How do i stop my 7 year old son using a dummy?

Question

I can't stop him using a dummy for bed, he does not use it any other time of the day except at night. When i have tried to stop he stays awake really late and won't sleep.

Answer 1

COLD TURKEY!!
MWHAHAHAHAH!!!

on a more serious note, try and convince him that he's a 'big boy' and 'big boys don't use dummies'

Answer 2

I know you probably initially thought you were being kind to allow him to use the dummy but there are limits and you have strayed far over those limits by many years.....To a large extent you have been somewhat lazy in allowing him to dictate his intention to keep using the dummy and now you have to a certain extent made a rod for your own back......It's time to sit him down and explain that as he is now far too old to be using a dummy and what on earth would his friends say to him if they ever found out he still used it......Throw the thing away so there is no hope of him ever having it again........Give him a bath just before his bedtime and give him a small milky drink which will aid him to sleep and read him a short story.......make this a regular habit for the time being,after the story leave him alone, do not keep returning to the bedroom.......It might take a will of iron on your part to stick to this but that is what it takes at times.........eventually he will adapt to this routine, kids like routines, it makes them feel safe......

Answer 3

try putting mustand on the dummy or something else that he doesn't like the taste of. Or try what my friend did if he still believes in easter bunny. She told her daughter last year that the easter bunny had written to her (and she knocked up a letter on the computer) and told her that he couldn't leave any easter eggs this because he had no money. But if the children left out their dummies the easter bunny would be able to sell them and then he would be able to bring easter eggs to all the children, including her little one. The more dummies that she left out, the more easter eggs the child would get. However, 7 might be a little bit old for that.
I think that it is best to just put nasty tasting things on the dummy and perhaps rub the dummies on scouring pads or something else rough so they wear out really quick and then tell your son that you are not allowed to buy anymore because your child has to be under 5 for you to buy them, get all your friends and family to say the same thing too.

Answer 4

Try the super nanny way. Make a big fuss by saying a new baby has now been born that needs the dummy, And that he needs to give his up. Then you make a little bag together to put it in. (go out and choose the material together) Then he needs to hang it from a tree before he gos to bed at night and in the morning the fairy's will have swapped it for a little present. Play it like a big game but make sure he knows the dummy is really needed else where.

It's a strange one but does work.

Answer 5

Hi, sometimes you have to be cruel t be kind. I took my daughters dummy off her when she was 2. For the first 2 weeks she scremed blue murder if we went past boots as she knew thats where I brought her "Nunnies" From. She looked at me with her big blue eyes but I had to make her go cold turkey. I had a dummy till my big teeth came though I was 9 I think, then i sucked my thumb due to the reliant on dummy. I had to have braces till i was 15 as i pushed my teeth forward. Tell him hes a big boy now. You might get 2 weeks of hell but its worth it in the end. The longer you leave it the harder it will be. You dont want a 15 yr old with a dummy. I wish u luck

Answer 6

If you are referring to a binky or pacifier, he's old enough for you to tell him it's time to say bye-bye to the dummy. It needs to go now. At this age, you should probably have a farewell ceremony for it. If there's more than one in the house, gather them all up together, put them in a plastic bag, let him say "Goodbye dummy, I'm a big boy now and don't need you", and have him throw them in the outside garbage right before you take the trashbins down to the sidewalk. This way he's the one letting go and not you taking it away.

Answer 7

you can either throw the dummy away and stick out the first few days of tantrums (which is best to ignore, hell eventually go to sleep) or maybe try replacing it with something else that comforts him maybe a teddy, a blanket or night light. i havent been through this yet and dont think i will as my son hasnt attatched him self to n e thing for some reason but i know peoples babies have and they have done either one of the options i have metioned and both have worked a treat. sorry i cant be of much more help and hope every thing works out ok.

Answer 8

OK ... I have one big question ... what the heck is a "dummy". Are you talking about a "doll"? Talk to him and see why he needs the "doll". He may be afraid of the dark ... Could be he likes the "doll" and knows that he can have it at night. As long as he's sleeping in his bed at night, really whats the big deal at this point. He'll out grow the need for it and let go in his time. My Nephew had a dinasour that he used to sleep with, he out grew it on his own, he's now 11, he slept with it when he was 7. Don't make a big deal out of it.

Answer 9

You have to take it away from him. You are the adult. Okay, he might stay awake for a few nights, don't let him sleep during the day, he will soon get the idea. maybe get him a reward chart, one star for every night he doesn't have it. But once you have taken it away, do not let him have it back ever again, under any circumstances. Or else he will have won. If you need any more reason, think of the potential damage it is doing his teeth.

Answer 10

Put the dummy into a little bag and explain to him you are leaving it out for the dummy pixie - tell him that when the pixie takes the dummy in the night she will leave him a little present.
Exchange the dummy for a small gift ready for when he checks the bag in the morning.
Tell him that the pixie cannot visit unless he goes to sleep.
Hope this helps!

Answer 11

He's got to stop - dummy's are for babies and 7 is not a baby. It's probably going to affect his teeth & he would be old enough to understand this if you explain it to him. let him read at night to make him sleepy - say he is a big boy now & he's allowed to read a bit later that he may usually be allowed but as he's a big boy he doesn't need his dummy.