Dummies!

[SammyRo]

DD has never really used a dummy for settling - I've always tended to have a couple on hand that she's played with as she's settling but never really used...until now that is! Just recently, if I've given her a dummy to play with, it ends up in her mouth and she falls asleep with it. I'm just worried that at 13months this is a bad habit to start now! Just another one I will have to break eventually

Should I carry on and worry about it in the future? Or try and stamp it out now?

[Olive]

a friend introduced on to her DD at about the same age, not sure why, but she has it all the time now and having issues getting rid of it! id be trying to get it off her

[shellbell3]

Was she settling well prior to this? I would get rid of too and go back to whatever you were doing for the past year.

[Eng]

I would stop it too.. I might be harder to stop it later..

[SammyRo]

Was she settling well prior to this? I would get rid of too and go back to whatever you were doing for the past year.

She's never been the best sleeper and we've had real problems in the past, with settling for day sleeps much more difficult...I know this is a big no-no, but we tend to lie her down in her cot at night with a bottle and leave her to it it works, and it saves me tearing my hair out (it got really bad a while back and I was struggling to cope). Apparently, mum used to do the same to me - until I was a bit older, when my bottle was 'accidently' on purpose stood on in front of me - it went in the bin and I never asked for it again.

But, I'll see how we go the next few days - I'm hoping she just wants the extra comfort because she's been sick this past week.

[shellbell3]

I guess the dummy would be a better option than the bottle, esp now she has teeth and everything you don't want to ruin.

[amberj]

I suppose if you think there are viable alternative, I would try to get rid of the dummy. Having said that, our DS who is much the same age is still very attached to his dummy in order to sleep. He's had it since birth, though, so its a little different. But we do limit to to bedtime ONLY. I don't really have a problem with it at bedtime- I think its a good sleep cue, and when he's old enough we will work on him giving him up (I could regret my decisions then!!!). The only problem is that he tends to stand up and throw them out of the cot and then cry for them- grr!!

[Jac]

I know this is a big no-no, but we tend to lie her down in her cot at night with a bottle and leave her to it it works, and it saves me tearing my hair out (it got really bad a while back and I was struggling to cope).

My over 2 year old still does this and I don't have a problem with it. We take the bottle away as soon as he's finished it so not sure why it's considered such a no-no?? He can settle without it, but REALLY likes it so I don't see why he can't have it! On the matter of the dummy, I agree that if she doesn't really need it, then I would remove it altogether. If she relies on it to settle, then go for it, I say (but never use away from the bed).

[Mum030709]

I say whatever works for you then do it!
Everybody has different ways of making things work in their family & what works for others might not work for you.
My eldest was quite attached to her dummy until she was 2 1/2yrs old & I was really surprised with how easy it was for us to get rid of it.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do