[**Mel**]

DD is almost 3 and I posted a thread at easter about giving up the dummy.

DD was/is a dummy addict - 1/2 dozen in bed with her, one everywhere she goes

After easter (we were going away, so we didn't want to cope with dummy-withdrawal on our holiday!) we took an empty easter basket and hunted the house for all DD's dummies (I think we found about 14)

we left a letter for the dummy fairy and she took all the dummies and exchanged them for a toy.

We then had a few busy days so no naps, but DD was exhausted at bed time. So, she went down easily with no dummies and I thought I had it figured.

Then it came time for a nap one day - did not happen. Nor for the next week. Night time sleep was fine (sometimes we had to go in at midnight or so and re-settle her) but day naps just went out the window.

I was not prepared to not have day naps so DD and I made a 'deal' that the dummy fairy might return 3 dummies 'just for bed time'.

Now, a month later, and she rarely asks for a dummy during the day, naps are back to normal 2 - 2.5 hrs and she sleeps all night 7:30 till 7:00.

Having a no dummy household was NOT more important than having excellent sleeping patterns (for everyone!)

We will tackle dummies again at christmas LOL maybe

[Princess.cranky....]

My 3.9 year old was the biggest dummy addict ever! Every Time she got upset she would want her dummy. It would go on all day, every day and there was no way she would sleep without it

We do soft approach to weening off the dummy. Started talking about DD being a big girl and she didn't need a dummy anymore. And how her baby sister sister was a baby and had a dummy. And when she was 4 it would be time to give her dummy to the dummy fairies so they could take it to the babies and dummy fairies would leave her a present. We also stop DD from having a dummy when she was upset.

I had in mind that the dummies would be ditched when she was 4. However one night a few months ago we couldn't find a dummy at bedtime. She was put to bed and told we would find one. She fell asleep and slept all night without it. No crying! Next day was kindy and she didn't have a day sleep so didn't look for the dummy. No mention of dummy at bedtime, went to bed happy. And same again the next night. So we decided that was it and dummy fairies took the dummies. She only asked for the dummies once since then. In the end it was so easy!

DD1 gave up her dummies on her 4th birthday. We had talked awhile beforehand how the dummy fairies would take her dummies when she was 4. Didn't plan for it to happen on her 4th birthday, that's when she decided.

I think it was easier because we waited till they were a little older and ready. Never had any tears from ether of them.

[roxy1981]

I had tried to limit his dummy use, putting it up out of reach until bedtime etc, but it wasn't working. He was asking for it ALL day and dtiving me insane. Then on his 3rd b'day I realised his one and only dummy had a split in it and squeezed it, the spit that came out STUNK and it had to go in the bin. So that was it - no dummy. I think because he was on a high about being a big 3 year old it was just the right time. He took his new Ben 10 figures to bed instead. I did have to sing to him for the first couple of nights just to get him over the edge, but he has been fine without it ever since. I think it's definitely MUCH easier to just get rid of it rather than limiting it's use, I'm so glad it's finally gone!

Good luck!