Ok, need handholding - the dummy fairy is paying DD a visit TONIGHT...

[Bumperliouzzzzzz]

As per earlier thread she is 2.8 or so and only has dummies for naps and bedtime. She would have them all day if she could, she loves them. But after a visit to the dentist I decided that now is the time to get rid.

So tonight the dummy fairy is going to visit. We've made and decorated a special box which all the dummies are going into and putting outside for the fairies. In return the fairies are going to leave a shopping trolly and a mummy and daddy elephant, at DD's request. We have been discussing it for 2 days but I'm still not sure she understands the implications.

We are going to put some Charlie and Lola talking books on a CD player to help her go off to sleep, but I don't think she has ever slept without them - not at night anyway. I feel v mean and it is going to be hard tonight so I just need a little bit of handholding and reassurance it is a matter of days not weeks before she will get over them!

Ooo you go. It'll be fine DS barely wanted them after just asked a few times and I said that I couldn't give them back because Santa had them and gave him new toy instead!

He did hold out his Santa teddy for me to take back to teddy once!!

DD just gave up her dummy at nursery this week by herself but I'm sure the fairies will have to come for her nightime one!!

Good luck, stay strong!!!

Good luck and hope it goes well!

We had a visit from the dummy fairy for our similar aged dd for similar reasons about a month ago... we dreaded the first night but she went off to sleep no bother and has only asked for the dummy once since so they can surprise you

Don't feel mean....this day had to come sometime.

My DD still hates the dummy fairy, lol, even though s/he was rather generous. (DH found a dummy and let DD have it, so we had to go through it all over again. Arghh!)

You can all do it. We'll be here later to hold you hand.

We will be making sure they all go in the bin to the dummy fairy. I told DH we can only do this once. Fortunately dummies are restricted to the bedroom and DD likes to have so many that we tend to keep track of them all.

Not going great so far. We put the box outside and as soon as we turned away she said 'I want my dummies'. Managed to distract her, but come bedtime she was really upset, crying 'I don't want to be a big girl, I want my dummies'. So I agreed to lie down with her and we have been listening to Charlie and Lola CD but every time I tried to get away she hung on to me crying 'I want you' which is kind of nice as she usually wants daddy. Have managed to leave her for the minute on the proviso that if she is still awake when Charlie and Lola has finished (have restarted it) I will come back in.

I feel so mean. She is so sad, she doesn't know what to do with her mouth or her hands (she has dummies in her hands when she sleeps). We are bad parents

LOL, you are not bad parents..you are good parents, and are doing overall what's best for her.
She may take a few nights to get there but she will.

Charlie and Lola stopped and I had to go back in and lie with her till she went to sleep. Gave myself cramp and nearly a hernia trying to get out without waking her! I just hope she stays asleep!

She went to bed at 10 and woke up at 6am crying for her dummies. What have we done?! It's all a big mistake!

Don't worry! Deep down you know you are doing the right thing and also that it wasn't going to be easy. However you also know "this is a phase" and in a few days you'll be so pleased you did this.
Stay strong!

You can do it, Bumper. Course you're not a bad parent...you are considering what is best for her.

If it's any consolation I'm planning to wean DS2 off breast milk very soon. Could do with a Boob fairy, but would struggle putting them in a box and sticking them outside.

I've been putting it off as I know it'll be a nightmare

KnottyLocks - I need a boob fairy for DS too! He's not 1yo for another 2 weeks but we really want to start ttc.

Essence, I fell pregnant with DS2 whilst still breast feeding and continued to feed DS1 until I was 6ish months pregnant when it all got a bit too much. It was actually resonably easy (maybe a week of fuss but no more than that) to wean at that point as I think the hormones made my milk taste different.

how did it go tonight, Bumper?

It is so very hard, isn't it?

Thanks for asking. She is currently sobbing at the gate at her door, not asking for dummies but various other distractions, biscuit, toys, blanket etc. Still not asleep... DH and are taking it in turns to get up to her but we are going to have to leave her to cry it out at some point.

xx

I hope tonight is going a little better.

No! I had to lay with her to sleep again! Though at least this time only till 9pm. She was coughing and sounded like she was making herself sick (not sure if that was deliberate). She keeps badgering for food, water, toys, so I went in there and lay with her, but I don't want to do that every night.

Come back dummy fairy - all is forgiven!

How do I teach her to go to sleep herself?!