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Parenting

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Original poster

Help with helping my almost 4 year old give up dummy

3 replies

TexMex · 30/12/2013 19:36

My DD will soon be 4, and has a dummy still only at night. However she has been crying more for it after bath time etc recently and I really want to do away with them.

The main problems being, she didn't sleep through the night until she was 3, and now wakes at least once a night, so I always thought better a dummy and sleep than get rid. Also her sibling was born when she was 2.5 and has a dummy, they share a room so she would steal a dummy if I put her to bed without.

I had firm words tonight about the dummy fairy coming, and it led to DD being in hysterics, saying she didn't want to be 4, didn't want to start school, didn't want to be a grown up and asking would I still be her mummy when she's a grown up and will I die?!!! So I'm guessing she is feeling very insecure about having no dummy, so what do I do? I already feel like a complete failure she's the age she is and has a dummy.

Anyone been where I am? Do I just do away with them and see if she's as bad as she was tonight?

OP posts:

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TheGreatHunt · 30/12/2013 19:59

I wouldn't talk about ditching a dummy at bedtime - no way. I would also stop the talk about school as well. My ds is 4 and told me he didn't want to go to school, he didn't want to be a big boy.

4 is the age when their nightmares and fears are magnified and they need a lot of comfort. (maybe that why she wants it more).

Does she have a cuddly? Maybe take her shopping for one so she has something to cuddle at night. (ds has two soft toys, one which was picked up randomly on an ikea trip!).

Can you get rid of the dummy for the youngest at the same time? Maybe stick a small hole in with a pin so it feels odd and they go off it?

ImABadGirl · 02/01/2014 00:06

I've just ditched the dummy at Christmas, we had been building up to it and eventually he bit the last one so it went in the bin however the little bugger found a rogue one a few weeks after, we put it in the Christmas tree that night then the elves took the dummy and left a present.

Could you do something like that?

ImABadGirl · 02/01/2014 00:07

Forgot to add my DS is 3.5 and will b3 starting school in September

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