Weaning off dummy????!

[someonesgirl]

I have a 4 yr old and a 2 yr old. They both have dummys. Mainly to sleep but if the youngest is upset in the day he asks for it as a cuddle and blanket diesnt suffice. Ive never been a dummy prude and didnt see a problem with letting them have one, as babies it was the only thing that let me get enough sleep so they were soothed when they werent hungry for milk. Particularly now oldest is 4 i want her off her dummy now for teeth reasons and for her to grow up a bit, as she uses it to get attention also. Weve tried dummy fairy and talking about other kids her age that dont have a dummy, but she keeps waking up and crying all night without it and is very dependant on it to get her off to sleep. Ive incorporated it into the reward chart, she gets extra stars if she can sleep without it but nothings wprked so far. I feel bad making her go cold turkey but i know its something i shouldve nipped ib the bud a long time ago but being a single mother anything for a less stressful life! Any suggestions?!

[cathfromsaron]

it is hard, but habits can be broken!

so far, what we have done with my grandson is the following:

all dummies - bar one of his choice - were given to santa (fairies might work this time of year) in exchange for pressies!

he can only have his dummy when he is actually in bed, and never in the day or when he is out of his room!

he is relying on it less and less, and now sometimes doesn't ask for it!

cath x

[joeluke]

Women who still let their babies have dummies when they become toddlers are the ones you see still letting their 3/4 year olds be pushed around in a pushchair

[sherrardk]

Joeluke - you don't half make some sweeping generalisations (which is polite for 'talk crap').

[ojread2]

Women?
Fathers you mean, surely?

I'd go for the you only need it for sleeping approach, although I agree a 4 year old should have been weaned a while back
It sounds as well as if you have tried before with several other approaches. Choose one and stick with it, or you'll show her that you wont stick to your guns and can be bought with a tantrum or 2
I wouldnt worrya bout their teeth but more about their speech
Choose a half term when it doesn't matter if you have to get up in the night
You have kids, your life is stressful anyway

[ummmm]

Joe, you're just too funny.

[Jemisa]

My daughter was determined her babies would not have a dummy.
She achieved this, the eldest never seemed to bother with anything but the youngest (Now nearly 6 ) sucks her thumb and you can't take that away, so be thankful for the humble dummy.
A friend of mine's G/son now 15 still sucks his thumb when he's tired or under stress (Homework).

jem

[ummmm]

My best mate was still sucking her thumb in her late teens. You can't sterilize thumbs either!!

I'm sure if one of Joes kids sucked their thumbs the wife would have taken out of the babies mouth and tried to settle it!!

[joeluke]

Yeah she would

It's not rocket science is it?

[tigwig]

You must hate me then joe, my daughter had a dummy (only for bed) til she was 4.5yrs! Oh and she was pushed in a pushchair to nursery as its a 2 mile walk away up a very steep hill on the way back which was too hard for her. I see nothing wrong with a child wanting comfort from sucking at night time and the fact that it makes them sleep better is a bonus. Does that make me impatient or a bad mum? I dont think so. She just loved it so much I didnt want to cause her upset by taking it off her. I hate to see kids of that age having a dummy through the day but for bed I dont think its a problem.
Someonesgirl if you really want to get rid of the dummy theres no easy way unfortunately, you just have to do it. I did it at Christmas time and she got an early present from Santa, cried a few nights but nothing major. I think if you wait til they are older they do handle it better. Good luck!

[Brinjal]

When it is worn out and breaks don't replace it.