Dummy guilt
My daughter is 15 months old. She uses the dummy primarily for sleep but also when she’s really struggling to settle in the pram or is really upset/ill etc.
I just feel so guilty. She is very chatty so I don’t think it is slowing down her speech but I worry about it anyway, and also the impact on her teeth.
She is with a childminder 3 days a week and I feel that every picture I see of my daughter there she has the dummy in. My husband is also much more liberal with using the dummy than me, he just thinks it’s all moral panic and if she’s upset, she should have one.
I just think I don’t even know how I would stop using it. She needs it to sleep. She used to spit it out after a while, but I feel it stays in so much more of the night now.
Eugh. I just could cry. It has been such a help, giving me some respite as a breastfeeding mum, but also I don’t want to harm my child.
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I took our 10 month old to the dentist when she got her first couple of teeth through and she wasn't at all concerned about the dummy, she said it doesn't affect formation of palate/teeth when it's just their milk teeth and both of hers had dummies until they were 3. However that was just one opinion, so maybe you could book a check-up with your dentist as well and ask about it?
Don't put anymore guilt on yourself than what's already thrust on you as a mum. If it helps, it helps. If you want to reduce usage do so in your own time but we all have things we use to help us get through the day.
If you are interested in reducing usage, I started having a 'dummy place' on the fireplace where I would put it when they were calm and he could ask for it from there. I also took it out of the crib once he was asleep etc. However we weaned him off before 12 months which I know can be a bit easier.
Be kind to yourself!
We took the dummy away at 18months for Easter, we gifted them to the Easter Bunny. Left them on a plate with some carrots outside the back door. With Christmas coming it could be a good way to trade the dummy for Christmas presents? You could leave it for Santa for his elves for example 😉 my daughter used the dummy for sleep and naps and also when upset, at the nursery she only had it for sleep. She was using it more and more during the day and we also had a problem with her throwing her dummies everywhere, in such places as bin, cat flap, side of bed etc.... so I just couldnt cope with her having it no more. I sleep with her at night anyway so she was just sad the first night, when she cried I reminded her that bunny took her dummies for her babies and she would settle back after a few mins. It went better than expected but there were tears in the first few days. I think you as her mum know best when to take it away.
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Dummy guilt
My daughter is 15 months old. She uses the dummy primarily for sleep but also when she’s really struggling to settle in the pram or is really upset/ill etc.
I just feel so guilty. She is very chatty so I don’t think it is slowing down her speech but I worry about it anyway, and also the impact on her teeth.
She is with a childminder 3 days a week and I feel that every picture I see of my daughter there she has the dummy in. My husband is also much more liberal with using the dummy than me, he just thinks it’s all moral panic and if she’s upset, she should have one.
I just think I don’t even know how I would stop using it. She needs it to sleep. She used to spit it out after a while, but I feel it stays in so much more of the night now.
Eugh. I just could cry. It has been such a help, giving me some respite as a breastfeeding mum, but also I don’t want to harm my child.
3
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