Hey all! I've heard so many different opinions on children and their pacifiers and I'm torn. My son is now old enough to know what it is and even cries out the word. I don't want him to be like me when i was little b/c I had two at once LOL He knows he only gets the binky for naps and bedtime (we're trying to give it up in the car as the first step) My doctor said to cut the tip off when we're ready which I've also heard before...a friend's doctor swears to get them off it when they are 15 mo. n i see why (not that it's right for every child)but they get attached like my boy is and he doesn't know how to soothe himself. I could wait and make him throw it away himself but he loves it too much. Sooo my question: Is there any good transition to get him off it? Thanks in advance!
Thank you for responding to me! It was really helpful to hear your stories and advice! Well this week i just decided to do it and get rid of the pacifier...so far so good. He cried for almost a half hour for a nap but then was so exhausted he fell asleep. Then at night I made sure to give him more hugs and told him quietly that it was bedtime and everyone else is going to sleep. he was good for the past two nights...slept straight through, thank God, and points to the crib to lay down now. So we shall see if he really has the idea ;) Thanks again to all of you!
HI J., When my son, Collin turned 2 we told him the Binky fairy came and took his binkies because he was a big boy. He asked for it maybe once or twice, which was SHOCKING to me. It was much easier than I had anticipated! Just go for it and do not give in.. I know its scary but you can do it.
well with my daughter i just took it away... they cry for the first few days but when they realize the crying isnt working they usually just suck it up... my son lost his at 6 months and never wanted another one again
Hi
We have all been there about how do we transition our kids from x to y.....
Our experience: At 1 we restricted my son's binky to bedtime and nap and then at 14 months I noticed that the binkys were cracked so one day I just threw them out without him seeing me doing it....he asked once for them and I just told him they broke and we have to go to the store to look for more...he never asked again....you would be suprised how well kids transition off and on things even the most "tenacious" ones...think we adults over analyze our approach...good luck and do not stress over the method just get the binks out of the routine...or take your child to the dentist and they will give you an earful on why he should not have a binky and then you will feel bad and can blame the dentist ;}
Hello J.,
I have a 2 year old who has been binky free for 3 months now. I started by trying to keep it away from him as much as possible while at home. While he was at daycare he seldom needed it (only at nap time) sometimes. Well, one day he bit a giant hole in it (2nd time) so I told him that was it. The first night withoput it, he cried all night. I felt so bad that I almost gave him an extra one I had around the house. But, I stood my ground and just let him cry himself to sleep (so much guilt). After that he was fine. He actually only asked for it maybe 2 times when I took it. I also let him carry the binky around without the nipple (he bit it off) and he eventually threw it out.
I hope this helps..
M.
Hi J. ~
My daughter loved her binky. She had one in every room, and couldn't sleep without it. Once she turned 2, our doctor said that it (or thumb sucking) could affect her front teeth and possibly cause an overbite in the front.
We had a hard time getting it away from her. Every time I thought I had taken them all away. She would find another one.
Anyway, we ended up leaving it for the 'binky fairy' who came while she was sleeping. The binky fairy takes all the big kid's binkies and delivers them to all the brand new babies. She then leaves you a present in return. We gave her a little gift bag filled with a big girl toothbrush, bath bubbles, bracelet, etc. She loved it, and we never had another problem with the binky.
Good luck!
I believe that if a child can walk than the child can give up their binky. This is my belief for various reasons: 1. Safety issue (I've heard of children falling with binky in their mouth which caused injury.) 2. They're more mobile which will allow other things to divert their attention from the binky. The week my son turned 1 he was walking and that was my cue to wean him from the binky. My husband and I had conflicting beliefs because he was more concerned about keeping him quiet. My advice to you is to "just do it". The older he gets the more difficult it may become. I started by not offering it to him during the day and only during naps and bedtime. The second week I only offered it to him during bedtime. Two weeks later, I decided the day and I threw all the binkies away. He cried one night for about a half an hour and the rest is history. He did go through withdrawals when he saw another kid w/ a binky. Now almost a year later I don't think he remembers. Alot of parents say its hard because they hate to see their child cry, especially depending on how attached they are to whatever it may be. But that's where we come in to be their comfort and support.
I think that a binky is ok until about the age of 3 or 3 1/2, i was a nanny for a few years and the little boy loved his binky, he finally got rid of it around 3 1/2, now he's 7, it hasn't drastically effected his life by having the biniky longer than most. I have a 6 mo old and I plan on allowing her to use the binky as long as she wants it, then ill try to stop it around the preschool age when they learn other ways to soothe themselves! The children grow up soooo fast, I don't think it's necessary to start taking away all their comfort items so soon. good luck!
