Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

How to reduce daytime dummy use

10 replies

Crazyone84 · 29/11/2022 15:47

I have a very soon to be 2 year old. She is chatty and happy but has become very reliant on her dummy.
She was unwell with several things, HF&M, Chicken pox, back teeth, cold, all in a very short period of time so we used the dummy more often as a comfort when she was feeling very sorry for herself. Before this bout of illness she would only use it at nap or sleep time and if she was feeling a bit tired. Now it is all the time, she cries for it and if she bumps herself or is mildly annoyed or upset by something she instantly wants it. If you say no she will cry and cry.
We got into a habit that after waking from both naps and nighttime I would ask her to leave her dummy in her room which she did. Now she knows where they are all kept and asked for her bag or to go into the kitchen pot for one.
Anyway, I'm waffling.....I would like to stop day time use, I personally don't like her walking around with it in and she talks to you and you can't hear her properly (when you say to her you can't understand what she is saying, she will take the dummy out, say what she was saying and puts it back in, so she does understand)
Tips on stopping day time usage please?
I think going cold turkey will be too much for nighttime too as she is so dependent on it. If we can stop day time use, maybe see how it goes for nighttime in a few months.
I am thinking about removing all dummies from bag, kitchen, car etc so she cannot see them and I can show her the usual places they are gone from. Then only having 1 or 2 in her bedroom where she can have easy access to them when she is due to sleep?
Finally, be honest, how long did the temper tantrums last before they got the message they weren't having the dummy?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Flapjackquack · 29/11/2022 15:49

Sorry OP no advice but following as we are in the exact same position.

Crazyone84 · 29/11/2022 15:56

@Flapjackquack I feel for you too! lets hope for some wise words from the survivors!!!!!! 😂

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 29/11/2022 16:11

You have started well imo. Each child is different (and my firstborn was a stubborn mule sent to try the devil) but I found it was best to do it will the child's agreement, one step at a time.

Take it out when talking every single time.
When she's comfortable with that have a special place/table where she puts it when playing, but still allowed it for TV.
Then when she's happy with that then put on table when watching TV. It takes a few months but its gradual. One day you realise she's only having it at naptime, which is a totally different kind of battle 😂

One thing we did insist on was no dummy in the mouth when leaving the house. We would take one in case of naps but that was it. Coat and shoes on, dummy out.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Flapjackquack · 29/11/2022 16:13

@Crazyone84 - I hope so! My DS has just turned 2 and we have all the same issues as you. I could have written your post word for word. My Mum was no help “oh I just hid yours and you never asked for it again”. DS gets very upset if he doesn’t have 2 with him at bedtime, one to suck and one to hold. Argh!

Marblessolveeverything · 29/11/2022 16:16

It has been a while, but we went cold turkey before they were 18 months, so a few days of tears then onto hopefully what will prove to be a lighter dental bill! Our creche didn't encourage them either to be fair it was in swine flu era.

I have heard of people cutting them, and saying they break when a child is older. Or perhaps she could leave them out for Santa?

CaronPoivre · 29/11/2022 16:17

You put it in a cupboard out of reach and tell her she’s too big for a daytime dummy. Then you ride the storm for a couple of days. It will help her speech and teeth to get rid of it.

anon2022anon · 29/11/2022 16:22

Cold turkey for everything but sleep at just gone 2 here. We attached a couple of dummies to comforters, put them in her bedroom and they're not allowed to leave. The next day we made sure we were very busy out of the house for most the day, and apart from that just kept repeating 'dummies are just for bed, you're a big girl now'. She was fine by day 2, and fine for most of day 1. Before that she was very attached.

Childminders had been doing it slowly for a few weeks before, by only allowing it for naps/ on sofa with no TV. If she wanted to do something, the dummy went down. But at home, this didn't work as she didn't see the other kids having fun so was happy just to sit on the sofa.

Squashpocket · 29/11/2022 19:20

We just went cold turkey during the day - we made the rule the dummy wasn't allowed outside the cot, so dc could only have it at nap times and bedtime.

The tantrums about having it during the day lasted 3 days or so. Lots of emphasis on what a big girl/boy they were, distraction and cuddles etc.

It was fine in the end. You are definitely doing the right thing.

We got rid of the dummy entirely at about 2.5 and that was also 3 nights of tears, then it was never mentioned again.

Wallabyone · 29/11/2022 20:47

I think you have to be strong and firm for a couple of days-put the dummies out of reach, keep saying they're only for sleep time and then distract her. And repeat until she knows you're not caving. It will start to affect her teeth and speech otherwise.

Crazyone84 · 29/11/2022 22:43

Lots of great advice and I feel more confident going in to this now. She is a very strong willed, stubborn little girl but unfortunately her, mama is more so!!! Thank you

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page