[babycat]

DS 2 has had a dummy since about 2 weeks of age as he had reflux and just wanted something to suck all the time. He only has it for sleeps, but his Chiro mentioned that his palate was starting to be affected and that it would be a good idea to stop the dummy.

I managed to get him to sleep without it the other night with not too much of a fight, but last night and for his morning sleep he became hysterical even before I put him in his cot. The only way I could calm him was by telling him if he calmed down he could have his dummy. As soon as he got it he was asleep within minutes.

Anyone have suggestions for the best way of removing it?

[sharonica]

Oh, good question OP. I have exactly the same problem with my DS and am keen for any tips, tricks etc.

[Just green apple...]

DD is 2 next month and we're getting rid of her dummy this Thursday. Yikes!

Our plan is to get her to put it in the rubbish bin and wait for the garbage truck to come so she can wave bye bye to her dummies (she's obsessed with garbage trucks). We've been talking to her about it for a few days now just to prepare her (how much of it she understands is another story).

I'm ready for it to get hairy though...

This post has been edited by beatka: 13/04/2012, 09:43 AM

[soontobegran]

Sorry but I don't think you should be listening to a chiro's advice on dental issues.
It sounds like a whole lot of rubbish to me.
Fingers and thumbs cause far more damage to a child's mouth than a dummy yet we don't remove them.
If you are worried about the use of the dummy's effect on your child's mouth then start putting bounderies up on it's use during the day. I don't like the thought of removing a comfort item until the child is old enough to talk to them about it.
I waited for our children to be old enough to negotiate, it was so simple and no tears.

I worked on the premise that no child is at school with a dummy.
Good luck OP.

[fick]

My SIL dealt with this by getting her DS to give his dummy up to Santa for the baby reindeers. lol. He was cranky for a few days, but that passed and now he never even mentions the dummy any more.

We'll be trying this with DD when she's a bit older, if she's still attached to her dummy. She seems to be using it less and less now on her own (DD is almost 8 months).

[8yeargap]

I second what soontobegran said. Sounds like a whole lot of hogwash to me! I wouldn't be taking it off them if it something that really calms them.

[laridae]

I worked on the premise that no child is at school with a dummy.

Only because they are too embarrassed to actually take it to school. It doesn't mean they might not still have one at night time.

My little brother had his until he was 10!


I gave mine up at about 3, apparently because the dog kept stealing it - though I can't really remember that it did so maybe that's something my mum told me to get rid of it.

[munchmum]

We introduced a teddy blanket toy which my dd took to bed with her dummy. She got very attached to the teddy and actually started refusing the dummy. Mind you she does suck on the teddy, I wish I had 2 as getting it to wash is difficult

[girltribe4]

I have just removed my 3.5yr old DD's dummy in the last month and she is now a very happy thumb sucker .

At 17m I would be tempted to just start with reducing the amount of time he has it .

[soontobegran]

Only because they are too embarrassed to actually take it to school. It doesn't mean they might not still have one at night time.

My little brother had his until he was 10!

For sure
Lots of teens and adults still suck their thumb too.
At least at age 10 you can talk to them about it, at 17 months sucking is still an acceptable means of comfort.