15 month old and his dummy

[Onthegrapevine]

I don’t even know why I introduced the damn thing in the first place.

He seems to have become more attached to it as he’s gotten older. He doesn’t need it all the time but he definitely relies on it for comfort.

This morning I couldn’t find it as we are down to his last 2, so I decided today would be the day I’d get rid. Took him to bed for his morning nap and he cried for 50 minutes straight despite being in my arms. I tried reading to him, signing, stroking him and bringing his soft toys in but he was inconsolable. I eventually gave up & went on the hunt for it, found it, and he was asleep within minutes.

I’ve read that cold turkey is the only way, but I’m curious as to whether we should wait until he understands a bit more & then make a story of it going away? I just feel so awful as he doesn’t understand why I’m not giving him this thing he finds comfort in.

Are dummies even that bad? I read they’re not so great for their teeth but these are baby teeth anyway!

Mine had theirs till they were 3 and 2.5 respectively but only for sleeping after 12 months.

If it's only for sleeping it's not a big deal and no need to ditch it yet. Both of mine gave theirs up pretty willingly and only asked for it the first two nights when we got round to it.

I am very much of the ‘wait till they can understand’ thing. I didn’t use dummies with Dd, but I did bf and I just waited until she was old enough to understand the milk had ‘run out’

I couldn’t be dealing with screaming at bed time, the easiest life possible here

I didn't do cold turkey. Every time my son asked I'd say 'you don't need it' cheerfully and if he got upset then I would find it. I kept it out of sight as much as I could. I'd also let him breastfeed as much as he wanted to sleep. Eventually the time he went without it got longer and longer and one day he fell asleep without it and without asking for it. It took a few weeks all in all, nap times and bed time. Nap times were easier than bed times. Looking back on it all I'm glad he had it, glad he weaned off gently and that it was all before he can remember. He's coming up to 3 now and has no idea what a dummy is for when he sees a picture of one. But when he was newborn and I was an ebf single mum we needed the dummy to be able to get the shopping home before it defrosted.

DC2 had his far too much and it has affected his teeth (DC1 was a thumb sucker, no dummies after about 12 weeks and I wasn’t sure what to do with DC2). None in daytime at 3 but still using them at night in reception - and I got a lecture from the school nurse. We did cold turkey starting one Friday having talked about it and got him a cuddly Dino he really wanted instead. Took two tough evenings and then done. If I had the time again I would have done it completely at about 3, no later. I think your age is too young though as he can’t understand. Two and a half to three years would be good.

TBH you never see teenagers with dummies 😂 I personally would let him keep it but confine to bedtime / when unwell.
My granddaughter had one until 4 months and then daughter took it away...she had it back at 6 months...sleep too precious for all concerned!
My two sons had dummy and both stopped using them by 21/2.

Two and a half 🙄

We took it away at 3 years. It was part and parcel of lots of 'big boy' stuff e.g. getting his big bed, no more nappies at night, getting ready for pre-school. He was also dropping his nap, so we didn't need it for that any more. He slept badly for a week or so, but I think he felt quite proud that he was being a big boy, which softened the blow a bit.

I think you know when both you and the child are ready.

@dottiedaisee

TBH you never see teenagers with dummies 😂 I personally would let him keep it but confine to bedtime / when unwell. My granddaughter had one until 4 months and then daughter took it away...she had it back at 6 months...sleep too precious for all concerned! My two sons had dummy and both stopped using them by 21/2.

No, you don’t see teenagers with dummies, but my 30y old brother still sucks his thumb. I’m fine with my two having dummies until they’re 3 if it means they don’t start thumb-sucking.

No, you don’t see teenagers with dummies, but my 30y old brother still sucks his thumb. I’m fine with my two having dummies until they’re 3 if it means they don’t start thumb-sucking

This. I really don’t understand why some people prefer their babies to thumb suck rather than use a dummy.

I tried limiting the dummy about 15m. She stuck her thumb in instead, so I went back to using it whenever needed.

Stopped at 3 with no issues, teeth fine Etc. I cannot imagine thumb sucking is any better for the teeth either, especially as they usually give up dummies much earlier.