Getting rid of the dummy for a nearly 6 year old

[Totallyawinetaster]

Hi all, I need some advice on how to get rid of my nearly 6 year old DD's dummy. We have tried everything to convince her to give it up and nothing has worked. I know she's really old to still be having a dummy, but now she is so attracted to it that she won't even consider giving it up.

We've been through the dummy fairy, giving it to Santa, the Easter Bunny taking it, we've read all the books, tried bribery, threats, we've lost it, forgot it going on holiday, everything. You name it we've tried it. Everytime it ends in a fit of crying and screaming, and she ends up with the dummy.

Part of me wants to believe that she'll stop using it on her own, but I can't see it anytime soon. Does anyone have any advice?

@stabbitja exactly what I was going to say a 6 year old knows right from wrong and if you give in with this she will throw a tantrum every time she wants something and can't have it etc

Good luck OP be strong and remember you are doing it for her benefit in the long run

Not quite the same but we stopped our 4 year old from thumb sucking about 6 months ago. She was good about it, understood why. We had one terrible week where she just didn't know what to do with herself and was really emotional. It was a constant battle and we were constantly vigilant then all of a sudden the urge just went away. She hasn't looked back and also her teeth have straightened out so much since she stopped, her whole face looks different. Just thought I'd give you some positive encouragement! You'll get through it. You're in for a hard few days but it will be so worth it!

She's 6, ridiculous you've let her have it for so long.

Sorry that's harsh but dummies are terrible past a year for speech and teeth.

Grit your teeth and ride out the tantrums. 3 nights and she'll be fine.

Good luck!

Time to actually do some parenting! 🙄

Everytime it ends in a fit of crying and screaming, and she ends up with the dummy.

It just magically appears? You say all this as though you have no control in the matter - you do. The dummy is provided by you, it’s up to you to take it away. You make it sound like it’s your daughters responsibility to give it up if her own accord, but it’s your responsibility, not hers. There’s no easy way to do it at this point, you’ll just have to deal the tantrums and ride the wave.

It's got to go it's already caused damage with the open bite. Bin it and be strong.

You know the answer you just can't be bothered to do it.
Either you care about your child's teeth and speech, language and social development(all of which are being damaged) or you care about an easy life.

Just tell your child they are going and deal with the monster you have created

I’d just tell her she’s going to get the kids taken out of her if any of her friends saw her with a dummy. Kids don’t care about what their teeth may look like, they do care about their friends. And she will get the piss taken out her. Just put it in the bin and you will have to deal
With the recupercussions because it’s you whose not taken it off her beforehand.

Get rid of it, she is 6 far too old for a dummy!! Stop giving into her tantrums. She knows that all she has to do is play up and you will give into her.

Be the grown up and stop giving into her.

Just stay strong. It might be upsetting seeing her so worked up but she will calm down, kids get over things fast! 6 is way too old for a dummy and you need to keep telling yourself that

Gosh, I'm astounded that a neuro typical 6 year old would have a dummy... You really do need to stay firm on this- would you let her take her seatbelt off in the car if she threw a tantrum?

If people read the thread they would know the OP has removed the dummies.

She doesn't need loads more posts telling her to do it, rather support to stay firm and ignore the tantrum that is probably now raging.

Well done for taking them- FOR THE LOVE OF GOD stay strong and don’t give them back. I used to suck my thumb (at least you can bin a dummy) and I have a terrible overbite- it makes even eating a sandwich in company embarrassing because I can’t bite it off properly.

My teeth are all wonky and horrible at the front and I frequently try not to laugh or smile because they’re so bad.

The tantrums now are an investment against the upset of the future.

@DeRigueurMortis

If people read the thread they would know the OP has removed the dummies.

She doesn't need loads more posts telling her to do it, rather support to stay firm and ignore the tantrum that is probably now raging.

Thanks, she kicked off majorly once she realised that I had really binned them. She wouldn't say a word at dinner and has just went back upstairs to sluk. I still haven't found anymore dummies though so I don't know where they are. Staying strong so far.

Good job OP! Stay strong now & come back if you need support. Try to think of something nice to do tomorrow, even if it's just watching a film & snuggling on the sofa. It may be a tough couple of days but she will get used to it

@totallyawinetaster Well done OP! You've got this! 💪

Hang in there OP! You can do it. It’s for her own good, even if she doesn’t see that right now.

Stay strong.

Did she eat her dinner? Have you checked that she hasn’t found any upstairs?

Well done OP

It doesn't sound like she's yet deployed the full arsenal (sulking atm, but you've got tantrums, sobbing and emotional blackmail still to go "you don't love meeeeeee!") so be prepared for it and hold your nerve.

Well done. Stay in control. You have crossed the first hurdle.

Well done op. Maybe a deep clean of her bedroom at the weekend to find any more? If you think there's likely to be any more, give her 50p for each one she finds and brings to you?

I was told to put tiny pin prick holes in my children's dummies. It works. They can't tell that there is any holes but it feels different in their mouths. I simply said "when the dummy feels wrong it means it's time for babies to have them"

Good luck.

I'm going to go against the grain here and say let her have it for sleep only. How many of these people saying get rid have children who suck their thumb or have some kind of other comforter. I know I sucked my fingers until the age of 12. Yes I needed braces but most children do these days.
My eldest is 18 and didn't have a dummy or suck his thumb but he still needed 2 years worth of braces.
Yes you have to be tougher with the tantrums as that's not going to help her in the long run.

Well done for binning them. But your daughter has learnt tantrums will get her what she wants so you have extended it by giving in. I can tell you as a parent of a teen you need to get this under control otherwise you are in for a real rough time. You may need to think about other things your DD tantrums about to get her own way which results in you giving in. You are letting a child rule your home which is ultimately really unhealthy for her. She will grow up struggling if you don't put boundaries in place now.