Question
No More Pacifier Please
Our 18 month old is still using a pacifier and when she sin't using it, she gets very cranky. Any suggestions on helping her transition into a "no pacifier for me" toddler? Additionally, we are having another baby in a few months. What are your thoughts on pacifier use nad how I can prevent our next one from using the pacifier so much. Thank you.
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11 Answers
I used to work with families of children birth-three and one parent used a technique of creating a nuk fairy. They had Jack take is pacifiers and put them in a bag and hang them from a tree in the front yard and the next day they were gone and the nuk fairy left him a special prize. This may not work for your child because of the age, he was three, and with another on the way they may have harder time because of the new attention on the baby. Try and get the use down to just bed times and work from there. SOme children are more oral and if they don't have an appropriate way to relieve this need they will find another way, such as chewing on cloths or sucking their thumb. with what ever your chioce is be consistant it may take a little while but it should clam itslef if you are consistante.
Change Is Strange is a book series for LITTLE kids making BIG changes. The books are printed starring your child and walk your child through the change of getting rid of a pacifier or becoming a big sister or brother. Check the books out at http://www.changeisstrange.com. They worked for my kids and are a great tool for parents!
What worked for us was to snip a tiny bit off the top and then act very surprised that the binky was "broken." This allowed my kids to have the binky but they quickly gave it up because it no longer was comforting.
Karen Mom to David, Lauren and Steven http://www.putzworld.blogspot.com
Karen
Mom to David, Lauren and Steven
http://www.putzworld.blogspot.com
My son used to not be able to sleep without a binky, and I realized one day that I didn't like that, so I started putting him to bed without it. He reacted like most babes do when you start trying to get them to put themselves to sleep. I had to let him cry it out, peeking in every 5-7 min or so to make sure he was ok. Now he's 10 and a half months and only uses the pacifier briefly during the day. I'd say if you work backwards, and knock out nightime use, then she won't be as concerned with it. As for binky use once the new baby comes, I have no suggestions. lol. You could always say that big girls don't use binky's, and find something for her that is only for big girls to make her feel special.
~#Briann#~
~#Briann#~
What worked for us was going cold turkey with our toddler. He was going on 3 and was a serious pacifier addict. A friend of mine shared her technique with me of the "Sassy Squirrels" that come and carry off the pacifiers. We got rid of all of our son's one night and when he asked for one we told them that the Sassy Squirrels had carried them away. It worked! ~Tiffany~
~Tiffany~
It can be very frustrating taking the pacifier away especially when they are noisy. Cold turkey worked for my child when she was 13 months. When it seemed like I wanted to give it to her I'd say "No, I can't turn back now she has went all day!" Before I knew it it was a week. There were times in public when I wanted to give it to her. Looking back I'm glad I did it like I did. I wouldn't take you baby's pacifier if the new baby is coming within the next two months.... thats how long it will probably take of keeping all pacifiers out of sight.
I don't know if you have one in your area but my sister took my nephew to Build a Bear and had him put his pacifier in the bear as they stuffed it. They call it a binky in their house and that's what they named the bear. "Binky"! Now even though he doesn't use it it'll always be near him!
I've always liked the idea of snipping off the end of the pacifier. If it is broken then it doesn't do the job anymore and they will eventually wean themselves from it. Seems a lot less "traumatic" to me. I recently weaned my 2 and half year old from his binkie by telling him it was lost and I couldn't find it. This worked for us without any problems, but we were ready to try the snip idea if it didn't.
good luck.
Denise
I would definately wait until after new baby comes. Cold turkey worked for me but my daughter was much older (almost 3). We got her down to just 1 paci and told her that was her last one. When it went missing she had to take a nap without it It was hard at first, she tossed and turned a bit but eventually fell asleep. After that night, she never even asked about it! Occasionally , she would say "where's my paci?" I would say "remember we lost it. It's with ...........(something else that has been lost) and she would say o.k..
18mos is still so young, maybe you could get her attached to a blankie or a lovie animal or something that would make losing binky a little easier.
good luck
Denise
we used one with my son (now almost 1 yr) for only the first two months. before he was born my husband and i didn't even want to use one, because we had heard about how hard a habit they are to break, but you know how it is-- anything to get your baby to stop crying.
the reason my son isn't addicted to his pacifier is because i'm breastfeeding him on demand. any time he would get upset, i would feed him and he would mellow out. in the time before pacifiers that's what women would do to make their babies happy... so i just went with it. i fed him any time he seemed like he needed something in his mouth. of course now he doesn't miss the pacifier, and i'm not nursing him all the time like i was when he was born. it was such an easy habit not to get into because we simply just stopped offering the pacifier.