It is up to you, the parent, when you decide to ditch the dummy. Keep in mind that children generally self-wean from the dummy, without parents having to intervene. However, when the time has come to get rid of the dummy one of the following approaches may work well for you.
A gradual approach is gentle and effective. Try using the dummy less for comforting during the day. One way to do this is to put the dummy away in a special spot, then get it out only as part of the sleep routine. This will help this process go faster. Limit dummy use to certain times and places – for example, the car or cot. This gives your child a chance to get used to being without the dummy. Gradually use the dummy less and less when re-settling your child during the night. For example, give the dummy to your child every second time he cries in the night on day two, then every third time on day three, and so on. When your child has handled the new changes set a time and date to take the dummy away.
Some families will do a ‘dummy goes bye-bye party’ or ‘Santa Claus takes the dummy for a toy’ plan!
Alternately, some families prefer the ‘cold turkey’ method. This means you get rid of the dummy and that’s it! Although, this method works quickly it can cause a lot of tears for your child.
TIP: Once you pick what method best suits you, for consistency, it’s best to stick to your plan.