How to stop using a dummy?

[Rainbowbrite]

Looking for advice please.

MJ has a dummy, she's had it since 2 months of age. The question is, how do I get rid of it?

No offence but I hate them. I don't like looking at them, trying to find them in the middle of the night, replacing them during day time sleeps cause she's dropped it etc. I also don't like how everytime she makes a noise people say "she wants her dummy" or they just give it to her. She's not upset either, just "talking."

So looking for ways to do it. She's b/f so should i just pop her on if she gets upset?

Please help,

Thanks
RB

[Melski]

Hey there,

I can't stand the dummy either! We gave in and gave him one at 2 months b/c I felt he just wanted to suck from me ALL THE TIME, but nowI am up every 1.5 hours to replace the damn thing when he wakes and needs it to get back to sleep.

I personally found no easy way of weaning off the dummy. It was hard yakka of going cold turkey and putting to bed with no dummy, then intermittently comforting him until he went off to sleep without it. Things were bad (on and off) for around 2 weeks, having to stand there and pat for long periods. Worth it though, b/c he can now sleep without it which means I have to get up less - yay!!!

Good Luck!

Mel

[drewid]

Hi :)

I've read one way of weaning from the dummy:

Go slow. Introduce a new comfort item and use it every time bub is upset as well as the dummy. Ie a blankie or teddie - rub it against their cheek until they are calmer.

After a while using both, then slowly stop using the dummy - so maybe just use it at certain times - maybe only at night time, or only when out in public. Keep using the other comfort item.

The hope is that they will transfer their attachment to the new item and forget the dummy.

Not sure if it works, but its certainly what I try to do at the moment, although we are still at the first stage. Andrew has a little blankie with a teddy bear head on it, and we tuck it under his arm where he can see the teddy part. It seems to help!

Good luck!!

[Sarie]

Still trying to figure that one out myself :(

[JanetF]

My son voluntarily gave up his dummy in favour of the boob. I didn't care either way. It was easy. You can do that RB :) After all, boobs aren't just food, they're emotional comfort too and they were the original dummy, after all ;)

[Taddy]

Jayden is just over a year and he has had his dummy since 3 days old. He doesn't rely on it, he has a stuffed puppy for that. He doesn't fall asleep with it (majority of the time) and doesn't wake up wanting it. So really he is weaning himself off of it as with bottles, he prefers to drink out of cups or the bottles with the straws.

I can relate to when Jayden was younger and he wasn't upset but people would still stick his dummy in his mouth and they will stand infront of him holding the dummy teasing him. I hate that!!! Its mainly fiance's family.

Good luck anyway!

[kimmy]

Chloe is almost 8 months old & she has had a dummy since 3 days old but lately Ive been trying to get her off it too. I also don't like it it's always getting dirtier & I'm forever cleaning the stupid things i think its horrible. but i started only giving it to her for sleeps & every now & then when she is upset, lately she has been going to sleep with out it so hopefully its working. good luck!!!!!! :D

[Shazbutt]

My DD is 2 1/2 and has only been without her dummy for the last month and a half...we went cold turkey after she lost both of hers and didn't have any spares....we told her our dogs ate them, and she accepted it! I didn't have any dramas with her apart from when we went to the supermarket a couple of days afterwards and she wanted me to buy her a new one. She never even tried to steal her baby sister's....

Cold turkey is all right as long as you have the patience and determined-ness (is that a word!?) to keep it up....as Sarie will know, the hubbies are often the ones who give in! :rolleyes: lol

Sarie - JUST DO IT WOMAN!! LOL :D

Good luck Rainbowbrite, you'll figure out which way is the best way for your child, this time i will probably try to swap DD2's for a comfort item when she's big enough for a teddy, etc.....

[JessandKirra]

dd 7 months- I got in the habit of leaving it in the cot when she got up from a sleep and not giving it back to her until she went into the cot again. At the beginning I had to race in and grab it during the day, but it slowly got called fo r less and less. She still has it for sleep, but I find this a good sign to her to say its sleep time now. I am happy to keep it for sleep only for a year at least. She seems to not miss it so much in the cot as well. Just needs it for the that first few minutes.

People are popping it in, is because they can see it. Hide it away in your pocket in the baby bag or under the pram, when you are out. If people cant see it to pop it in, they are more likely to try other ways of comfort, talking to her, cuddling etc. Oh an if she cant see it-same thing, she may want it less.

You find you start offering it to them when thye dont even need it. I did it too. ITs like we a re reinforcing the habit.

Good luck.

PS I found cold turkey way way too hard. Screaming for three hours straight for three nights in a row nearly killed me! :D