2 Year Old Having Issues Sleeping After Getting Rid of Her Pacifier.

We went through this with my son when he was 2 and tried to take his paci away... the lack of sleep we were all getting wasn't worth it. So... we told him it was only for nighttime/naptime and he was able to understand that whenever he woke up in the morning or from his nap, he had to put it on his dresser BEFORE he could come out of his room. It worked wonders for us, but it wasn't until about 3 when we were finally free of it - (we only had 1 and it stayed around about 8 months) after he got mad and threw it - he couldn't find it and when I did i hid it. He thought he lost it and never looked for it again. We had about 2 rough nights and then we were fine after that.

Oh my gosh, give her back her paci! I know that sounds like a trite answer, but seriously, there's oodles of research out there regarding the need for some children to have their comfort item beyond the age of 1 or 2. There is also plenty of research out there to fully support that the teeth of a baby are not affected by a pacifier or thumb-sucking until after the baby teeth have fallen out, and permanent teeth are coming in.
So many parents feel that they "should" take away the pacifier, the crib, the thumb at a "certain age". But you need to do what's right for your child, and if she can't sleep without it, and it's disrupting your nighttime routine, the answer is simple: give it back.

Updated

I wouldn't give it back to her.... or you're setting up a consistency issue.

HOWEVER - you can't take away a crutch without replacing it with another crutch.

Basically, you took away her source of comfort because YOU didn't think she should have it anymore and didn't teach her anything else to do to comfort herself. No wonder she's upset.

Now, the one thing you have offered her..... (laying in bed with her for a couple of minutes) you are about too take away as well.

ON TOP of having an 11 week old.

So - teach her how to self-soothe, with something that you find acceptable that she will accept as well.

When my daughter gave up her paci's it was replaced by a teddy bear and I taught her that it was her job to help the bear fall asleep. So, she had to lay really really still and be quiet and close her eyes. But the key was to gently rub the bear's back, until they were both asleep.

Good Luck.

Ohhh, how hard on you guys. She doesn't have anything for her security now. I guess she'll keep using you for that since binky is gone. I think it will just take time.

She has 2 blankets that she loves and has to have them to fall asleep so we didn't just take the pacifier away without giving her anything to replace it with. She loves playing with her baby dolls so I like the idea of telling her she has to put her baby to sleep so she has to be quiet.

Did you take away her means of comfort and they wonder why things changed?

put a baby gate up in front of her door so she can't get out of her room. as for the rest, you are just going to have to wait it out. whatever you do, DO NOT GIVE IT BACK OR GIVE HER SOMETHING TO REPLACE THE ADDICTION. giving her something else that she depends on to sleep is just one more thing you'll have to take away and it isn't good for her. this is what happens when people let their kids have paci's past a few months old, they begin to depend on them. it is an easy out for the parent who doesn't want to hear or deal with a child that fusses themselves to sleep. be firm and consistent, tell your daughter to stay in bed, or if she can't fall back asleep when she wakes up so early tell her she has to stay and play quietly in her room until it is time to get up. she will eventually learn to just lay back down and will fall asleep. shouldn't last more than a couple of weeks.

I would give it back and wait until you new baby is older before taking it away. My son (he id 2) uses his at nap and bedtime only, I'd like to get rid of it but with a 13 week old there is no way. Between all
The changes with the new baby I knew it won't work now to change things up plus the new baby uses one so he will see it all the time. My 2 year old didn't really react to the baby coming home until the past few weeks, it's almost like he figured out he is here to stay. He now wants to be carrie more, sit on my lap and when I tell him I have to change the baby's diaper he wants to be changed too (even though he didn't need). Our ped recommend no major changes till the baby is at least 6 months - like potty training or getting rid of the pacifier since the new baby I'd change enough right now.

Ouch...this is a tough one. We took the pacifier away from our daughter too soon and she resorted to sucking her thumb...still does now at 6...drives me crazy that I'd like to make her thumbs disappear :)
We waited a bit longer with the middle one...he was all of three and that went much better. Perhaps you took it a way too soon???? Our youngest is just over 2 and he still gets his at bedtime that's it.

if you are confidant she is going down at the correct time (which will depend on your schedule), then unfortunately you will have to keep putting her back and be firm with her.

the alternative, as you have discovered, is to keep going in there with her. easier, but doesn't solve the problem, only makes it worse.

check out super nanny's website for good ideas on this subject. it really just comes down to having stronger will than hers. which all of us mamas have to develop sooner or later!