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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Help weaning 2yr old off teddy that he sucks to sleep...

39 replies

Milliemuffin · 18/06/2009 11:03

We have 3 of the same teddy so he has a clean one every night but as he's nearly 2 I think it's time we weaned him off it but that's the only way he can get to sleep is to suck on the teddy's hand. Is it the same as weaning off a dummy? How should I do it? He's always slept with it so it's going to be so hard, he doesn't know how to sleep without it. any help would be much appreciated xx

OP posts:

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pranma · 18/06/2009 17:47

Dont worry about it love-you have spares so why not keep one in the change bag you use if you are out.I'm not sure it needs to be washed every day you know,I only washed dd's beloved 'Bunbun'when it was quite manky.We thought she'd walk down the aisle with it but it is now safely in a drawer held together with elastoplast and has been there since she was about 5.....when she moved on to 'Fox'who lasted another 3yrs and now shares the drawer.Her own son aged 2yrs 8mnths has Fuzzyduck who has slept in his arms since dgs was 3months.

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Elk · 18/06/2009 18:36

My dd2 (3.7) has a bunbun as well, a rabbit whose arm she sucks every night to go to sleep. I have been considering trying to wean her off it since she was 2 but realised it was mostly because of comments from well meaning relatives.

I thought she couldn't sleep without it but we went away for the weekend when she was three and forgot to take it. She cried a bit but did manage quite well without him. However, the reunion at the end of the weekend was very touching.

So, I have decided to let her wean herself off it when she is ready.

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meandjoe · 19/06/2009 09:33

Seriously I agree with everyone else. Leave him to it. I can pretty much promise you that he won't still be sucking on a teddy when he's 18. He'll become less attached to it as he grows up, he's still oly a baby really. My ds is just about to turn 2 and still has his comfort blanket which we have 2 of the same thing but I don't give him a clean one every night, maybe just every week or so. He sucks and fiddles with one of the corners of it when he goes to sleep and if he wakes in the night he immediately reaches for it and settles himself back to sleep without calling for us. I wouldn't dream of taking it away from him, what would be the benefit of taking something away that isn't doing any harm and obviously provides massive comfort to him. I don't care if my ds does still have it when he's 18 by the way as long as he sleeps well it really doesn't bother me!

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Kammy · 19/06/2009 09:53

Another agreement! It's actually very healthy to have a comfort object as chldren learn to self comfort that way. My ds is 7 and had a variety of comfort objects some of which he still cuddles if he feels upset. And if there is something bothering him that he can't talk about, one of the animals will eventually tell me

My guess is that she may stop sucking of her own accord, but may keep the teddy for a lot longer.

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Kammy · 19/06/2009 09:54

Sorry, 'he'

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Yanka · 19/06/2009 14:23

Hi there,
My daughter has a lttle Kaloo rabitt, she used to suck on the rabbit's ears to go to sleep. We also had 4 of the same kind, so were washing it every day - but I know what you mean about it being mucky anyway. At about 2.5, I have decided to end the sucking habit, so I stitched the ears to the rabitt's head - DD still had her best friend, she just couldn't munch on his ears She was a bit surprised to see it at first, and then fell asleep anyway (at night). However, this was the point when she dropped her afternoon nap - I think the lack of ear-sucking has speeded up the process of afternoon nap

After a few weeks we were able to un-pick the ears and she still has her beloved rabitt buddy (she is 4 now)

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mumeeee · 19/06/2009 23:35

He is only 2. let him have his teddy.

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mumeeee · 19/06/2009 23:39

Forgot to say DD1 is 22 and still has her teddy ( she doesn't still take it to bed)and DD2 19 has a very scruffy snowman by her bed!

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MatNanPlus · 19/06/2009 23:40

Muffin your a caring mum who posed a question and the replies said that is was up to you but the MNetters who replied didn;t see a problem with your DS sucking his teddy.

As you have said if needed he can fall asleep without teddy so i really wouldn't worry.

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JudyBlume1019 · 19/06/2009 23:44

lol milliemuffin, you're lovely, and doing the best for your son. Carry on as you are, and I'm glad you're letting him keep his disgusting teddy. Really the idea of actually sucking a teddy bear makes me feel sick, like fingernails on a blackboard with a mouthful of hair clippings sort of sick, but hey, if he likes it!

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Portofino · 19/06/2009 23:50

DD had "Flopsy" who was very well "loved" by the time she was 3.5. She then chose a new "dou dou" and Flopsy retired to "Mummy's Special Box" (no sniggering!)

The new one held favour for a while, but nowadays I don't even know where it is....

She does still like to get Flopsy out occasionally for a brief cuddle....

Why does that last sentence suddenly make me think of DH ?

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RoseBlossoms · 19/06/2009 23:50

Millie dont feel ganged up on, nobody thinks you dont love your ds! I completely understand as with my ds all i get said is dont set up bad habits ect ect!

dont worry i thought the same thing and tried to wean my ds off the dummy at a year, but he just loves it so much and calms him down when he hurts himself or is ill.
As wine chocolate and my soft blanket that is on my bed does!!
x

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mumabelle · 24/04/2014 04:57

Hi Milliemuffin, not sure if you get these messages considering you posted on here last in 2009, but I have the exact same issue with my 3 year old. He sucks on his Teddy's ear (we have 20 in rotation) and they are still yucky & smelly despite being washed regularly. I feel the same- surely it's not hygienic & not good for his oral hygiene. I was just wondering how it worked out for your son five years on? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you :)

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CremeDeSudo · 09/03/2016 11:18

I've also picked this up as a zombie thread having googled exactly the same concern! DS is 2.5 and sucks the corners of his comforter. He'll have the bloody thing hanging out of his mouth all the time if we let him! We try to limit it to 'sleepy times' if/when we can.

Really curious when others children self-wean from these things? DH hates it but I think that us making a big deal about teddy only being for sleep when he clearly wants him is probably only going to make it worse in the long run.

Any experiences with this?