weening off dummy

My 6 mth daughter sleeps with a dummy. Sometimes she wakes 2 - 3 times during night, crying for lost dummy. Its a bit of a pain, and I am thinking of weening her off the dummy. A friend of mine is having alot of trouble with her 2 yr old as he keeps stealing his baby sister's dummy. So my question is: Is it easier to ween a younger baby off dummy than a toddler? I would also appreciate any tips or stories.

Hi, my 10 month old boy has always slept with a dummy. We did go through a stage of him waking for it and I would go in a pop it back in, but now he can find it himself and maybe once a night I have to go in as it has gone on the floor. They do make a thing which you can attach the dummy too then attach it to their pj's so it can't go very far. Apparently there is also one that glows in the dark. I haven't tried to wean him from it yet as I thought I would leave it until after he is one. We only use it for sleeping now (or if he is really grumpy). Good luck with your decision anyway.

Hi Pamela,

ahhhh I posted the same question last week. I tried to ween Liana off the dummy last week, as she too is not sleeping at the moment due to a lost dummy. I was surprised at how easily she did go to sleep without it, it only took 5 minutes of a slight grizzle and she was off to sleep. The next sleep was the same. I thought I'd achieved my goal!!! pppfffttt who I was kidding???? at the night sleep she lost it completely...... So she got her dummy back.
I decided that she only has it now for her sleep (it stays in her cot, and she spits it out if it's still in her mouth when I pick her up). Sometimes she will only have it for 10 mins whilst she settles. Some of my friends have told me they have babies that have always had a dummy to settle and they sleep straight through the night. So I'm a bit like you, in some ways I want to ween and see if Liana will sleep without it. Or let her have it and see if starting solids will stretch her for a few extra hours of sleep at night.

it's all a 'try it and see'

Kez

Pamela,

you and I seem to have the same issues with our little treasures, here's my email address if you'd like to stay intouch kcapp70@hotmail.com

Thanks smile

Hi and thanks for your replies. I guess Im a little scared to make the "no dummy" committment, so am feeling out how and what other mums are doing. I dont see anything wrong with dummy, but am sick of getting up in night just to retrieve it. Im also thinking of the future and wondering if it will be a bigger battle with a toddler. I will keep you posted.

Kez, thanks for your email. It does seem we have similar issues. I will email you and we can compare notes.

Pamela.

Hi Pamela. My 9 month old loves his dummy too and there will come a time when he will be weaned off. Im just waiting for his top teeth and then I might start weening the daytime sleeps. We will see because they do help to settle baby quicker.

Hi JZ, It's not a bad idea, starting with daytime sleeps. I may try that. Is your little one teething at moment? I have yet to experience that.

Hi Pamela. Yes he is teething and Im waiting for the top teeth to come through so he wakes a few times during the night somenights, actually most nights. So the dummy is extremely useful for re settling, if he is still crying with dummy in the mouth I give panadol. Its hard when he cant tell me he is in pain. He tries to bite everything including his highchair!