Would you introduce a dummy after 2years?

[Lilyloo]

DD has never wanted a dummy, (god knows we tried) but she pretty much would just spit it out from day one....

She's now just over two, and as a last resort the other night, when she wouldn't settle, we tried the dummy again...

She took it, and is now obsessed!!! She wants it 24/7 and will scream ifor 'my dummy' if we take it away!!

Have I done the right thing?

Should I just get rid of it, whislt it's all still new, or stick with it, as it helps with settling?? :confused:

Anyone else introduced a dummy at this age?

[NonnyMouse]

Eeek! Sounds like you may have just made a rod for your back!

I guess if you're OK with her having one, and you're prepared to go through weaning her off when you're ready, then you've done the right thing for both of you.

[Purplebird]

I tried to get DD to take a dummy from when she was about 6 weeks old, but she wasn't interested. She finally took it at 10 months and it was a godsend! She is now 2.5 years and only has it for sleeps, but it has honestly saved her and me many times. I have used it as a bribe, a comfort, it has helped us when we travelled to the UK, etc, etc. Having said that, I would like to get rid of it by the time she is 3. I think that by then she will be able to understand the 'dummy fairy' thing.

I'm not sure if I'd be keen to introduce one at her age, but If it really is the only thing helping her settle then is it such a bad thing? Can you limit it to night sleeps and just stick to that maybe?

[~Temet Nosce~]

Honestly.. if it helps her sleep.. I'd be all for it.

But ONLY at night..

[bAaM]

My personal opinion would be to get rid of it and do it asap.

My DD was hooked on her dummy until about 2 months ago (she is 2 and a half) and i HAD to go cold turkey with it cause it was bucking her teeth.

I think there fine as a bub but if possible try and get rid of them around 2yrs cause they can and will cause problems with there teeth.

Have you tried maybe a sookie blanket or a stuffed toy she picks out for bed time?

[BabelFish]

I think it depends on the baby, but as a rule I wouldn't introduce one at an age where attachment can really become an issue.

Having said that, perhaps she will reject it just as suddenly as she's acquired. You never know!

[Mrs Potts]

My personal opinion would be to get rid of it and do it asap.

Have you tried maybe a sookie blanket or a stuffed toy she picks out for bed time?
I agree.

[Miriam]

I agree with Kia Kai. I don't see what the big deal is about having a dummy at night time over the age of two. Heck, I'm envious. My DD is 28 months old, is still breastfed to sleep and wakes 3-5 times through the night and has to be fed back to sleep. I would kill for her to take a dummy but she refuses it.

The suckling instinct is still normal at that age. A dummy is no different to breastfeeding IMO.

I say go for it if it makes life easier :thumbsup:

[TripleTime]

If it helps her to sleep, go for it.

Maybe when christmas come she can give it Santa to give to a baby. My cousin still had his at 4 until he gave it to DS a few weeks ago 'cause he needed it.

[Lilyloo]

Thanks for your replies... yes, I've strictly limited it to bed time, but you know what 2 year olds are like, they're clever little things, and stubborn, and it's not always that easy to reason...

If we can keep it to sleep time, I think we'll be ok! :)

[~BEXTER~]

I think at 2 she is to old for a dummy.

That's when most kids get rid of it, not start on it.

I think you are making a huge mistake, Do you really want your daughter sucking on a dummy at 3 or 4?

She is a big girl now, I would offer a blanket or teddy go shopping and let her pick it.

and I would be worried about her teeth as well.

[~Temet Nosce~]

If it is only at night, does it really matter?
My 2 year old is no where near ready to give up her night dummy.. but I really don't care because she only has it in the privacy of her own bed at night away from judging eyes.
And I get sleep.. so we are all happy. :D
For the record, my dd has no teeth problems whatsoever. And her speech is perfect, people always comment on how well spoken she is for a 2 year old. ;)

[Chunkydunks]

If its helping to settle her then why not. DS didn't give up his dummy until he was 3, yes he had a gap in his teeth from it but its now corrected itself and even the dentist told me all I had to do was make sure it was gone before 5 or 6.

Does she have a comfort toy or blanket of any sort? If not what I did with DS was take him shopping to buy a stuffed toy to replace his dummy and it worked fairly well in getting him off the dummy.

[lochiebearsmum]

i dont believe 2 is a big girl!! they have only been in this big wide world for a little while!! if thats what she wants and its at night then i wouldnt worry... my son has it and he is 2.. its a rule only at night and in the car but i keep a spare one in my bag incase he gets hurt! if she enjoys it then what does it matter?!

[~BEXTER~]

I understand kids have a dummy at 2, Keiara did till 2.5 but I didn't start it at 2 she had it from a baby.

I think there are other things that can be done then getting her use to a dummy at such a old age.

2 is when most people start trying to stop the dummy not introduce it.

the op asked for a opinion this is mine.

[BabelFish]

I don't think it's too old at all, little girls of 2 need comforting as much as babies and as much as little girls of 6 or even big girls of 15! Whatever is age appropriate is fine, and a dummy is age appropriate for a 2-year-old.

And there is no need to start worrying about her teeth unless she has it a LOT and she has it until she's five or six years old.

[anniemum]

My 2 year old DD still has her dummy, but only when she sleeps (and she usually spits it out once she's asleep), and sometimes in the car. I don't see it as a problem. But every now and then she wants it more, which I don't like, but as long as its in the privacy of our own home I usually let her (but I try to sneak it off her if she puts it down when she's not looking :laughing:). I don't let her have it when we go out and she seems to accept this. I think as long as she doesn't have it in her mouth all the time its ok. And I agree that at 2 they still need their comfort things. I thought the whole 'dummy ruins kids teeth' thing was an old wives tale :confused:

[Chunkydunks]

it can permanently damage their teeth if they have it for too long. DS developed a gap between his top and bottom teeth because the dummy was in his mouth a fair bit. the dentist knew straight away that he had a dummy. But because we stopped it well before his permanent teeth are due to come in it gave his teeth time to move back to the way they should be. He no longer has that gap.

[SammieSnail]

I wouldn't be introducing a dummy at that age.
DS1 had a dummy from 1 week old to around 6 months and I think it was the best thing to get rid of it when we did. He is 2.5yo now and there is no way I would be introducing something like that now only to have to take it away again.

DS2 is only 6 days old and we've been tossing up whether to even give him one. I finally caved today and bought him some, but I will do the same and remove it at 6 months.

I agree with those who say to introduce something like a blankie or teddy that doesn't ever have to be removed :)

[Myztiks#1Fan]

personally, no i wouldnt introduce a dummy at 2yrs of age. i would try to find something else for her but you know what, what ever works well for you, go ahead. if having a dummy makes your life easier and makes your DD happy, who is to complain as i certainly wouldnt be.

good luck with what you decide to do.

[2 Cherubs]

My daughter from day one has never taken a dummy altho I tried many times and many different dummies:banghead:
She is now 16mths and still try I and give her one every now and then because its the last resort to see if it will settle her.

I can understand your reason to want to use one even at her age because when I see Abbey suck on a dummy I get all excited and think she may take it after all and that it will be the beginning of a new more settled daughter but *sigh* nope she still wont take it...

If its something she associates bedtime with then go for it!

[gamsarah]

I would be double-checking your problem and any advice you read in this thread with your dentist. Dental problems last a hell of a lot longer than problems settling at night. They can be debilitating in terms of self-esteem and even pain and oral-motor function. Not an issue to be taken lightly.