When did you get rid of the dummy?

[henrys7thwife]

My two youngest (just 2 and 7 months) have had dummies from the word go. With eldest kids - never wanted, never had. I've never had a problem with dummies - I think they're a comfort and a sanity help at times, eldest very attached but again, it doesn't normally bother me.

Today a woman on the bus acted like I was the worst mother ever with both of them in the double buggy and happily sat there with dummies. She didn't say anything directly to me, but kept whispering behind her hand to her friend and I distinctly heard 'Dummy at that age!'

I got home a bit upset and called my mum, who said she expects that the eldest should definitely be off them by now, and very soon if we aren't making the move yet.

They are ONLY for sleeps, public transport, and if my eldest falls down after a cuddle and can't settle (very stubborn thing!) or if ill. I was planning to let eldest wean himself off, in my opinion I don't see the harm, he has a great vocabulary for his age and I'm not sure if I'm being a terrible mother by letting them have them?

When have you got rid of the dummy and did you find it difficult, beneficial, etc? Thanks all!

My DD only ever had her dummy in bed, but I struggled to get it off her. I think she was about 4 before we put them in a Christmas stocking and she never wanted them again.

When will people realise that children are all different and do things in their own way and in their own time.

Thanks for all your responses. Makes me feel SO much better! Tried to put DS for nap without one yesterday, he screamed for a solid 30 minutes before I gave it to him, whereby he looked at me as if to say "Finally Mummy where have you been?" and fell asleep instantly. So I will let him have it for sleeps as long as he likes.

Mine stopped at different ages but much later than 2 and 5 months! I think the eldest was 2 years when we 'lost' it and the younger one was just under a year (we had to take it away as she had started biting chunks out of it!).
Do what works for your kids and dont worry too much about it.

my daughter is four ,shes never had her dummy any other time otherthan sleep times,unless shes been poorly,and she shattered her elbow at a childrens party this xmas so she sat in her hospital bed proudly sucking on her "dit dit" as she calls it and didn't complain of pain once,so yes she is probably at a stage where she should be getting rid of it,but i've never been so relieved for her to have it than i was then!

Also meant to say that my DD who sucks her blanket for comfort speaks very very well, she is clear, can say hundreds of words and copies us all the time, she puts 5-6 words together in a sentence and can communicate very well. We do however ask her to take it out when she speaks because she does tend to speak with it hanging out of her mouth, which i don't want to encourage.