Should a child be allowed a dummy after a certain age?
I knew a child who’d been allowed to keep his dummy after the age of two, and had learned to “Talk” round it. It was such a shame because it affected his speech even after it was taken away. He was teased at school and eventually his parents had to pay for speech therapy. (It wasn’t available on the NHS as the doctor said it was the parents fault) If needs be I’d let my child have it at night but I’d be far too embarrassed to be seen with my 3 or 4 year old with it out in the street.
My son has just turned 2 and he still has his dummy. I’m ebarased to give him it when we are out because I agree it looks silly when children are walking, talking etc and still have a dummy in their mouth. I try to just give it to him when he goes to sleep but I am not successful. I guess I have poor will power. He never needs it in the house and I never give him it when we are home no matter how much he wants it but when we are out in the shops or standing in queues and he starts screaming I try at first to talk to him, or give him something to distract him but he just keeps screaming and shouting so I give up and give him his dummy and he’s quiet. So I guess my answer is poor will power and the embarassment of everyone looking at you and glaring because your child keeps screaming.
I would not have been without a dummy for my daughter as it gave her so much comfort and definitely made night time and teething a lot easier for her. She had it for night time only after the age of around 14 months and we got rid of it completely when she turned 2. I think around 2 should be the cut off point as it just seems that they should be ready to leave the ‘baby’ things behind then. It is down to personal preference though, but I do agree that once they start talking it is nice to hear them talk, rather than mumble through a dummy.
I think you should at least start weaning the baby off of a dummy at two, only give it to them for naps, and bedtime. I worked at a daycare and they recommend taking it away to promote independence in the child. I also think that children should not be having them all the time at that age because they can’t be understood with them in their mouths. I have a two year old and he only has his for bedtime now if he’s really fussy and won’t go to sleep without it, he’s almost completely off of it now and doesn’t take it anywhere. But both of my kids were breastfed and both had dummies for comfort.
My son was 3 yrs when I took his B away he also carried a blanket around,I mainly let him keep it because for one at night he didn’t sleep good without it,second I didn’t see a reason he shouldn’t have it.It comforts and sooths them I have found nothing to support that it is unsafe or UNHEALTHY so why not let them have it??Just because someone else says that is ridiculous that a child that age has one is not a reason,I know my child and I will do what I feel is best.With my daughter I plan to take it away at 3 yrs also.
