Dummy denial

[ChrisMargaritis]

Hi I’m new to Mumsnet and I’m actually a grandma. My granddaughter of 2 1/2 seems to have changed character since being denied her dummy from Christmas night. She screams whenever she can’t have her own way, and especially when she’s tired and obviously needs to sleep. She seems traumatised to me, but parents insist she’s not to be given dummy. Advice appreciated please.

She isn't traumatised She is behaving like any child her age.

She's in a bad mood because she can't gave her dummy.
Her parents are doing the right thing. 2.5 years is too old for a dummy.

Would you prefer that she dictates what happens?

I think you might need to take a step back OP. As others have said, she's not traumatised. She's a little girl trying to get her own way. It's a good thing for her to know that he parents won't cave when she shouts and demands things.

Of course she’s not going to be traumatised. What an awful way to minimise the experiences of children who go through generally traumatising experiences.

She has lost an item of comfort and no doubt it will take her a while to settle down and find ways to self-soothe and comfort herself and if she’s not sleeping as well she may be overtired. She’s probably also grouchy following all of the excitement of Christmas and 2.5 is a tough age for tantrums anyway.

Regardless of how you feel about her parents removing the dummy and her going ‘cold turkey’ without it that is the decision her parents have made and you need to respect that. It isnt your place to pass judgement or get involved and it isn’t going to traumatise your DGD and she will be over it in a few weeks.

I would say that traumatised is definitely to strong a word. She's probably just struggling with the adjustment to not having her comfort. Personally I think it's harsh to go cold turkey, especially at 2.5.