Giving up the dummy - my son has done it but takes AGES to go to sleep - help?!?!?!

[Nagley]

Hi there guys - I just wonder if any could PLEASE give me some advice on my son.

I am very pleased to say that my son has found the strength to give up his dummy!!!!! He is aged 4 1/2 so it is about time!!!

He has been dummy free during the day for years but has only been dummy free at night now for just over a week. For the past few nights he has not even asked for it but takes approximately one hour to go to sleep!

He has always been excellent at bed time, but since no dummy he has been a typical child saying he is scared, needing the loo and just trying to chat etc.

Will it stop? Should I just keep trying to ignore - or is this the way it will now be?

Thank you to anyone who can help xxx

Sounds like he's just trying to prolong the inevitable sleep, and is trying to see if there's a window of opportunity now that the routine has changed!
I'd say keep ignoring and I suspect within about a week you'll be back to normal.
Does he have a routine that you stick to?

He stopped asking for the dummy after a few nights so hopefully he'll stop the stalling tactics after a few more if they're not getting him anywhere

Hang in there!

Thank you!

He has always had the same routine which has not changed at all.

I have now brought in a reward chart for going to be nicely and settling down quickly. Last night not a whisper, tonight just had to go up the once.

Kids, they do like to 'test'!!!

Thanks for your comment.

Great news - amazing how the reward charts work isn't it!
We've done the pasta thing suggested on MN and it works brilliantly. I only hvae to suggest taking some pasta out of the box and he stops messing about!!

ooh - what pasta thing is that, please?