Giving up the dummy - dare I begin the process?

[HandMini]

So, DD is 6 months, and sleeping pretty well. She doesn't feed at night any more and usually sleeps 6.30-6.00/6.30, typically waking once, I go in when I hear her, pat her tummy, pop her dummy back in, go back to bed, all fine.

She has a dummy for naps and bedtime only. I'm starting to get a bit worried that I should get rid of it sooner rather than later, so she doesn't become too dependent. We started using it because I couldn't bear to hear her cry/grizzle to sleep.

My questions are:

1. Is it better to go cold turkey, ie, just get rid of dummy altogether, or cut down gradually, ie, remove it for morning nap, then lunchtime nap, then afternoon nap, then bedtime??

1. Should I wait until DD's sleep is really well established? She's only started sleeping through the 11-12 hour stretch in the last two weeks, so not sure if it's a good phase, or an established thing?

1. How long does it typically take for babies to get over the loss of the dummy??? Wondering if I start now, will we be OK by Christmas?

Any experience gratefully recieved....tell me it won't be hellish, and any other fellow dummy weaners, come hold my hand!

DS is nearly 10 months and we have ditched the dummy tonight! We were getting up 5+ times a night to replace it. He cried for 2 hours before finally falling asleep but I sat next to the cot the whole time and held his hand. I'll let you know how the rest of the night goes tomorrow!

I had the same dilemma with ds2 (never had it with ds1 because he wouldn't have one at all). I dithered so long he gave it up for himself at about 8 months. He literally dropped it overnight, even though he'd been uber-keen on it until then.

Good luck hardboiled, would love to hear your progress.

Cock (if I may call you that!!!) - did your DS settle without it then on his own? I use the dummy to settle my DD, ie pop it in when I put her in her cot, so not sure how she will give it up herself...just spit it out?

Yup. He had it one day and then just refused the next. I tried to shove it in several times (bad mummy ) but he wouldn't take it, and yes he settled fine without it.

Oh I am doing that bad mummy thing too. Well thanks for the advice...perhaps I'll leave it a month and see if she gives up naturally. Anyone else had their baby give up dummy without even trying?

Ok, he slept from 10 till 12 and then woke up and cried on and off until 2.30. So I was sat by his cot nearly in tears myself for 2 and a half hours! He then slept through till 7.45 though. I never let him become hysterical and when he did seem to be going that way I picked him up and cuddled him. I'm dreading naps to today. Someone please come and tell me that it's going to get easier soon!

Well done. I've heard lots of people say it takes 3/4 nights to make/break a habit....so dont give up...you're a third of the way there.

3 to 4 nights apparently. We had a Sleepytot to solve the night waking for the dummy and that was so good that we left it way too long to get rid of the dummy. I mean... like 3 years old! Bad mummy :(

Morning nap took about 20 mins to settle and he fell asleep in his buggy for his afternoon nap. He did go down after only 5 minutes crying tonight! He hasn't been himself at all today though and has grizzled pretty much all day and won't let me put him down. I'm not sure if he's just exhausted or traumatised but I feel terrible.

Perhaps he's teething or a bit coldy - it is that time of year. Don't feel terrible...you're not hurting him in any way by not giving him the dummy and lots of extra carrying and cuddling in the day will help.