How long does it take to ditch the dummy?

[catski]

We are on night 4 and the crying seems to be getting worse each night when we try to put him down for the night.

My son is 5 months old and I thought getting rid of the dummy might help him sleep for longer periods at night. So far it hasn't affected his sleeping pattern either way, but there is a lot of heartache whenever we try to get him to go to sleep.

Am just wondering if it's worth it, or if my son is still to young to be without a dummy and whether or not to give it back. I feel so terrible when he's crying like this

My DD had hers for a few months and then gave it up on her own at six months. Why do you need to take it away? It's not like he's wandering round with it at age five is it? As you say, it's not affecting his sleep.

I prefer the 'replace it with a christmas present' idea.

I am afraid he is crying as his dummy is his comforter, and what he is used to using to help him go to sleep and comfort himself. At 5 months he doesn't understand why it has suddenly disappeared. Hence the tears. IME he will eventually stop crying for his dummy but, as he can't understand and you can't explain at this age, it is going to take time.

FWIW we only gave DD her dummy for sleep times and if ill (very rarely for latter fortunately). We took the dummy away when DD was 2, maybe a bit before. Her language skills were very good and we were able to explain clearly to her. She thought her dummy was going to my BIL's new kitten as the kitten was sad and not with it's mummy. She cried for a few minutes the first night and never again after that.

imo 5 months is too young but that just my opinion. DD had hers for sleeping until just over 2. Hadn't had it during the day for a long while before that. TBH it was easy to take away then as we could explain it to her. DS is 5 months and there's no way i'd take his dummy away. If he gives it up by himself then fine but he'll have his until I can explain it to him too

5 months seems very young. He is still learning to sleep through, taking his comforter away probably will not help in the short term

We took dds away when she was 15m (she had it for bed time only) and it took 20 mins of crying at bed time for 2 nights and then she was fine.

Sort out the sleeping through, then the dummy

Well, my husband gave him the dummy back which he sucked for about 10 seconds, spat out and conked out. Same again half an hour later. I feel thoroughly despondent about it all - have put my son through three nights of upset, sent him mixed messages and we are no further forward with resolving the sleep issue, in fact we've probably made it worse.

Thanks for your replies though - it's good to get other peoples' perspectives.