[Lynken]

Sorry but I don't think you should be listening to a chiro's advice on dental issues.

I agree with this. I take my kids to a chiro and think she is great in regards to their growth and physical development but I'd be a bit surprised if she started commenting on their palates. Would you take advice from your dentist about your child's hip alignment?

My now-3-year-old had a dummy from birth until just before 2. A friend had a baby when she was 20 months so we started talking about how "Baby" had a dummy and slept in a cot and how she was going to be a big girl and sleep in a bed (coincided with cot to bed transfer too!). By 22-23 months, she was comfortable with giving the dummies to "Baby" and happily slept in her bed from the first night.

By all means, start talking with him about giving it up. See if you get a feel as to what method would work best for him but I certainly wouldn't be pushing him if he's not ready.

[babycat]

Thanks for all your replies, I must admit I was a bit dubious about the chiro's comments especially as we're using an "orthodontic" type dummy.

He does only use it for sleeps and will usually happily give it up when he wakes unless he's still tired. But usually after about 5 mins of chasing DS1 around he'll give it to me : )

Think I'll leave him with it and just start talking about giving it up. Tonight he went to bed for a while and then actually asked for it (another new word for the week : ))

Thanks again for the great advice.

[Bottom]

I think your chiro is out of date with research on dummies. and also what on earth is he/she doing giving dental advice? A 17 month old with a dummy is finel it will do no damage, only comfort and help build muscles in the mouth. Also, if you are not still breastfeeding it is natural for such a young toddler to need a dummy. Don't make them grow up before they have to!

[chicken_bits]

My parents got rid of mine by getting me to give it to the ducks at the pond. I loved the ducks and they told me they needed the dummy more than I did. Shows how altruistic I was even at that age

No advice other than that. PP's seem to have similar suggestions. Our DD doesn't use a dummy so I can't speak from personal experience.

[BVB09]

I will be watching this thread as I don't want DD to have the dummy beyond 2 years. I am restrciting her dummies to sleep time only, so she has no dummy during the day and she is happy without it.

I have told her the Butterflys are coming to take the dummies away and will replace them with an ornamental Butterfly for her room. ! DD just nods her head and smiles.

[lozoodle]

When I got rid of DD1's dummy I just went down the cold turkey path, and we threw them in the bin.

Dealt with a few more difficult nights and then it was fine. I reminded myself that they wont stay awake forever, they eventually need to fall asleep and its worth it. We'll be getting rid of DD2s very soon.

[Rumour has it..]

We are in the middle of getting rid of DS's dummy because its more a want than a need atm for him. We reduced the amount of time he had it. It was a bed thing only. He gets cranky if he sees one on the bench that he cant have so we just have to distract him. I cant not wait until he no longer will use one. The amount of times i have had to rumage around on the floor at 2am looking for it is crazy!