Tips on how to get DD off the dummy.

tiamai_d

We were lucky with DS1, he got that thing where you get coldsores in your mouth and down your throat (not coldsores and not hand, foot and mouth, can't remember the name but it was prolific for about 6months in our area). Anyway, it was too painful for him to use the dummy, plus I binned them all (to stop the spread) and just never got any more. He was almost 2.

With DS2, we stopped it during the day, nap times and bed time only. Then when he was about 18 months I lost his night time one so he was sent to bed without. Cried a few nights but soon got over it. He did then find one a fe wmonths later but I was mean mummy and binned it.

I wouldn't worry about her speech yet, but the sooner the oppertunity to speak with the dummy in her mouth is removed, the better. Meaning take it off her during the day as this is the first step no matter what way you choose to wean her off it.

moiramber

I'm thinking about getting rid of my sons dummy's as he wants them all the time and I've heard it's easier to get rid of them young but am wetting myself about doing it! I can't stand the thought of the crying

VeganClaire

If you are worried about her speech ask for a referal to a speech and language therapist, via GP, health visitor, sure start, nursery (or you can self refer as there is an open refeal policy). They will be able to give you detailed information about what speech sounds are typical for her age, what sounds should be developing and what sounds will develop a little later. Speech and language therapist will have detailed knowledge on the way in which children typically simplify words, so can tell you what is usual and give advice/input for anything unusual.They can also check her language is typically developing. They will also look at her play etc as they try to assess the child as a whole (they don't do full play assessments but will refer on if they think it is necessary).Hope this is helpful.

beccam

DD's went at Christmas...filled her stocking with them then Santa took them and left her a special Glo Fairy in her stocking so she would be comforted at night. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GLOE-GLOW-FAIRY-BLUE-BEDTIME-SPARKLE-FAIRIES-KYLIE-NEW_W0QQitemZ160336851904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Soft_Toys_Bears?hash=item2554d233c0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A2%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A24 Hideous looking thing but my child loves tacky stuff!!

We did things the other way round and took dummy away at night time before getting rid altogether, figured night time was the hardest bit so get it over quick plus DD still needed a nap during the day but never would have had one without her dummy.
Also meant she actually had days with no dummy at all as if we were out and busy she didn't want it so made things easier when they went for good.

You do have to make sure they are ALL gone, took us an hour to search our (very small) house and locate the hidden stashes!

Had a rough day or two but after that no problems, best to do it over a busy few days so they don't think about it during the day and then are shattered at night so fall asleep quick enough anyway.

alison999

my dd gave hers up when she was 3 i waited until it desperately needed replacing and she bought it to me saying diddy broken, and that was that, diddy was broken, end of. she only asked for it once that night but i just explained that it was broken and there was nothing that mummy could do to fix it.

louisewh123

we told ours he had to leave out for farther christmas on xmas eve . . .

you could try the birthday fairy/present fairy/dummy fairy e.t.c get them to leave it out on the night and a present will be waiting for them in the morn!!

shimmershelly

My DD loved her doodoos, however on her third birthday she threw them all in the bin herself, we told her three was big girl and big girls didn't have dummies. She went for it 100%, and was so busy being excited about being three she didn't miss it (she hadn't had it in the daytime from two though, only at night).
It's sweet to think about her with her doodoos now, she is almost 14 lol!

BitterAndTwisted

I dunno, it seems like such a small thing which gives such comfort and I don't understand why it needs to be such a big deal that they're taken away if the child isn't ready. I don't know of a single child who started school with one.

If you're determined to get rid of them, make a long-term plan and ease your child into the idea that they will go when the child is big enough, maybe her fourth birthday or first day at kindergarten/play-school or something. Just keep mentioning that big girls don't need them any more nd that hers will go when she's big as well and work together towards the goal you've set. It would be helpful if there are other small children that she knows who don't have them any more either.

ETA: The speech: all little ones develop at their own pace so there's no rule-book. You know you child best and if you're happy with her developing commiunication skills then I'm sure there's no need to worry. I used to nanny for a family whose youngest child started speaking very, very late but then he didn't need to talk there were two parents and two siblings to do his bidding whenever he pointed at what he wanted. Once he started we couldn't make the dear boys stop. He barely spoke a word properly until he was past three

michelefauk

Hi
I would just add that if you do decide to go cold turkey, start it on a Friday night as it is much easier to do it when you arent worrying about sleepless nights then school/nursery next day. And get rid of all of them in the house, car, handbag etc as if you are faced with a screaming child at 3 am it is so easy to give in! I agree that if you go down the slow withdrawal route, make sure the dummy stays in the bedroom, and it does not come downstairs.
My DD2 had one at nighttime until she was nearly 3, then DD1 who was babysitting her text me while I was at the cinema to say she had put DD2 to bed and she hadnt asked for her dummy so she didnt give it to her, and she has never asked for it since! If DD2 sees a photo of herself with her dummy in, she literally cringes and says she "doesnt like to see that baby with a dummy!" Very strange!
re the speech, I wouldnt worry too much about that, DD2 who is 4 now and has a fantastic vocabulary and is an excellent talker still pronounces /v/ as /b/, I am not worried about it at all.

HTH, good luck! and it really won't be as bad as you think, honestly!

Buttonmoons

Thanks for all the good ideas!

I don't intend to take it off her cold turkey, seems cruel, and it's not like she understands why she can't have it, she knows that they are for babies, but apparently blue dummies are for babies and the pink ones she has are for "KEIRA'S"

So far I'm just keeping her occupied when her dummy is out of her mouth, it's when she starts getting sleepy/grumpy then she wants her dummy, and she will just sit down and stroke the plastic when it's in her mouth. I guess it's like some children rubbing blankets on their face.


I feel better knowing that most kids mispronounce words, it's that people were commenting on, but I did think most children can't pronounce every word, If I remember right my 5yo sister still lisps some words like "house" it sounds more like "houssshhhh"

Next time someone mentions it, I will probably bite their head off, seems really rude to be commenting on her speaking at any rate, especially when there is nothing wrong with it!