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Weaning 18 month old off a dummy

11 replies

deliwoman1 · 05/01/2024 14:50

Does anyone have any tips? DD has dummy for naps/sleep only (and for comfort when really ill) but really does expect it for bedtime now. It doesn't wake her or bother her if it falls out during sleep and she gives it up voluntarily in the morning when asked, so we're hoping she's not too wedded to it. She was on the later side cutting her first teeth so we didn't worry about it too much, but now they're all coming through at once. Despite this, teething isn't too bad/bothersome and the dummy doesn't seem to offer comfort there. Wondering if we should seize the opportunity to get rid of it before she gets yet another nasty cold?

She's definitely getting more and more stubborn, so it feels like sooner rather than later would be a good idea unless we want an almighty battle!

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PinkMimosa · 05/01/2024 16:02

I suppose it's up to you. Can you cope with a few nights of her being upset?

SErunner · 05/01/2024 22:09

I've toyed with this for the last 12 months or so. Daughter now 2.5, dummy for nap and bedtime only but similarly expects it for those times. Never asks for it inbetween even if others around her have one. Speech is advanced, teeth look fine, sleep is great (11 hours overnight and 1.5-2 hours nap consistently unless ill). I've decided I can't be bothered to rock the boat for the moment. I had a year of virtually no sleep and am still catching up 😂 I've tested the dummy fairy concept with a few lower prized items she was attached to eg bottle and it has worked well so think we will go cold turkey with this when we do decide to get rid, and ride out a few tough days.

hellonewtimesahead · 05/01/2024 22:11

Just poke a few holes in it, it won't work in the same way, and she will realise it's broken.

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deliwoman1 · 06/01/2024 13:13

@hellonewtimesahead Hadn't thought of poking holes, only snipping off the teat, which seemed... mean somehow! Poking holes feels less drastic, lol.

@SErunner OMG, I know! DD was EBF until solids and didn't sleep for more than 1.5hrs at a time for literally the first 8 months, until we sleep trained her. We were on our knees! Now she's a champion sleeper/napper (long may it last, please!!!) Her speech is coming on very well - hundreds of words, and stringing a few together. Nonstop yelling at us in between. So I am also pretty reluctant too, but everything I've read has been 'ditch it around 12 months' 😬I'm torn! Now she's finally agreed to use a sippy cup for her cow's milk, it feels like our last battle (until potty training starts 😱).

OP posts:
Thegoodbadandugly · 06/01/2024 13:15

Just take it off her yes you will have a few tough days but it will be fine after that.

Jellycats4life · 06/01/2024 13:20

I wouldn’t. Genuinely.

With my two children, let them have dummies for sleep until they were ready to give it up with no tears and screaming whatsoever. They were both over 3. No issues with teeth either.

It doesn’t have to be a battle, or distressing cold turkey. No dummy fairy either 😅

SErunner · 06/01/2024 13:42

Jellycats4life · 06/01/2024 13:20

I wouldn’t. Genuinely.

With my two children, let them have dummies for sleep until they were ready to give it up with no tears and screaming whatsoever. They were both over 3. No issues with teeth either.

It doesn’t have to be a battle, or distressing cold turkey. No dummy fairy either 😅

This is good to hear and the direction I think we'll go in. As long as it doesn't become an issue with her wanting it when awake I'm not too bothered about her having it.

@deliwoman1 I reconciled we'd missed the 12 month boat so might as well carry on 😂

I have so many people around me with children of a similar age who are still terrible sleepers or reliant on someone/take forever to settle. I think the dummy is the main reason she is so good. I don't bring up the topic of sleep and if someone else does I keep quiet, as I know we have it good!

Lizzieregina · 06/01/2024 13:49

Jellycats4life · 06/01/2024 13:20

I wouldn’t. Genuinely.

With my two children, let them have dummies for sleep until they were ready to give it up with no tears and screaming whatsoever. They were both over 3. No issues with teeth either.

It doesn’t have to be a battle, or distressing cold turkey. No dummy fairy either 😅

Yes I did the same (3 children). I LOVED the nap so didn’t want to jeopardize it.

They had no problems with their teeth.

mollyfolk · 06/01/2024 13:53

I’d be in two minds. Even though I know people say that they have no issues with teeth but dummy’s change the shape of the pallet and can cause teeth problems later on - not usually as children. But also if it’s just for sleep and it falls out of their mouth when they are asleep I’d be inclined to leave it. I’d take it out of their mouth when asleep if not - it can mean kids breath through their mouths which is also really bad for teeth and face development.

SErunner · 06/01/2024 14:02

Thanks @mollyfolk that's interesting. She is definitely a nose breather as she struggles to suck the dummy when she has a cold. I'm also pretty sure it's out most of the time when she's asleep, but will pay more attention and check.

Cerealkiller4U · 06/01/2024 14:06

I would. She’ll get that dummy mouth. I can always tell a child who has a dummy from their teeth.

I took mine away when they were babies. Their baby teeth grew in that way and I said I didn’t want their adult teeth to grow in that way. So I took it away. One real night of upset. But that was it

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