FYI, I didn't have a dummy BUT I sucked my thumb until I was 8y/o. My Mum encouraged me to stop, but didn't want to pressure me. I put a lot of pressure on myself though, because at 8 y/O I was too afraid to go on sleepovers in case my friends discovered that I was a thumb-sucker. I don't know how, but at some point I just stopped sucking and settled myself to sleep without it. At least the dummies can be removed...thumbs can't!
We havent admitted to be addicted to dummies. Still in the denial phase and not accepting that we need help.
On a helpful note to others, DD has a soft cuddle toy that I tell her to go and get and give a cuddle to whch she does and it calms her down quite quickly.
If it helps anyone at all - DS was ridiculously addicted to his and gave it up just before he turned 3. A couple of days asking for it, and then being explained to that the dummy fairy took it - and heres a present for being such a good boy - he gave it up quite easily.
So even if the mountain seems to big to climb guys - it may not be as bad as you are expecting. Just buy lots of little presents around from the "dummy fairies" for them being so big and brave at giving up their dummies
Ds is 21 months and he only has his for sleeps. During the night he tends to spit it out and then doesn't use it again. Because he's still young I wasn't bothered about rushing to get rid of it but after reading all the posts, maybe I should get rid of it now so we don't have dramas later??!!
A friend of mine did the fairy thing but wasn't thorough enough in finding them all, so for weeks after they'd tackled the problem her DD kept appearing with them in her mouth after she'd found them in random places around the house.
Dan - Maybe get rid of both at once hun?? DD is such a clever poppet - you know she will swipe DS' don't you?!! that way you don't have to go through it all over again when he needs to get rid of his??
I know someone else who actually took photos and created a special book about giving the dummies to the babies - including photos of her DD, a bit too much effort as far as I'm concerned (read: lazy mama ) but whatever works!!!
BellaBambina - mine has a soft toy too!! It changes every few weeks but she won't sleep without it! Same with J who also has his teddy that he is very attached too but no dummy for him thanks goodness!
JM - DD's dummy falls out of her mouth all the time while she is sleeping and that is why we are up a million times a night. Drives me nuts because J sleeps through from 7-7 but she will lose the dummy in the night and wake us up to help her find it. 4 weeks - it's GOING!!!!
We're trying to introduce a toy for Sam to cuddle in order to replace the dummy - not really working just yet. But I'm also quite happy to say that he's still really little and I won't really be trying too hard until he's older.
Tanstar - Our DD's were born in the same month I realised looking at your sig (May 2007). Mine just uses her dummy to fall asleep but usually it falls out and if she wakes up in the night she puts it back in herself, but I think most of the time once it falls out, she doesn't use it again until morning when she wakes up and has a suck I think I would go postal if I had to get up and find her dummy all night long.
DD still has a dummy. Ive weaned her down to only sleeps now and next step will be only sleeps at home, not out. I did the same with DS and once he turned 3, it may sound cruel but it worked.. we told him once you turn 3 if you have a dummy your teeth will fall out. It worked though. He asked for it the first night i took it away and i reminded him theyre gone, and that was it. He was fine since. So, if nothing changes with DD, ill prob try the same trick.
Thank you all for the support! Nice to know I'm not alone with a toddler with a crack-like addiction to the dummy. We haven't made a big deal out of it, just stopped giving it to her, trying to give her lots of cuddles and support instead .... get kicked a lot these days though
She has suddenly developed a thing for a little pink blankie she has had since she was born and will cuddle up on the couch with a blankie now. Helps in the evening but it's not the same. She does seem to be sleeping a fair bit better without it, so hopefully it has been worth it.
For those with long term dummyholics, my younger brother had a dummy till he was 8
DS went cold turkey when he was just over 3! DH cut the tops off them all and DS said they were broken. It didn't stop him trying to buy new ones every time we went to a chemist though LOL He tried for about a month but now is over them.
DD1 was an addict until 4 when the dentist told her to give up so she gave the dummies - she had 4 - to the ducklings. We had them attached to little bears to try to get her to cuddle them but it didn't work. She gave them up when she was ready, and we said that school girls don't have dummies.
DD2 looks like she'll be doing the same. Since she is only 14 months, I'm not too worried yet.
DS2 is 3 in less than a month and he still has them. We had them all over the house. I rounded up all the ones that had gone flat/started to wear out and when I counted them we had 17!! Plus the 4 new ones. They are the only way he will settle at night quickly so Im not keen to give them up just yet But Christmas will definitely be the end of it. That said though we have a 6yo that still sucks her thumb...
Another member of the dummyholic club here ... DS1 (2 1/2) only uses his for sleep BUT not only must he have a "nummy" in his mouth, oh no ... he has to HOLD another nummy in his hand!! And he's sucks them so hard they go flat within several hours. I check the teats to be sure he doesn't pull them off the handle, but goodness me I wish I could kick him of the habit. I like the idea of the dummy/nummy fairy taking them and leaving a little gift in return ...
It worked though. He asked for it the first night i took it away and i reminded him theyre gone, and that was it. He was fine since. So, if nothing changes with DD, ill prob try the same trick.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks