My children just turned two (they are twins), and I would like to start trying to wean them off their security blankets. Our doctor is concerned about their thumb sucking, and they only suck their thumbs when they have these in hand. He would like to see them not sucking their thumb by the time they are three, so there is no rush right now, I'm just looking for ideas!
Does anyone have any ideas about how to best proceed with this. My daughter would probably be ok to cold-turkey take it away, but my son would not EVER go to sleep without it. In fact, if during the night he drops it on the floor, he will whimper until we go in and give it back to him.
Any ideas appreciated! (By the way, I want to save these so they can have them in the future, so no drastic ideas like cutting a piece off each week!)
2006-10-13 08:49:16 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I would not worry about weaning them off the blankets right now. They are still very young and tend to need that security. As for the thumb sucking, my son stopped on his own but not til he was 4. When our daughter was born and started to suck her thumb, we traded that for a pacifier so that we would not have the same problem with her. They do make something that you can put on their thumb that is supposed to discourage thumb sucking but I am not sure if it works. When it is time for the blankies to go, the best thing (and hardest) would be to "lose" them. Put them away somewhere where the babies are not likely to find them and then when they are older you can still give them back. This is what I have done with my 2 oldest kids and it was hard for the first week or so but they will cope. Note though, that I didnt do this til they were around 3. Hope this helps
2006-10-13 09:04:17 · answer #1 · answered by eka77_95 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I seen a similar answer in the answers. My brother told me his friend was going through the same thing so when her baby was asleep at night she would cut just a little bit off of it till it was gone. I think its an ok idea but honestly I would just leave it.
My daughter is two and she's the same way she will only suck her thumb when she's got her stuffed toy in hand I don't see anything wrong with it. She did quit sucking her thumb when she broke her arm which was horrible for the whole family no sleep what so ever. She got her cast off today so I'm hoping she will suck her thumb again so we can all get a good night sleep.
I also sucked my thumb I was a bit extreme and sucked my thumb till I was 9. And my teeth are fine I'm 28 now and never needed braces I don't have buck teeth in fact the dentist use to take pics of my teeth cause they were so straight. So no need to worry.
2006-10-13 13:33:20 · answer #2 · answered by niknac 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Security blankets are transitional objects. The child will give up the blanket when s/he is ready. As for thumb-sucking, it would be better to determine the reason for this behaviour and deal with it. If you just take away the blanket when s/he is not ready, the thumbs are going to be welded firmly in his/her mouth!
As for suggestions that the blankets be cut up, hidden, 'disappeared' etc. that's a good way to go- begin lying to your child when s/he's really young, that way it won't be noticed as s/he grows up!
2006-10-13 09:14:19 · answer #3 · answered by kerangoumar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let them keep them. If they bring them places and you want them to stop that tell them they should stay in the car to keep the car safe. When they are OK with that try telling them something like it is the blankets nap time and they need to stay home in bed and sleep. The thumb sucking part I can't help you with my youngest is three and does it all the time. Good luck.
2006-10-16 07:18:08 · answer #4 · answered by applecrisp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know who told you that he's too old for a bottle. Now three would be too old in my opinion. You may have it harder to wean him now. Try playing up to the 'big boy' drinking out of a sippy cup during the day and give him a bottle of water at night.
2016-05-21 23:28:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cold turkey is the only way to go. My daughter, now 4, had one, and I just 'disappeared' it one day. She and I looked for it together until she got tired, and we did that a couple of times until she gave up finding it and moved on. Just be sincere. Let them see you look behind the pillows, in and under their bed, open cupboards, rummage through drawers, look on the backporch, garden, car,... and they will cry for a while but the search will be exhausting at that age, and their memory span is still short, and they will forget it before you know it.
2006-10-13 09:10:26 · answer #6 · answered by Amber B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
why is the doctor concerned about thumb sucking in babies? and WHY would one advocate taking away a child's security? I suggest finding another doctor...
2006-10-14 20:37:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it would be mean to take away their blankies. Mine still have theirs, my oldest is seven and it's in rags, but she snuggles with it when watching tv and at bedtime. and incidently her thumb sucking hasn't hurt her a bit, the dentist couldn't even tell she was a thumb-sucker till I told him.
2006-10-13 11:58:03 · answer #8 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I took my daughter's "Binky" away I told her that If she put all her binkies under the tree on christmas eve, Santa would come and take them and leave her presents instead. She hasn't asked about a binky since.
2006-10-13 10:16:01 · answer #9 · answered by cnagreys4me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I ,m sorry I don,t have a solution thats going to allow you to keep the blanket intact.
2006-10-13 17:33:36 · answer #10 · answered by ~♥ L ♥~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋