I prefer a dummy too & I honestly think the child will decide themselves if they really want it. I gave DS one in the hosp & has always gone to sleep with it...but hand it to him any other time & he will bang it against the nearest object like it's just another toy.
I've been told (though haven't tried it), that you can attach the dummy to chain whilst sleeping so they can learn to find it themselves as they are only short chains. Me, I just have a couple in the bed & hope he will find one.