Time to say goodbye to Bunny?

[Happyyellowcar]

DS1, who has just turned 5, has sucked a tiny jellycat Bunny's feet all night long since he ditched his bedtime dummy at 13months. I'm up in the night with DD a lot (ironically mostly to replace HER dummy!) and I can hear him sucking away in the next room. Although I wash it regularly it smells horrible and he has started to develop mouth ulcers. Not sure if the 2 are related but I realised last night that he has never once in his 5 years of life gone to sleep unaided which I'm pretty appalled at .
When I try to broach the subject he looks appalled and says "but I just can't sleep without Bunny!". I'm thinking of "forgetting" Bunny when we go to stay at my parents for a week over Easter - is this horribly cruel? WWYD? Thanks!!

Why are you appalled? Lots of children have comfort objects- and I am as sure as I can be that bunny isn't giving him mouth ulcers!

My dd took her bear away to university with her, and 14 year old ds still keeps his "losh"- a tatty old silk scarf- under his pillow.

Could you swap the bunny back for dummy as at least you can clean and sterilise that more easily whereas presumably bunny cannot be washed every day

He is still a little boy, he will give up his bunny when he is ready to. Heck my 8 year old still sleeps with his every night and my 6 year old with hers. Why would I want to take them away?

Heels are you seriously suggesting introducing a dummy to a 5 year old?

I still sleep with my cuddly from my incubator- but I am now able to sleep without it IYSWIM. So I didn't take it on honeymoon

Yes it's cruel. Why would anyone even consider taking a child's comfort toy

Just wash it when it gets too grotty.

Should add, we accidentally left it at a relatives house when I was 7, so I learnt to soothe without it, but was v hard- then as I got older I didn't want to take it to sleepovers etc so chose not to take it out. Expect peer pressure will have the same impact on your son.

He needs the bunny, but the sucking is a problem I agree. Not sure how you're going to break that habit though as it will be so tied up with sleep for him. Does he realise he sucks the feet when asleep? Can you discuss with him taking it out of his mouth once asleep and leaving it in the bed?

My DS is 9. Monkey is STILL number one in his affection amongst the dozens of others that have joined him

Monkey got left behind at a party once, I'm not entirely sure who was more distraught, DS or me.

Don't you DARE get rid of Bunny!

Why is the sucking a problem?

Imagine someone taking your comforter away, whether it's wine/cigarettes/chocolate or cake?

It's not nice, just was it hotter with bio to kill the bacteria as long as his teeth are ok with the sucking, you could just remove it from his mouth every time you pass his room until he is used to it not being in his mouth full time.

Has his dentist shown any concerns?

Aww! We have a bunny here too! My 3yr old DD has had my bunny from when I was a little girl since she was born, always goes to bed with her, safe to say it looks worse for wear!

I don't think the bunny is the problem but the sucking sounds like it could be, could you not gently pull bunny out of his mouth when he's asleep? Then maybe pull it down the bed abit so he can't pop it back in his mouth?

hakluyt I'm no expert on this sucking malarkey but as a child my sister sucked anything she could, blankets, soft toys, thumbs! It pushed all her teeth outwards and she ended up having a few taken out and a fair few years with braces, dentist always blamed her teeth problems with her sucking.

Thanks all - it's just the sucking bit that bothers me. I still sleep with my childhood teddy which is now VERY old!! Maybe that's where he gets it from!!

My DS of 3, does the same. Except he sucks in the ears. I have no intention of taking it off him, I have a comforter and i'm 30!!! I've had it through exam revision, my finals and even labels. Just try not to worry x

Labour*

I still remember to this day my dad tossing my comforter (a blanket) into the bin as he deemed it too dirty. It is one of those awful childhood memories.
Please please don't get rid of bunny. Just give it a wash.