cold turkey or not??

[Olive]

DD is a very big thumb sucker, major dental issues already from it. DH and i decided from today- no more thumb, which is quiet hard as we cant throw it away so we tape it with sports tape. my question is its been ok til now as its nap time and she for the past 2 yrs has self settled with her thumb, should i untape it for sleeps for now until we break the awake time sucking then work on the naps or just go cold turkey?
those who have gotten rid of dummies, how did you go about it?

[BekZ]

Cold Turkey hon is the only way. Giving her the thumb only some times is like only smoking sometimes, the habit usually takes over and you are back to square one.

We used cold turkey when weaning dd1 off the dummy. Bedtime was hard for a month and I had to help her settle a little bit but in the end she forgot about the dummy very quickly. Goodluck sweets this maybe hard at the start but just keep thinking that it is the best thing in the long run.

[Olive]

thanks bek!! she has fallen asleep in record time already, im very shocked!! DH has this week offf which is why were doing it now, makes it easier on me!! lets see how tonight goes!
cold turkey it is!

[SugarDust]

I'm thinking of getting rid of Marcus's Dummy!

He only has it at night!

[angelaartsstudent]

I guess if you really wanted to you could paint a little bit of that stuff you get to stop nail biting on the thumb nail so it would taste bad when she goes to suck her thumb. It's totally non toxic and is used to stop children biting their nails. It just tastes really bitter. I sit on the fence as to whether it can be seen as "cruel" or not...but if it is causing her dental problems probably better for her to finish sooner than later.

I guess there are pros and cons to that method. The pro is that the thumb wouldnt get sucked. The con is she might really really hate the taste so much it might upset her or start sucking on a different thumb or finger. But it is made for kids so maybe ask for some more info at the chemist? I can only go by what was used to stop my sister sucking her thumb (habit went went school age) and stop me biting my nails! :-)

[MantaRay]

Wow, that's great that it's working so well. We might have to try that too. DS2 is 2 and also a big thumb sucker, although so far the dentist has told us not to worry about it as it's not doing any damage (I think it depends on the position of the thumb in the mouth or something?). But it would be great to have him stop and not have to worry about it. I'll be interested to see if it is as easy for you as it seems like it will be.

[Olive]

amanda we tried the nail biting stuff and no good, after a few bad sucks, it seems fine to her!! didnt work at all!! she's taking longer tonight and im not sure how many times she will wake during the night, but it needs to be done!!
Mel DD sucks hers upside down IYKWIM loooks uncomfy but not to her!!

[angelaartsstudent]

Oh well it was worth a try! :-) You must have one smart and determined little girl there- good on her for trying, I say! :-)

[Olive]

oohhh very determined still awake, been 90 mins since she went to bed!

[MantaRay]

Uh oh. Not quite so easy after all. Still it's only the first night. Hopefully tomorrow she will be fine.

[Nelle]

Ooer...we probably should be weaning Riv off his thumb too...betting $20 he'd be able to get any tape off though...

[Olive]

mel she took 2 hrs to go to sleep but not a peep all night!! so very happy!!!
nelle its up to you hun, we need to as she has really damaged her teeth, we used sports tape not bandaids and its very hard to remove!!

[Danni]

well done!!!

[MantaRay]

Wow Jols, that really is fantastic. If she get through the night on day 1 then I think you are set. Let's hope the 2 hours is 2 minutes tonight!

[Olive]

i hope so too!!
its weird seeing her without her thumb in!!

[Olive]

not going so well tonight which was expected!! no day sleep and still not sleep no, though stalling with the need to 'wee' wvery 5 minutes poor thing just want to suck her thumb!

[BekZ]

Just popping into offer some support. My DD1 is a very determined little girl too but she is very smart and learnt to self settle in other ways. I am sure your DD is the same and she be thumb free before you know it.

[Olive]

thanks bek!!! she didnt sleep yesterday but only took an hour last night, is refusing day sleep again today as well