My baby is almost 8 months and he is starting to lose sleep because he wakes up so many times a night for us to give him back his paci. We know it's the right thing to get rid of it, we are just not sure how. Anyone have any success stories or tips? We are two very tired parents and he is a tired little boy... we all need to get some sleep! :)
Cut the tip and he won't like it anymore. Give him another lovie that you won't have to get rid of and in a few days, he will be just fine! GL
M
I agree with the suggestions to leave a few in the crib at night. Plus, MAM makes paci's that the knob glows in the dark, so it would be easier for him to find. I don't think at 8 months, it is that big of a concern to give it up. My daughter is 19months, and has been binky-free for about a month. She only used it at home. When she was at the sitters, she would go all day without it, even at naptime. It was funny. My sitter said as soon as she got there and I left, she would put it up herself, putting it into her bag. Then as soon as I picked her up, she would dig into her bag for it. So while I was off on vacation with her, one morning after breakfast she laid it down and was playing. I took it without her seeing me, and put it up into the cabinet and hid all the rest of them as well. Then when she went looking for it, I told her they were all gone. I kept telling her that each time she would ask for it. The first couple of nights were a little rough, but she was really fine. At that point, she didn't really need it.
You should get rid of it now. I have made the mistake of letting my kids have it too long. I'm there with my 2 yr old now. I should've gotten rid of it when he was under age 1, but he was always such a poor sleeper and I was desperate for sleep. Just take them away cold turkey. At the age he's at now, it shouldn't take long for him to get over it. He might cry for the first night or two or nap, but then he'll forget all about it. I wish I would've done it sooner. I tried to put my 2 yr old to bed the other night without it and 45 minutes later, he was still screaming. I caved.
Thanks for this question :o) My son is also just 8 months and I have the same issue, although all on his own he now only wakes once in the night for his paci, sleeps from 7-2ish wakes for paci and then sleeps 2-7. I have been in 2 minds as to what to do as my 1st never had a paci, and we did CIO (never want to do that again), so I caved and gave him the paci. He does only have it at nap times and bedtime, I must admit it is easier for him to have it at the moment, whilst we are out and about during the day or if we travel it is much easier to get him to sleep or to have a nap. With my dd when she was a baby napping outside the house was none existent and traveling was terrible. I think I may let him keep it for a little while longer, but I have been wondering on the best way to kick the habit when the time comes.
My daughter used to go to bed with one in her mouth and one in her hand. When it was time to help her let go, we made it a special deal. On her birthday we took her to Build a Bear and let her pick out a Bunny. Before they sewed up the bunny my daughter placed her pacifiers inside the bunny. That way, she could keep them with her when she slept, just not in her mouth. For a couple of nights she asked us to take the pacifiers out of the bunny, but got over it quickly. It made the transition easier (less guilt for me) and was actually fun for us all. Now she has a treasured memory and keepsake.
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My daughter used to go to bed with one in her mouth and one in her hand. When it was time to help her let go, we made it a special deal. On her birthday we took her to Build a Bear and let her pick out a Bunny. Before they sewed up the bunny my daughter placed her pacifiers inside the bunny. That way, she could keep them with her when she slept, just not in her mouth. For a couple of nights she asked us to take the pacifiers out of the bunny, but got over it quickly. It made the transition easier (less guilt for me) and was actually fun for us all. Now she has a treasured memory and keepsake.
If you are not set on getting rid of it... I don't see why you have to get rid of it a 8 months.
You can toss a few of them in the crib at night. I would scatter them around if your son sleeps anything like mine (constantly moving and turning through the night). Then he can find them without waking you up to find it for him.
If he isn't ready to give up the pacifier but you don't want him to have it all the time start with limiting it to naps and bedtime.
I agree with LO - we have been doing the same thing with our 14 month old. He has always only ever had the paci in the crib for naps and at night. We have a bunch in there scattered around so he can find one himself when/if he wakes. I don't see the big deal about him having it, especially since its only in his crib.
my son had his until he was almost two....and a friend of ours gave us some funny advice on how to get rid of them also....we cut the tips off of them and kept telling him they were broken (never buying new ones) eventually he just thought every paci in the world was broken and gave up..... hell give it up in his own time hes still pretty young
By 8 months he should be seeking and get his OWN pacifier! Put a few in around him and he will do it!
My first didn't use a paci - we offered, but he didn't want it. My 10 month old loves his paci. We let him sleep with it and put 2-3 additional ones in the crib. By just after 6 months old, he would wake up, look for paci, find it, insert and go back to sleep. We know because we have a video monitor and we could watch him do it. As long as the pacis are still in the crib and not under it, he is good - if somehow all of them have come out of the crib, he will wake us. It happens maybe once a week or less.
Paci use has been proven to reduce the incidence of SIDS. Since the highest risk of SIDS is birth to 12 months, I am not going to consider geting rid of paci until after his birthday. He only uses it for nap and bedtime anyway.
Good luck! C.
PS Around 8 months, he had to learn how to get down when he pulled himself up in the crib. That was a few weeks of very little sleep. Maybe yours is doing the same?
try reading the dr.sear's sleep training book, he offers tips on gtting over "sleep associations." You'll have a couple of sleepless nights, but hey, no one is getting any sleep anyway.
