room night light on all the time, ignoring him so he settles himself and the gradually withdraw from the room eg: three steps from the cot, stop count to 100 etc until you are out the room. It maybe a bit much for him no dummy and sleep training, I would tackle the sleep first and hopefully the dummy thing will just stop naturally. Good luck, it's tough when you are pregnant, but better now than whenthe new baby arrives. MY DS has a massive Night Garden mural that my Mum painted on the wall opposite his cot, he loves it, maybe a poster or pictures of his favourite programme, you and Dad etc that he can see in the nightlight? Fingers crossed for you. xx

DS gave up his dummy 3 months ago whent he doctor told him it was the cause of his tonsilitus - he was 4 yesterday and has no problem with his jaw - even his dentist said that was bollox!

I would address sleeping but leave him with his dummy if it comforts him and if you plan on giving your new baby a dummy him having one too may help you when the baby comes along as your son will regress a little and everything that will give him comfort will be a bonus.

At four dd left her dummies for the Easter bunny babies in a basket and was thrilled to receive eggs in return. Obv still no good for teeth...

I think 26mths is still quite little, mine have never had dummies, but the eldest three used my breast as a dummy and they still nursed at bedtime etc until they were 3 and a half yrs old, sucking is such a comfort for them

my littlest sucks his thumb and people have told me i shouldnt let him,that it will be a hard habit for him to break but ffs theyare only little once and they DO grow up and grow out of these habits

seriously if you are expecting another baby i think you should leave it, he may well need the extra comfort when the baby is born and also he will probably at some point like being the 'big boy' andhelping out etc, maybe when he is enjoying the big boy role it will be time to tackle the dummy, but for now dont make a big deal of it, let him have it for sleep and times of upset and tiredness etc.

Aren't there two kinds of dummy - orthodontic (where the teat is slightly flattened) and non-orthodontic (where the teat is cherry shaped)? It could be that you just need to change the type of dummy if your ds isn't ready to give it up (especially in light of monsters and new baby).

It may also be worthwhile getting a second opinion on the jaw alignment thing as it's certainly nothing I've heard of (but then I'm no professional). It could be that your dentist just isn't keen on dummies!

Anyway, best of luck

Yes, maybe try another dentist? Sounds a bit extreme to me. Mine had dummy for sleeping until 4 yrs old - when it got "lost" & the lady in the shop wouldn't sell me another one coz "dummies are not for 4 year olds" . Much better than thumb sucking! For sleep, you must keep him in his own bed one way or the other, but personally, I wouldn't even attempt to get rid of the dummy until a DC was sleeping through the night.

we went cold turkey with the dummy the first day was very hard i felt like crtying but he slept well that night and we havent been back i just kept telling him i couldnt find it.he was 23months

My friend has just taken he dummy from her 3 year old my saying that my DD (10 months) would like it.

Whenever her DD asks for it she says "well baby X needs it more, unless you really think that you need it more than baby X" and very cutely (so far!) her DD has always accepted that baby X needs it.

Probably not a good idea to do this if a baby is on the way though, it may cause jealousy? I don't know, I guess only you know your child.