any ideas on how to wean a child off the dummy

Melanie - posted on 04/29/2009

My little girl threw her them (all 3) in the dustbin after she dropped one in a puddle. They were gross - I refused to buy any new ones for about 6 months. Of course I'd continue to wash and sterilize them but in the end it had to be her decision. She was 3 and a half at the time. We'd try to take them away before but the screaming didn't stop for about 2 weeks - and that was when she turned 2. Every now and then she'll mention that she still misses her dummies, especially at nap or bedtime, but then we just gently remind her that they were rather disgusting and how proud we are of her for being such a big girl.
I'm expecting now and I'll use a dummy again, they do need to learn to self soothe and a dummy is part of that but I'll try and take it away a lot earlier, rather the dummy than the thumb - can't take their thumbs away.

I guess they have to make the decision to let it go. You can try limiting use, to sleep times and they can learn other important mechanisms to cope while they're awake.
Good luck! It's not an easy one - like any of them are lol!

Sarah - posted on 04/28/2009

Okay, I have never heard the term "dummie" before but I guess you are referring to a pacifier. My kids never took them and I am glad for this very reason. They cause more problems than they are worth. I have a friend that cut of the plastic part that goes in the mouth. They did that on all the pacifiers. Pretty soon their son just realized they were broken and gave up. You might try that. There is also a liquid you can put on them available at the store. It's the kind you can put on toes and fingers to prevent nail biting. Not sure of the name of it. From what I have heard it tastes terrible and is a little hot on the tongue. Pretty soon she will realize they taste awful and won't want them anymore.

You really should get those out of her mouth soon. Otherwise she will have speech delays (if not already), tooth decay and food attachments (because she always has to have something in her mouth)... this could lead to obesity. Good luck!

Helen - posted on 04/28/2009

i agree try cutting a tiny bit off each time so they become useless and they give up with them but do it soon before it really starts affecting their speech

Tanya - posted on 04/28/2009

HI there my boy was the same he used to walk around with one all the time then one day he popped it so i never replaced it as i thought he would not like it and give it up, But that never happened he stated popping them all as he liked it better. then when he was 2.5 yrs it came time for the easter bunny to visit and as he has a sweet tooth this worked a treat i told him that he had to leave the dummy on his beside table so that the bunny will take it and replace it with a big chocolate egg because the easter bunny only visit big boys, He was so excited in the morning saying that he was a big boy now the first night getting him to sleep i thought i was going to have to give it back to him but he settled really quickly.........Now i have a 18month old that is always sucking her thumb and holding a blanky ANY IDEAS?????? goodluck

Krisanne - posted on 04/26/2009

Ithink the most easier thing is to replace it with something else toy soft toy or blankie that will be my next step apart from potty training this summer what i am going to do what a challenge i am looking foward to it ha ha not.

Tamara - posted on 04/26/2009

Mention that older kids she sees when you are out don't have them. Then show her tiny babies who do. Repeatedly do this and tell her she's growing from one to the other and won't need them soon. She may want to visit a local hospital to "share" them with the new babies at some point. Good luck, mom!! :-)

Mary - posted on 04/26/2009

The dummie fairy worked on my two year old boy although boys are stupid! a little girl might not fall for burying dummies in the garden to wake the next morning to a flower blooming in their place. my boy did dig the flower up later that day but it worked.

April - posted on 04/26/2009

My pediatrician suggested taking a razor blade and cutting a small sliver off the the nipple to where you have a tiny hole in it and they can't get the suction as well. He says to trim it slightly every five days. I cut my daughters once and the first time she tried to use it, she pulled it out of her mouth and looked at it like what is wrong with this thing. It probably didn't take more than a week or two and she wasn't using it any longer

Rebecca - posted on 04/25/2009

i have tried taking it off her but after two weeks of continues crying i was beside myself i talked to the midwife and she says that my daughter uses the dummy as her comfort thing and without it she show's signs of separation anxiety please i'm willing to try anything

Lisa - posted on 04/25/2009

Oh no you poor thing its very hard i have had 6 kids 2 didn't worry about dummies the rest did my 3 year old still has one and i can't get it off her my 2 year old has one but i think only because his sister does we tried santa the easter bunny the ducks at the park...I am at the stage now once my baby gets the rest of his teeth i will just take them and have to have a few sleepless nights.The 1st thing to do is check the house they seem to have them hidden everywhere make sure there is none around i found the best thing is not to replace it with anything just take it tell them you can't find any in the house and the shop has run out.I even tried telling my daughter to take hers to the hospital and to give it to the new babies that need it nothing worked...Good Luck buy some ear plugs lol