Trying to get DD2 off the dummy

[ubba82]

So as I sit here typing this DD2 is in her cot screaming. DH and I have decided it's time to get her off the dummy cause she keeps waking during the night. As soon as we give her the dummy she is fast asleep again. This has been happening between 3-5 times a night.

Ok so it's been 10 minutes and she is still screaming. I have been in 3 times already, her cries are turing into hysterics - sobbing etc. I'm really struggling with this as we don't usually let her cry like that. Whinging and sooking we let her go but when they are really sad cries I never let her get like that. I'm really feeling crappy at the moment because she is like this becasue of my own selfish reasons in wanting her off the dummy so I don't have to get up to her of a night time..

I caved and gave her the dummy. I know it wasnt the right thing to do casue I had been telling her dummy is gone. Im really at a loss as to what I should do right now. You'd think after 3 kids I'd have a clue...

Even with her dummy she got so upset she is still crying so I have got her up. She is sitting on her flip out couch having a drink of water and watching telly. Her poor little face is all blotchy from crying - man I feel bad :-(

Ok, so I have put her back to bed cause she kept lying down on her couch closing her eyes. And I put her to bed with her dummy... She is fast asleep and will probably sleep for a couple of hours as she usually does.

What strategies would you use to wean her off the dummy? Should I even try yet?

[Arimeh]

I'm not going to try and take the dummy away from DD2 until she is older and can donate it to the fairies like DS did

Some days its the only thing that keeps me sane and from her from whinging at my feet all day (and in my arms, and in bed... etc etc etc) so I'm not taking away that bit of peace just yet!!

So my point is - I have no suggestions cos DS was nearly 3 when we took his away for good.

[Hannahbanana]

We just got rid of DD2's dummy. She is 18months old and I don't usually try to take them away till at least 2yo. The only reason we took it away is beacuse she bit the end off it!! We have a rule that once that happens thats it. No more dummys. So what I did was give her the dummy part without the end, there was enough on it for her to grab on with her teeth, and we just kept saying 'dummy broken'. She whinged heaps about it when it happened and kept putting it in her mouth and looking at it. I gave it to her that night for bed time and sat with her till she went to sleep and then in the morning I went to give it to her again after breakfast and she chucked it on the floor and hasn't worried about it again
I have read of people just snipping the end off enough so that it isn't enjoyable for them to suck anymore and gradually keep cutting till there is hardly any left. Don't know if I would recommend it but I suppose thats kind of what we did except all at once IYKWIM!

[ladybird11]

DD was the dummy girl in our house, she always was too - but we only gave it to her at sleep / nap times.

If she lost it thru the night she never woke up because of it though, so i'm lucky in that sense.

About 2-3 mths ago 'the dummy fairy' came for a visit to give the dummy to little kids that really needed it. I don't think DD 'got' the story, but after a few nights of her asking for dummy when going to sleep, I just said 'no darling, you're a big girl now' and she went off to sleep with no fuss.

Like Mel, DD was almost 3 when we took her dummy away so I have little suggestion....other than to offer light at the end of the tunnel .

[ubba82]

Thanks for your replies. After sitting here for a while thinkibg about it ive decided im not going to take it away fron her just yet. Shes still little, 13 months and i just feel like a big meany.
The older 2 had their dummy until they were 3, i guess im just trying to hurry DD2 along before the new baby comes - not sure why

[ladybird11]

I get ya Ubba - DH wants to hurry both kids, but especially DD into toilet training before number 3 comes along, but I keep reminding him if she aint ready we'll be banging our head against walls till she IS ready.

So I think you've made the right decision hun!

[LizLemon]

Hiya

I tried to take DS's dummy from him about a month ago (when he turned 18 months) and started during the day but even if he could eventually get off to sleep the moment he woke up a bit looking for it he'd get upset then nap time would be over and he;d be feral for the rest of the day. I decided to hold off until he was old enough to understand that it was going away for good.

Since about 8 months we have used one of those little cord things that attach the dummy to a shirt or sleeping bag. It is short enough that it's not a strangulation hazard and they learn pretty quick how to find the dummy during the night. We rarely have to get up in the middle of the night for "plug" issues! Maybe try one of those if you're not already?