Giving up the dummy
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4104
Printed Date: 29 June 2025 at 2:30pm
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Topic: Giving up the dummy
Posted By: PandTsMummy
Subject: Giving up the dummy
Date Posted: 17 October 2006 at 9:12pm
| Can anyone give me advice on getting my 2yr 9mnth old daughter to give up her dummmy? I have decided now is the time, but would love some advice on how to approach this as she is really attached to it and I'm not looking forward to the possible battle. |
Replies:
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 5:56am
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Hi Nicola,
I tackled this one wee while back with my daughter who was also really attatched to her dummy. I posted under the forum heading 'Kicking the habit' (which I have bumped up for you) and got some really good ideas from the Mums on here. For Ella, in the end we just threw the dummy away in front of her saying 'Now that you're a big girl, you don't need a dummy, do you?' and when she asked for it at night told her 'Its gone in the bin, remember? You don't need it now because you're a big girl.' It took about 3 nights and she hasn't wanted it at night since. The other night, watching one of the nanny shows I saw another great idea. They told the little girl that they were going to send all of her dummys away with the dummy fairy, for new little babies who needed them. And that in return the dummy fairy would leave her a surprise. They put all the dummys in a bag and tied it in the tree in the back yard that evening , and in the morning the 'dummy fairy' had replaced them with a new doll. Everytime she asked for her dummy after that they just reminded her where her doll came from. I hope these or the ideas in the other post help, good luck with getting rid of the dummy! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 18 October 2006 at 6:47am
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With ALan we gave him ones he did not like he woke up a few time's for it and we jsut left him he went back to sleep he is a bit younger the your girl tho so I am not too sue how if that would work.
sorry not really much help from me. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 19 October 2006 at 1:38am
We did a bit of a varient on the dummy Fairy thing- we got her to post her dummy to a baby that needed it repeating our catch phrase 'dummies are for babies and you're a big girl now'. She put it out the letter box (Dad distracted her and Mum whipped it away) and just reminded her about it whenever she asked for it. She got a special girl sticker in the morning that she got to wear all day and its now been 3 1/2 weeks since shes had it. The first couple of nights she was wakeful (so its a good idea to start on a Friday night so you have the weekend) but she soon got used to it. She now has a little hardcover book she likes to sleep with as thats what we used to distract her when she got upset about not having it. HTH!!  ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 19 October 2006 at 11:08am
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we are about to do the same with my 2.5 year old. she has gotten REALLY attatched to hers so im a bit nervous. im gutted because she gave it up when she was under a year old and i kept giving to her! argh! i dont even know why i did! anyway, my oldest girl had hers till she was 3 (only for bed though), one night hubby told her that she was a big girl and didnt need it anymore and she slept ok.... within the 3 night mark with us she was fine too. happily sleeping without it and when i showed it to her a few days later she said "ew yuck"
still... wee emma really loves it so im really not looking forward to it. but she does have other things which she cuddles at night like her blankie, doggy and a baby. goodluck nicola
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 19 October 2006 at 11:20am
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I heard of a 2yo whose mum gave her the "you're a big girl" speech and then they chopped it up and put it in the rubbish bin. She cried a bit the first night but no probs after then. All the best! If your girl doesn't have something else like a doll or blankie I would look at swapping. -------------  |
Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 21 October 2006 at 10:10pm
| My best friend's daughter was a dummy addict, and this is how they helped her kick the habit -- first, they took away all the dummies except one. After a few days of letting her get used to just having the one dummy, my friend took a pair of scissors and cut a tiny bit off the tip of the dummy. The next night, she cut a bit more off. She went on like this until her daughter started rejecting the dummy herself because it felt "different" in her mouth. Good luck -- let us know how you get on! |
Posted By: my4beauties
Date Posted: 22 October 2006 at 4:47pm
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My son was attached to his dummy very much as well. I always tried to just keep it for bedtimes, but if he found one lying around the house (I also had 2 or 3 at a time) he would put it in his mouth while he played or watched t.v. I daren't try take it out either!
Earlier on this year (he was about 2 ˝ yrs old) it was getting more & more of a nuisance as they kept on getting lost, so I would always be buying them. But one day I decided to just see what would happen if there weren't any at all & how he would react. I simply told him they were lost when he asked for it when he went to go to bed. I wouldn't make a big deal of it, but in a soft tone said "it's lost honey, now go to sleep" tuck him in & leave the room. I was really surprised at his reaction, he went off to sleep no hassle! He asked for it for a few days & I would tell him again it was lost in a soft tone & would change the subject or turn my back so there wouldn't be any chance for him to perform. We haven't looked back since! I must say it seems all us mums start to freak out with the thought of getting rid of their precious comforter, but I think we worry way to much & the children are fine with it being taken away. I had heard many a stories as to how to get rid of it, but sometimes it's the truth that's best.   [/IMG]
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Posted By: PandTsMummy
Date Posted: 22 October 2006 at 9:10pm
| Hi and thank you to all of you who responded to my request for advice on how to get my daughter to give up her dummy. Last night was the first night. We made a big deal of it and started with a dummy hunt around the house to collect up all of her dummies. We then put them in a special bag on the table for the 'dummy fairy to collect to give to babies who didn't have a dummy as she doesn't need it any more being a big girl and all'. We left them to be collected and a present was left in their place. This idea seemed to be very successful, she has only once asked for her dummy and we reminded her where they were now and she seemed happy with this. Tonight she didn't ask at all and went to bed really happily! My husband and I can't believe it, I thought she was so incredibly attached to her dummy that it would be a real battle. Thanks for all of your advice and support! |
Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 23 October 2006 at 10:02am
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wow nicola! sounds like you have done well and what a good wee girl you have.... hope it keeps on going great. gives me more motivation and encouragment to start on my girl.
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Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 24 October 2006 at 8:05am
k... last night we tried em without her dummy and she DID GO TO SLEEP! woohoo! she slept ok all night woke a few times a bit unsetlled but managed to go off to sleep again. so first night down and i just want to personally thank you nicola for giving me the movtivation! 
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Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 25 October 2006 at 8:21am
| second night down! woohoo! its not as hard as i thought it would be! emma is a bit upset at times but coping much better than i gave her credit for. hows it going with you nicola? |
Posted By: PandTsMummy
Date Posted: 28 October 2006 at 9:21pm
| Hi Rachel, congrats on getting your little girl to give up the dummy too. It's been a week now for us and it's been absolutely fine. My husband and I still can't get over how easy it was. She rarely asks after it and settles pretty well. She was just getting to the stage of getting in and out of bed before nodding off, so we have been using Diane Levy's 'pop in technique'and this has been working really, really well. She does cry a little more when tired, as before had her dummy to soothe her, but I'm really glad we did this and thanks for your support. I actually had a little 'sad'moment though as she now seems so much more grown up without one! Hope things are still going well for you. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 October 2006 at 9:59pm
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Good on you ladies! Sounds like your daughters are coping very well with growing up! ------------- |
Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 31 October 2006 at 6:42pm
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been a week now!
nic, i can realate to how you felt, i have felt sad too at times, it does make them seem more grown up aye?! emma has talked about her dummy, but saying its yucky and its all gone. kids are just amazing
big congrats to your girl. |