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Original poster

Getting rid of dummy

42 replies

archiesmummy · 13/06/2006 19:49

Hi, We want to get son off his dummy soon. It might be a bit early yet (6 months), but can anyone help with advise please??? How early is good? What to do when he is inconsolable or over tired????

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Original poster

archiesmummy · 13/06/2006 21:24

Awwwwh. Poor thing. I am getting mkore and more confused now with all the different oppiions. Gonna sleep on it and see what the morning brings.

OP posts:

ChaCha · 13/06/2006 23:04

Don't have time to read through all posts so hope I'm not repeating what anyone else has said and boring pants off you.

We stopped giving DS dummy at about 3-4months. It just sort of happened and he took to sucking his thumb for a while but that has now stopped too. I think DH just refused to give it to him and rocked him to sleep instead. It must have worked because i remember having to look for them as they hadn't been used for so long.

I'd do it now. He doesn't even remember it. HTH
DS 6mths.

bouncyball · 14/06/2006 22:41

hi my DS is 8mths and just put them in the bin this week. He doesn't seem to have noticed really far too busy sucking anything else he can put in his mouth (teething) don't think he was dependent on them though!!

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Journey2 · 15/06/2006 09:15

If you want to get rid of it, best time now and not when they are older! (just from what I have experienced as a nanny and other parents stories)

My son had a dummy from 4 weeks - 4mths. We went cold turkey, as in threw it away so were not tempted to pop it back in!

When he cried, we took to the system of going in and checking on him every 8-10 mins. As in he went to bed, fed, changed, right temp etc, he cried, popped in on him at 8-10mins to talk to him (didn't pick him up) left room and the majority of the time he would fall asleep before the next 8-10min check.

Took 3 days/nights to learn no dummy is coming and he would settle himself rather than using the dummy.

It is horrible to hear the crying, but I knew when he was put down he was ok, he just was wanting that comforter and our checking system worked for us.

Knew too many older children still with a dummy and was personally not wanting to get to that stage and deal with the battle then.

glassofwine · 15/06/2006 10:14

DD1 had a dummy until she was about three ish, she also gave it to father christmas with no problems. I know they look horrible etc, but like your ds she was a very sucky baby. In order to make sure she didn't rely on it too much as she went into toddlerhood we gradully reduced it, so first reduction was just in the car and at night, then it was just at night until it went. She was old enough to understand and when she was a baby she slept like a dream.

However DD2 and DS1 also had dummies until about three months when they both gave up in favour of thumbs. Now they are 4 1/2 and 3 1/2 they still suck their thumbs and we can't give them to father christmas! I suspect as they get older they'll stop sucking as peer pressure kicks in.

Original poster

archiesmummy · 15/06/2006 11:29

Thanx everyone for your input. We have been without dummy for over 24 hours now and so far it's not been too bad. So we are keeping our fingers crossed for the next couple of days...

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bundle · 15/06/2006 11:33

I can't see the point of taking a dummy away from such a young child. My girls had dummies for a couple of years from about 9 mths+. They both speak beautifully, have lovely teeth and haven't suffered any psychological harm. They only had dummies at night (and strangely, not every night) or when they were very poorly. Dummy in mouth all the time = no boundaries, imo.

Original poster

archiesmummy · 15/06/2006 12:14

but he doesnt seem to have even missed it so far, so what would be the point of keep giving him a dummy if he is fine without?????

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babyonboard · 15/06/2006 12:26

we just stopped giving ds one too a couple of months ago and he didn't miss it at all..

i wanted to stop before 6 months before he formed n attachment to it

bundle · 15/06/2006 12:27

what was the point in giving it to him in the first place then?????????

babyonboard · 15/06/2006 12:56

because he was much more unsettled when he was newborn, before we got into a proper outine, and it was handy for things like nappy changes and baths which would make him cry at first

Original poster

archiesmummy · 15/06/2006 20:59

Yes, I think when hey get 5-6 months they don't need a dummy in the same way as when they were tiny. People keep telling me how hard it is to get rid of it later, so this is it. Gone about 36 hours now..........

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warthog · 15/06/2006 21:10

has he cried for it? and what do you do when he does?

Original poster

archiesmummy · 15/06/2006 21:13

So far he hasn't really noticed it's gone I think. If he cried I might reconsider, but he has been ok so far..

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warthog · 15/06/2006 21:22

wow! that's fantastic! let us know how you get on.

i was in two minds as to what to do with dd - she's 3.5 months now and i was thinking that i'd let her have it until she was old enough to understand about stopping it. i felt that if i gave it to her, she should understand why i was taking it away. can't stand crying.

i might wait til 6 months then and see whether i can get rid of it without tears.

Original poster

archiesmummy · 15/06/2006 21:34

I'm just the same, can't see my little baby cry... They say if you get past the first 2-3 days they forget they ever had a dummy. Let's hope this is true.
Anyway off to bed as I'm sure we have to get up at 6 again... :)

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Dewpop · 05/02/2008 20:30

DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT!
I realise this conversation took place a long time ago but thought I'd give my opinion anyway for anyone else that comes along and find this feed interesting.
I also shudder to see a toddler with a dummy, however my 2 and 1/2 year old still has one! He wouldn't take one till he was 4 and 1/2 months and I never let him have it at night or nap times as I was petrified he wouldn't learn to settle himself. There were times like in the car or at the supermarket where it was quite handy! He got a lot of comfort and relief from it also. It must release wonderful endorphins! Where's the harm? By the time he was 6-8 months, I used it as little as I could, however, rather ironically by the time he was old enough to ask for it, he demanded it at night, even though he never used to have it then. We went with it.
Now, most people I know would be astounded (is that the spelling) to learn that my toddler even has a dummy. It's not allowed downstairs and although he does have it in the car, it come straight out as soon as we arrive anywhere.
I spoke to the dentist and he didn't have a problem with it. It doesn't effect the permanent teeth and besides, most kids end up with braces anyway. He reckoned to give it some thought around 3/4years when they could understand properly why it had to go.
I agree! Who cares. Speech? I had one, I'm ok!
As for finally getting rid of it. I like the idea or a dummy fairy that replaces all the dummies left under the pillow for a delightful gift!

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