Tips to wean from the dummy.

[Dozeyland]

My DD is 16months old, i'm not in a hurry to get her off the dummy (she only uses it for bed time, or when she has her day time nap) just wondered when you introduced the "reduced use of dummy time" and what tips you have as in distraction, other means for bed time..

DS was about 2.5, a new baby in the family helped (not ours!) as he wanted to feel less babyish. Also we had a book called 'The Last Noo Noo' which he loved. He was totally addicted to his and used to go to bed with 5, one in his mouth and 2 in each hand but just gave it all up overnight. We posted them to Fireman Sam to make new tyres for his van (I believe this is quite common).

All 3 of my DSs have had to go cold turkey at around age 3.

DS1 gave his up for a year then went back onto it once DS2 came along!

DS3 did without one all through babyhood, then once he turned one and could vote with his feet, he walked over to his brother and nicked one!

He was the toughest to wean off them, in the end.

I would just take it away and see what happens.

When my ds1 was 15 months I couldn't find his dummy anywhere so he went to bed that night without it, fell asleep and never mentioned it again. (of course I then found about 8 dummies over the following days)

I really wasn't expecting it to be so easy. I was Expecting to do the dummy fairy and bribery and what not.

Mine resolutely would not give them up, so when they were 3 I colluded with their nursery (who were ace) and we left them out overnight for The Dummy Fairy (a bit like the Tooth Fairy...!) who needed them to give to new babies. The next morning when they came to nursery there were two little presents in the plant pot by the front door and a certificate each from the Dummy Fairy saying "well done". They still remember and talk about it with great pride years on.

Father Christmas brought the dummy fairy with him last year! DS put all his dummies out alongside the sherry and mince pies, and carrots for Rudolph, and in the morning they were gone and there was a sack of presents. He's only mentioned it once since.