Giving up the comforter

To stop Kiya wanting to take her teddybear everywhere, I instituted a "Cuddles lives on your bed" policy. I kept putting the bear back onto her (made) bed, and she quickly got the idea that if she wanted/needed her teddy that she could find him there. It didn't take long until she was happily putting him back onto her bed herself. However, Kiya was 3 when I did this.

I'm just starting something similar with Josiah, but its more aimed at getting him to only take one of his two special toys when we go somewhere!

Personally I think your MIL is a bit too anxious about the whole thing. Briona has a doll which goes nearly everywhere with us - exceptions are places for eating and the supermarket and library. Sometimes she gets to come along in the van without coming into the place we visit, so Briona can have a cuddle on the way home (especially if it's night time). She's really attached to it and will cry "doll, doll" all the way home if she's tired and we left the doll home that day

Hannah has a similar attachment to her doll but since she's a bit older, she can understand that most trips her doll is left at home ("I know you'll miss her, but you can give her a big cuddle when we get home. Blow her a kiss!") and it isn't part of her everyday play all the time anymore. It's definitely right on hand at tired moments though.

As for washing? It's such a pain to wash them because the child goes through withdrawal for a day! I wash ours about once every three months. With everything else they touch and pick up off the floor (and Hannah also sucks her fingers when she's tired), I figure it won't hurt them. I try to wash and dry the dolls on a day when we're going to be out for a long time - distraction is the key!

he might wean himself...i wouldnt worry at all - cross the bridge when you come to it.

I wouldnt be to worried about the attachment. Kids are attached to all kinds of different things and want comfort from all kinds of different things (It use to be a kitty cat for McKayla now I think it is the boobs).

They will give it up when they are ready. Personally I feel when we start forcing these things we cause more harm than good. It is a normal development for them to go through and like anything else you cant rush them in it.

Andrew has Tigger and he still takes him out to places but not that often anymore. I personally think your MIL needs to get over it. I am starting the Tigger needs to stay in bed when he wants to take him to preschool day after day but the preschool teachers have told me that he sleeps better when Tigger is there so i;m not all that fussed. I don't ask him anymore if he wants to take Tigger he has to get him himself and take him with him. If he is staying the night somewhere I make sure he has him in his bag or he takes him in the car with him.

Nope didnt do controlled crying thing at all. If she cries one of us is always there to comfort her. Unless it is a time out of some sort but that is more of a scream at us than crying thing.

She isnt really attached to any animal or anything like that or have to take something going out but I think that has more to do with boobs and Attachment parenting than anything else and just her nature.

Really your kids are normal. I wont worry one bit about it.