Should I wean my 11 month old off his dummy?

[shouldibecrossaboutthis]

My son has just turned 11 months, He has a dummy in his cot/buggy/car seat along with a teddy when he is napping. I've also let him have it when he had a chest infection and he was really poorly and also when we've been on a plane during landing and take off.

Should I be thinking about taking it away now? He doesn't wake for it at night and has slept 7pm-7am since he was about 6 weeks old. He doesn't really cry for it during the day either, for eg if he sees one in the kitchen for example, he doesn't make a fuss to have it.

But everyone keeps saying I should start removing it now? I don't really understand why? What does Mighty Mumsnet think?

[cherrytomato40]

DD only had it for naps from about 18 months. She finally gave it up when she was nearly 4! She has perfect teeth, it certainly didn't do her any harm. I wouldn't worry about it.

[mitchsta]

My first thought was that it sounds a bit young if he's attached to it (more like far too much hassle for you!) But if he doesn't seem especially bothered about it then why not?

A few weeks back I witnessed a load of wedding photos [IMO] being ruined by a 3.5 YO with a massive dummy in her mouth in every single pic. I know the little girl and she's perfectly happy - and beautiful - without it. I just don't get why her parents were fine about it. Maybe it's just me?

But I digress...

I'd just test the waters a bit and see how things go. No need for any big dramas, perhaps the odd absence of the nap time dummy? That's just if you want to of course. Even though they'll inevitably know much more about parenting than you could possibly ever know, I wouldn't worry about what "everyone" keeps telling you to do :-)

[extracrunchy]

I had the same question when DS was the same age. He actually weaned himself off it at night when he was about 18 months (I forgot to give it to him one night and nothing out of the ordinary happened!), however he still has it for his nap as I'd rather he kept napping and can't imagine 1.5hrs a day is going to cause any damage.
When he gives up napping (probably in the next few months - he's 2.4) the dummies will go forever.
Hth!

[shouldibecrossaboutthis]

Fab thanks everyone for the advice, I might try just seeing what happens if I gradually withdraw it but wont really put much hard work into it!

[hettienne]

If he's not that attached then it'll probably be easier now than later. I got rid cold turkey at about 12 months and there were one or two days of being harder to settle for naps and then it was forgotten.