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Parenting

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Original poster

Help me stay strong on this!

12 replies

BettyTurnip · 07/07/2009 13:13

Dd2 is 3 next month, and until last Wednesday had a dummy every night to go to sleep (and would frequently ask for it through the day if she was tired and grumpy, didn't give it to her then though).

Had her at the dentist's last Wednesday and he gave me a bit of a fright by pointing out how much her bite is being affected by the dummy.

As a result, we explained to dd that she wouldn't be having a dummy any more as she's a big girl now, and it's not good for her teeth etc.

Result? Night after night of hell ever since. Please give me some encouragement to keep going as we're so worn out with three hours of sobbing and tantrums every evening. (I realise now we've probably taken it off her too abruptly but it was a knee jerk reaction after listening to the dentist).

How long did it take your child to get used to life without their beloved dummy?

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TheProfiteroleThief · 07/07/2009 13:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

holdingittogether · 07/07/2009 13:20

Now you've done it don't go back. If it were me a little bribery might work. E.g. dd goes to bed nicely and quietly with no dummy and is rewarded with a little present in the morning. I am thinking stickers or hair clips or whatever she is into.

holdingittogether · 07/07/2009 13:22

Forgot to say it probably took a week for my children to stop asking for theirs when the dummy fairy took theirs. Lots of extra cuddles and reasurance and try not to get cross.

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Original poster

BettyTurnip · 07/07/2009 13:27

We are trying our best not to get cross but it's so hard when we're up and down the stairs about 30 times a night (no exaggeration). I know what you mean about bribery but it's never really washed with dd2, unlike her older sister.

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Mawgan · 07/07/2009 14:18

Try saying that as it's her birthday, the dummy fairy has taken her dummy away as she's a big girl now. Put it in a box and make it look pretty and then in the morning give her a surprise and say it's from the dummy fairy. My friend did this with his daughter who was also 3 and it worked straight away!

posiedullardparker · 07/07/2009 14:39

We gave ours to Father Christmas in exchange for a limosine.... toy! Can't you have a sticker chart and when she's got 5 stars she gets something? As a dummy is like an addiction I thought it best to replace it and not just get rid.

Original poster

BettyTurnip · 07/07/2009 18:17

PDP - it certainly is an addiction and she's definitely struggling with going cold turkey at the moment.

I think a sticker chart is a good idea in theory but just doesn't work with her, same with bribes and (in our exasperation) threats, i.e. got to the end of my tether the other night and came out with an evil "If you don't stay in bed I'm going to put your bike in the bin," to which she replied "That's ok"!

Another good idea Mawgan but her birthday's not for another 5 weeks.

I think it's possibly going to a case of riding it out for God knows however long it takes. I just wish I'd planned it better instead of being so spur of the moment, but it does seem daft to go back now.

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Scorpette · 07/07/2009 18:23

I still miss mine - my mum let me use one until I was 4!

Original poster

BettyTurnip · 07/07/2009 18:25

What were your gnashers like??!!

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Scorpette · 08/07/2009 11:35

They're bloody awful! Nah, my front teeth are a bit sticky-out, but it's my own fault for stupidly refusing a brace in my teens (I was v shy and self-conscious and I was bullied a lot, so didn't want to draw more attention to myself and give them more ammunition). Mind you, I have a friend who had a dummy for ages and like me, still sucks her thumb occasionally (don't sneer, people - there's more of us out there than you think!) and she has perfect, straight teeth.

However, the front part of my gumbone (I don't know what else to call it!) slopes forward diagonally, instead of being vertical, so I'm pretty lucky I've not got horsey gnashers. Will be more strict about dummies with my future DCs (am TTC at mo).

muddleduck · 08/07/2009 12:44

lol at "bike in the bin"

Original poster

BettyTurnip · 08/07/2009 14:47

Glad you laughed muddleduck, thought I'd get lambasted for being an awful mother

Good news, she went to bed no bother last night, and stayed in bed. Heaped loads of praise and cuddles on her this morning and she looked very pleased with herself. Praying it's not a one off. Actually, I think the cooler weather has helped too, as she just seemed much less hot and bothered and upset.

Good luck with the ttc Scorpette (and stand firm on the dummies when the time comes!).

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