Advice on Breaking Pacifier Habit

Although my daughter was about 3 when we did this, it really worked. We gathered up all of the pacifiers in the house (we had about 5), put them in a ziplock bag and took her to Wal-Mart. We let her pick out a toy and when we got to the register, my husband stood behind us in line and she and I "paid" for our purchase with the pacifiers and then I took my daughter ahead while my husband actually paid for the toy. We made a really big deal out of it before we went and told her that she was going to use her pacifiers to buy a toy. She asked for the pacifiers a few times at home afterwards, and we just told her "Remember, we used them to buy your toy" and she was fine.

I've heard a lot of moms that use this trick: Gather up all the paci's and cut the rubber parts off of them. Then when the child goes to suck on the paci, there's nothing to suck on. They give it a strange look, and play with it for a while, but shortly they no longer have the need to go after it.

Personally, I never tried this with my munchkins, but I've heard a lot of moms say it was the best way to go, AND without tantrums.

Hard one huh?! We finally, after MANY attempts, had the paci-fairy come to take our twins' (try THAT one!) to other little babies who didn't have any. Phrase it or work it up so he understands but we literally had them put their pacies in an envelope and put it in the mailbox :) At some point we would have done ANYTHING! LOL

Trip issue is that he'll need something to help pop his ears and the doctor always suggest sucking on something - he can't chew gum or hard candy so it may be worth waiting until you get back :)

I personally would wait until after the trip. My son was weaned off his paci a week ago and has done great.
I took it away from him mainly because I went to check on him and he chewed a hole in his paci and then I took it away.
He mainly used it when he goes down for his nap/bedtime or when he is not feeling good.

I took it away and he had 2 hard nights and now he's fine, he doesn't miss it at all.

Good Luck.
M.

We just left my daughter's pacifiers for Santa along with his milk & cookies. He did us a favor and took them to a friends in California for her baby girl. It worked like a CHARM!! My daughter hasn't asked for them since. I have also heard of people taking all the pacifiers to Build-A-Bear in the mall and having your child put the pacifiers in the bear (or whatever they choose) so they have a paci bear and can hold that instead of sucking on the pacis at night!! Good luck!