Come back dummy fairy - all is forgiven!

[Bumperliouzzzzzz]

So on Saturday the dummy fairy visited and took all of DD's dummies. We discussed it with her, we made a box for them, put it outside, the dummy fairy generously bought DD (2.9 btw) a shopping trolley and a 'mummy and daddy' elephant in return. People on my original thread told me lovely stories of how after the first night their DC didn't ask for dummies again.

Well it's the 4th night and she is still playing up! Night one, we expected trouble, DD sobbed and I ended up lying with her till she fell asleep at 10pm, then woke up at 6am. Night 2 wasn't so bad, she tried to badger us, asking for water, food etc. but mostly just crashed around her room till she fell asleep (she doesn't seem to have a wind down, when I lay with her she went from chattering and singing to zonked out in a flash). Night 3 I had to lie with her again again till she fell asleep at 9pm and tonight she is crying and asking for food and trying to make herself sick by coughing. She keeps asking for her dummies and is really upset when we try and explain to her that they have gone.

We've tried a Charlie and Lola talking book to sooth her to sleep, but it doesn't seem to be helping. There is just no incentive for her to go to bed any more. It used to be her dummies. She doesn't have any other particular favourite toy (though she does sleep with lots of toys, she is just very egalitarian in her playing!). How can I teach her to soothe herself? How long could this potentially go on for? We're on night 4 now.

I'm going to bed now, but bumping for advice for tomorrow night!

i think at that age they really can't comprehend that the dummies will be gone forever. they say yes, because they want a present. but they can't foresee what it will be like the next night or the next night or the next night,..

i would just give her the dummy back if she is upset. you can try again when she is older

Hi, sorry to disagree . I would keep going. She will "get over it" I did the dummy fairy with both of my dd's (pretty recently with the 2nd). We had a week or so of difficult bedtimes...she wasn't asking for it but she didn't know what to do without it. All is fine now (touch wood). If in a few weeks it's still awful think again. I would really try not to lie with her (go in and out to her) as you are just becomming the new prop!
I'm sure she will get there.
Bee

Hi Bumper hope you had a better night. We tried the dummy fairy with dd at 2.6. Like yours she couldn't cope and my wimpy dh gave her a dummy back on the 3rd night.

We recently went on holiday and for 2 weeks before we told her that the dummies weren't coming with us because she was a big girl now (she's 2.10 now).
on the day of holiday she put them all in the bin without being asked. I think knowing they had actually gone for good was more understandable for her. We havn't looked back.

Dummy fairy works for some but others may need a differant approach. I would give her dummy back and try again in a month or so.

Thanks for the replies. I don't really want to give her back the dummies, we've come this far, if we give in we'll never get them off her. I guess I just wanted positive stories of even the most ferevent dummy user getting over it eventually.

Stick at it, it will get better. You've done 4 nights, don't throw that hard work away

It will get better, have been through it with 4 children

She will settle without it, don't go back to dummies as next time, she will take even longer to learn to live without them (thinking you will give them back as you did before)

I hope tonight is easier for you all

I wonder if at 2.9 she hasn't quite got the comprehension. We did dummy fairy too but not till almost 4 yrs old. I know that is very very late but it really was only bedtime or of they were ill they needed it. Youngest ds is now 3.6 and I have spoken to him about dummy fairy and asked him to choose a present for the dummy fairy to bring. He is less than keen and gets very upset. We will do it though but waiting for school summer hols when I don't work and there is no school/nursery to worry about. I am fully expecting more than a few awful nights. Funnily enough though my elder 2 were fine. Asked for it a few times the first few nights but within a week had forgotten all about it.

If you can, stick with it. She will learn to sleep without it. I would sit with her or do whatever you need to just for the next few days and then slowly stop doing that too so you don't become her new sleep prop.

I think you are right jobhunters, we did it too soon, which I regret, but am going to persevere.

Her behaviour during the day has changed too. She's more clingy and prone to getting upset. That's normal isn't it? I hope it goes soon. I want my lovely, happy, sunny DD back. I feel so bad.

Stick with it i say. But i'm not sure i would take my advice as i am seriously considering the dummy fairy coming early with DD 18 months.

Stick with it you are doing the right thing! Bear in mind that she may be clingy and upset as she is feeling unwell though. This might be what is making it harder.

how about a new incentive to go to bed? I don't know if she's too old but we have a projector which plays a lullaby. dd (20 months) likes getting in her cot so she can watch her "bear film" before she goes to sleep.

I saw your post the other day, and I feel for you, but do think it's best to persevere if you can. DD will be fine.