I took Lindsay's dummy off him at about 8 months because he just didn't need it and I don't even think he noticed it was gone.

Erin on the other hand, had hers until she was 2 and 2 months and we asked her to give it to Santa to give to another little girl. We only did this because she was starting to talk with it in her mouth and we didn't want her to develop language issues (don't know if she would've, but didn't want to find out). She will occasionally sleep with her toy dog though.

Paige has callouses on her thumb from sucking it (which she does when she is tired) and her blanket. We had to take the blanket on holidays with us too. We are not worried about her having either of these comforters, but if the thumb sucking starts to interfere with her teeth, then we will have to get her to stop.

I agree that they make life easier though and if it is their only comfort, why should we take it off them before they are ready IYKWIM?