DD1 will be 3 tomorrow and still uses her paci's for sleep. We are going on vacation at the end of the month and the girls are staying with my mom. My mom has requested that I don't do anything until after their stay. But that's really not too long from sonow I need to start preparing. What are your best paci kicking tips? Anything you wish you'd known beforehand?
-
I wish I had known beforehand that yes, there would be two really crappy nights, but that that would be it! Our LO was 3.5 when I finally got the balls to kick the paci. We took her to build a bear and put all the pacis in a bear. She was excited and on board. But when bed time came she lost her shit. Screaming for me to open up the bear. She was up a lot that first night. Second night, bed time was miserable again, but she didn't wake up at all through the night. Third night, she was golden.
-
@Truth Bombs: agreed! We had three very bad, sad, guilt-ridden nights but then.., he was fine. He traded them to the binky fairy for a big toy.
-
It actually wasn't too bad for us. We really talked up the paci fairy coming to get it, and by then it had a hole in it. So we had her write a note to the fairy, put her paci in the envelope, and the next day the fairy brought her a Tiana doll. She asked for it for a few nights, but we reminded her that Pauline (our fairy's name) took it for the little babies who needed it and brought her Tiana.
-
We got rid of it when he was 2.5. I had been dreading it because he was super attached. Even though he couldn't have them except for nap/bedtime at that point, if he saw one during the day, he would beg for it (his little brother had the same brand, but different colors and he never tried to take his).
He loved checking the mail with DH and he was/is obsessed with dinosaurs. I had been talking to him about how he was a big boy and didn't need pacis for a couple weeks. One morning, we walked to the mailbox, put them in, and I told him if he mailed them off, he would get a surprise in the mail later that day. I put a toy dino in and he was super excited to find it. Bedtime was a bit harder for the next couple of nights. but really it was a muchhhh easier transition than I had imagined.
-
We talked about how at 3 you weren't allowed to have a paci anymore. We started talking about that months before he turned 3. On his 3rd birthday he got a new big boy bed and all his pacifiers went into a treasure chest. He never needed a pacifier after that and he was an addict.
-
This obviously isn't helpful to you now, but in case others read this post, taking the pacifier away early is my best tip! We took it away from both our kids around 10/11 months and it was easy!
My best friend weaned her daughter around 3 though. I think she talked it up a lot how at 3 she was going to be a big girl and didn't need it anymore. Then they picked out her favorite pacifier and took it to Build-a-Bear and put it inside a bear, and then she was allowed to sleep with the bear instead of having a pacifier. I think it went really well for them!
-
We snipped the tip off and told her it was worn out. She was mad for a day or two but got over it.
-
Also agree that it wasn't as bad as I thought. We took it away at 2. We had a couple books to help-- No More Pacifier for Piggy! (Ducky and Piggy) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1910126039/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6OP1xb5DNWPZF was a good one that she still likes to read 5 months after saying bye bye paci!
-
@nana87: I think books would be really helpful for my LO. Thank you!
I'm so nervous, guys. I have to talk with my husband but I kind of like the build a bear idea. I need to start showing her that Elmo video of him saying bye to his binky, too. When we weaned during the day (not until around 2, I have a hard time not allowing the paci obviously) she was grouchy all day long for weeks. Weeks y'all. But I know it has to be done.
-
Good luck. We weaned younger so my advice might not be the most helpful. What about input/pep talk from an outsider? The dentist perhaps? My daughter is a big fan of the dentist and gets really onboard with brushing when I remind her about what her dentist says...
-
So, I have been so nervous about this. My 21 month old started "school" last week. He's playing us. He didn't use his pacifier to nap there last week (since the school is Montessori blah blah blah it's not encouraged). This week is his first full week and come Friday, I'm not going to offer the pacifier at nap time. We'll wean clear from naps and then work on nights in a few weeks.
-
I was terrified of weaning ours (at 2.5 years, she was also using them for sleep and also in the car, since she gets carsick) but it ended up being very smooth. At a certain point, I started telling her that soon, the Binky Fairy would come and give her a new toy and take all the binkies away for new babies. She was excited about it and the actual transition went fine. There were a few nights where she woke up and it was clear she was looking for her pacifiers but then she'd remember and go back to sleep. Ironically, she didn't even like the "Fairy gift" (we gave her stuffed Anna and Elsa dolls) but it didn't seem to matter much.
She does occasionally still ask for one when she is stressed (like this weekend, we converted her crib to a toddler bed and she asked us for a binky) but we always just say the Fairy took them all and she is always satisfied with that.
-
@winniebee: I'm worried that my DD is old enough that if/when we take it away for naps, the naps will stop.
-
@Mrs. Sunshine: aha. Yes, I hate to say it but when we moved my then 34-month old from a crib to bed, we kissed naps goodbye. But, she'll probably stop napping in the next 6 months anyways!
-
We went to my parents on holiday and told her we forgot them. She asked once and never looked back! Waaaay easier than I expected. She was 2.5.
-
@Mrs. Sunshine: That was actually my worst fear - that now daycare naps would be history too (he hadn't napped at home for over 6 months prior). It was totally unfounded he continued napping there like nothing had changed. Wishing you a smooth transition! It really was for us and I was expecting hell to brake loose.
-
@winniebee: K doesn't need a pacifier at school either! Ever since she moved up to the toddler room, she just slept on the mat without pacifier without prompting! But at home she is obsessed with it too. I kept saying we'll just go cold turkey but she asks for all the time and I haven't even been able to limit it to nap/bed time
She is 21 months and I swear I need her off it before #2 is here! I was really hoping we'd do paci, then have a break, then do big girl room... Now I'm probably handing it to myself for making these things all too close together.
-
I'm still trying to find an approach that will work LOL My kid seems completely impenetrable to all the possible tricks and just can't seem to fall asleep without it. She's 3 and we really need to get rid of it already, but she won't be bribed and when we try to play the lost/gone away card, she just asks why we don't buy more at Target.
-
@Mrs. Carrot: I feel like this will be us. My daughter is not easily tricked or comforted
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
19 comments