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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

How do I wean an almost-two-year-old of a dummy?

35 replies

somethinganything · 05/12/2009 14:51

DD has got used to having a dummy at nighttime and at nap-time to get her to sleep. Saw the dentist yesterday who lectured me about how bad it is for tooth development and told me to go cold turkey. Have another baby due in Feb and DD is already going to have to adapt to a lot of change before then. New bedroom, cot to bed etc all about a month before the baby arrives so I don't want to add any extra stress. So I guess I either have to wait another six months or do it right now - and presumably the longer I leave it the harder it gets. It's just such a useful way of getting her back to sleep if she wakes up, I just dread not having it in my armoury (so to speak).

Any tips on how others have done this much appreciated?

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StarExpat · 07/12/2009 09:47

oh and he didn't go to thumb sucking from the dummy. Thank goodness. So it's a myth if anyone tells you that if you take away the dummy they will definitely suck their thumb. Haven't read anything but the op so not sure what's been said.

Original poster

somethinganything · 07/12/2009 13:43

Ooh, great to get more responses - wickedwitch not anti-dummy at all, had been quite happy to use it until she got fed up with it because it seems to be a source of real comfort but just panicked after the dentistry lecture about 'taking the easy option now but storing up problems for later' - I think that's how he put it.

Naetha that's really useful thanks.

V frustrating about the conflicting advice from dentists though. To be honest, I'm sitting here typing in a house where chunks of plaster are regularly dropping from the ceiling and the drilling noise from upstairs makes it almost impossible to hold a conversation. The only reason I think DD is actually napping in all this chaos is because of the dummy so I just can't take it away quite yet. Will review when things are a bit less mad - thanks for all your advice/feedback

OP posts:

Arianrhod · 07/12/2009 15:56

I'm afraid I'm with WickedWitchSouthWest. I absolutely hate dummies but my DD (2.10) had to have one when she was very little (long story) and she's absolutely besotted with it - but she only has it for nighttime. Went to see the dentist last week and while the dentist did point out that DD's top front teeth have a bit of a gap due to the dummy, she said I shouldn't worry about it until her adult teeth are due to come in. She said I have about 3 years till I need to worry!

So me personally I would say, your LO has enough stress and upset coming up - I'd leave the dummy firmly in place for now, as a comforter. And that's coming from one who really dislikes dummies as a concept!

pigletmania · 07/12/2009 17:49

Now thinking of it i would leave it for a bit because there are enough things going on in your lo life at the moment and she is still quite young. I only weaned my dd 2.9 now recently because she was starting to request it all the time and saying she wanted to sleep just because she wants the dummy, when put to sleep she would not sleep just mess around so i thought enough is enough, also she starts nursery at 3 and i dont want her with the dummy then.

Original poster

somethinganything · 07/12/2009 20:15

Cheers Arianrhod and piglet - def a bit less obsessed about the whole thing now!

OP posts:

MunchMummy · 07/12/2009 20:30

Just take it away and put cotton wool in your ears. Its only a couple of days of really bad screaming and within a week theres nothing at all. Even made her less grizzily in the day as she wasn't asking for it any more. So glad I took the courage to go cold turkey.

Good luck - it is hard, but it is worth it.

Oh, and my DD was 16 months at the time.

Fandango · 07/12/2009 20:43

IMO - you shouldn't worry at this stage. The new baby arriving is going to be disruptive enough. Leave you DD to it until things settle with the new baby. If you take the dummy off her now, she may start thumb sucking instead..... My dentist told me not to worry about my DDs teeth as long as the dummy is just for sleep. Most babies/toddlers grow out of it eventually. Don't worry - you and your DD have enough to get used to without adding extra stress.

Lots of luck with the new one! xx

SarfEasticated · 07/12/2009 21:10

I agree with the 'leave it for a while' brigade, she only has it for naps and bed and it makes her happy. When your new LO arrives she'll realise she's the big girl and may give it up on her own. Good luck

pigletmania · 07/12/2009 21:22

Thats ok hope that we have all helped you to make a decision as what to do.

hohohojollster · 07/12/2009 22:05

I was SO anti dummy before I had DS.... and he didn't have one until he was teething at about 4 months, and I was at wit's end.

He still has it now at 18 months, but only in his cot; he knows he has to hand it to me to go back in the bowl on the shelf when he gets up.

A couple of months ago I was agonising about how and when to wean him off. And then I just thought... why?? Get it in perspective... he is still teething, and obviously finds comfort chewing on it when he is in pain. I figure he will grow out of it. If it doesn't look likely by next Christmas, I will do the Santa thing.

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