
How to Wean Your Baby Off the Dummy
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Time to read 2 min
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Time to read 2 min
A dummy is like a security blanket to your baby or toddler - babies have a natural sucking reflex which is why breastfeeding, bottles and dummies are of great comfort to them. So removing baby's dummy requires a considered approach. Is your baby's dummy mostly a sleep aid? Is it there for times of distress or is it constantly in use? If you understand why and when your baby needs this comfort, you'll have a much better success rate when it comes time to remove it.
There is no right or wrong age to wean your baby off the dummy, but there is such thing as good timing.
At any of these stages, it's important that you don't try to ditch the dummy when your child is going through particularly stressful changes, such as moving house, starting school or daycare, going through a change in their sleep patterns or feeling unwell.
This may sound cruel, but depending on how strong-willed your child is, going cold turkey may be the fastest approach to stop baby from using a dummy. Some children will simply accept when you tell them that the dummy fairy has taken your dummy away. Depending on their age and how much they understand, your child may even be happy to know that Santa or perhaps the dummy fairy has given your dummy to a child less fortunate that didn't have one.
You could also 'lose' their dummy, removing the temptation to given in during a meltdown. Together, you'll work out a different coping mechanism that does not rely on their dummy. You may be in for a few long nights when you go cold turkey, but just 1 to 3 nights without it may be all they need to know that they are safe without it and their world has not collapsed.
This is a more gentle approach to weaning your baby off the dummy and there are a number of different methods you can try.
Better Health Victoria have some further tips and resources on weaning your baby off their dummy.