How to take his dummy away?

Question

My son is 3yrs old and still has a dummy and snuggles (blanket) to go to bed with every night.
I really would like to get rid of his dummy completely, but he relies on it to get to sleep, as cant sleep without it. I don't mind him keeping his snuggles.
I have so called "lost" his dummy for ages and the state he gets into just breaks my heart, is there an easy way to do this?
Anyone had the same problem? How did you overcome this?

Answer 1

You need to simply remove the dummy and live with his behavior. You keep giving in and he keeps winning. I know it can break your heart to see him upset, but eventually, he will get over it. As parents, we have to deal with issues like this and too often we give in because the last thing we want to see is our children upset. There are times when you just have to stand your ground. I went through this with my daughter and her thumbsucking and her dirty disgusting "blankie".

Answer 2

I dont see anything wrong with having the dummy. I assume you are referring to a stuffed animal of some sort or whatever. It gives comfort. I slept with a teddy bear well into my teens and now when in bed alone I hug a pillow.

If it really bothers you that much, you take it away and dont give it back, at all. Yes, he will cry and scream and probably wont sleep a couple nights and you will be miserable, but it is honestly the best way to break the habbit.

Someone mentioned that you may be reffering to a pacifier. you still do the same thing. Take it away and dont give it back.

Answer 3

My daughter never had a dummy but someone told me that they put their childs dummy outside on a tree branch and said that they were leaving it there for the fairies to have. They took the child back in the house and it apparently worked. I think that's a nice way. My daughter's always had a comfort teddy since she was one. She's nearly five and still clings onto it. I would never take it away from her coz somehow I think people are more excepting of it if she's walking down the street but a dummy is different I think.

Answer 4

With Chrstmas coming up, you could say that father christmas is going to take all the dummies away and bring him some toys. Another suggestion is a treasure chest box. Decorate a big box with your son, and tell him the dummy pirates are coming, he has to put all the dummys in and then he will get a surprise. Fill the box with bokks treats etc. Its a motivation anyway.

Answer 5

OH hun at 3 yrs old the only way to do this is the hard way! It should have been "lost" about his first birthday for his teeth alone. You might consider dipping it in something nasty tasting but safe like lemon juice or other similar gross tasting stuff...Garlic comes to mind for some kids.
Either way he's going to have a fit. You need to end the power struggle. Just find every last one thats been hid around the house and toss them. He will scream and throw a fit but if you just say sorry hun they're all gone and stick to it he'll get over it fairly quickly. Consider possibly a new lovey to cuddle with along with the blanket? My little boy was really big on having a stitch plushie from lilo and stitch movie.
Just put him to bed with extra cuddles and don't allow his drama to change your mind

Answer 6

Some children need more comfort items than others. As long as he isnt still sleeping with it in high school you really dont have a problem. I can understand wanting to deal with thumb sucking because of the dental problems it causes but having a blanket or stuffed toy to sleep with isnt hurting anything and its just plain cruel to force them to endure anxiety and trauma just because you want them to give up a harmless thing. Three is still a very young child and there's no need to rush him into being grown up. When the time is right, he will be willing to give it to you in exchange for something else. At that time you can praise him for being such a great little guy.

Answer 7

your son may now be old enough to believe in santa. Last christmas i took my sons to visit santa and outside his grotto was a "dummy" tree. i was amazed at the amount of kids dummies were on the tree. You should make a target, for example christmas (because its soon and i think a great time for bribes!), then tell your son that santa is coming and bringing lovely toys and all he has to do is give santa his dummy for little babies (telling him hes so big at three) and in return get wonderful toys.
Whatever you do it'll be hard work. perseverence is the answer.
Good luck!

Answer 8

I'm guessing the "dummy" is a stuffed animal? If so, I don't think there's anything wrong.
If you're talking about a pacifier, then only thing you can do is just "lose" it forever. I know it's tough, but he will get through it and you know it's not good for his teeth.

Answer 9

I went through this with both of my kids, I just let them cry ti out at night and with in a week they were okay, but my friend, who went through this with her daughter made a deal with her, when she gave it up completely than she would buy her the power wheels car that she wanted. She had it gone within a week. I also read somewhere that a mom told her kid that the new babies needed it and she had to give it to the "pacifier fairy". These are just some suggestions to give to you, good luck!

Answer 10

Have you ever heard of the dummy fairy? She takes dummys to the sky when little bys and girls are 3.