Getting Rid of the Pacifier...

My son became attached to the paci when I weaned him at a year. When it came time to give it up, we took the gradual approach, finally limiting to bedtime only and made a special pillow with a pocket to keep on his bed. We had him put the paci in the pocket so he had some control of the situation. After a while, some days he would forget to get it out and eventually (about 3&a half) he no longer asked for it.

I second the paci-fairy idea. Thats what we did my son (at age 3 after the dentist commented on teeth issues). Worked like a charm. The key is to talk up the event for a time, maybe even mark it on the calendar so they know it going to happen.Count down the days. Then the day of, have the child help you collect all the paci's and put them in a special box/envelope for the paci fairy. Then next day, have an answer snuck back in mailbox for child to find, with pacis gone and a note or present.

Really works well.

It will easiest when you decide you want it gone. What i would do is one of two things. I would either set her down and say "You are a big girl now and this is for babies and it has to go" Take it away. Throw it away and don't look back. Deal with the tantrums as they come but don't give in. Just say "it's gone" and finish doing what you are going
OR
Take it while she's sleeping and throw it away and tell her it's lost and you can't get another one. Than do the same. Don't give in she will get over it. She will be really mad but it will only last a few days. I don't suggest you offer other things instead you are only making more trouble for yourself in the future.
The easiest way is to take it away while she is sleeping and say it's lost. She will look for it but let her look she won't find it and will finally give up.
Some say limit it's use or let her have it as long as she's not putting it in her mouth. But i don't suggest that. It's only torturing her and the best way it to take it away and be done.
If you drink sodas and wanted to stop what would be easier. Have to stop having them and not have them in the house or have to see them but only be able to have them at certain times. No one wants to have to see something and not have it. Would you like it drawn or just be done. It's torture to have to draw it out.
Do it and be done. good luck

Hi A.,

My son was about the same age-maybe a little older-we had cut him back to just nap & bedtime, but then he kept getting it out during the day. Finally we made a deal that he would trade them for something he really wanted...he had been wanting a sprinkler for the yard & on a very hot day, we took all the pacifiers to Toys R Us. He picked out a sprinkler & gave the cashier all his pacifiers (she looked at us a bit confused-I asked her to slip them into a small bag). He never asked for them after that day. Hope you figure it out...can be a frustrating process.

We didn't have a pacifier issue, but a thumb sucking issue. My pediatrician told us that as long as she stopped by 3 she would be fine teethwise. You may want to ask your doctor. Anyway, at three my daughter quit cold turkey when we told her that the doctor said she needed to stop and she could get a toy she really wanted if she stopped. I have heard stories of people having their child give their pacifiers as a "gift" to a new baby that really needs them. You may want to search the web for tricks like this. Possibly a pacifier fairy might work. On that note there is a faerie festival coming up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland where people dress up in fairy costumes and there is story telling etc. It is a wonderful event held at the 4H center. Maybe she could put the pacifier in a box and leave it there for the pacifier fairy who could give it to a baby who needs them or bring her a gift while she is sleeping. Just a thought.

A.,

I have two daughters. When they turned 3 we wrapped them up and gave them to grandma as a present at their party. We told them if they were not big enough to give their binki's away they were not big enough to get the birthday presents for big kids.

W.

the only way I was able to do it was "cold turkey". take it away and don't give it back. you will obviously have to deal with some crying for a while, but it works. we took my son's away and after about 2 days, he didn't even remember it. Good luck!!

My stepsister just took her 3 year old son to build a bear and had them "stuff" his bobbies...(pacifiers) into a bear which he named Bobby and can now walk around with and know that his beloved pacifiers are inside! close to him! it worked wonders and if you explain ahead of time both to the child and the workers at the store it goes very very smoothly! make a production out of it! a special day just for her!

you can try to search on amazon there are few stories books about pacifier for toddler which help to lead her to understand about giving up the Pacifier. or create a story about Fairy tale that they will give her a surprise under her pillow if she stops to use the pacifier. (I think I got this idea from Super Nanny). in Jon & Kate Plus 8. they told kids give the pacifier to their baby naphew by put it in the bag.

If she screamed NO when you took it away, I would just take it away and get her focused on something else. But this is not an easy battle!

at this age and sense she doesnt even suck on it i wouldnt worry about it messing with her teeth. mine had just turned 3 when i took hers away. and she was only using it during naps too. my only suggestion other than to hold off taking it away is to put something else at the end of the string/clip. that or put something on the nipple to make it taste funny. dont let her know you did this though. have you tried "loosing" the paci and tried to help her find it (but cant)? good luck!

She won't end up a teenager with a pacifier. Let her keep it and she will eventually get rid of it on her own.

Hi A.-

My daughter who is going to be 4 in Aug. was very attached to her pacifier. I had her stop using it in 6/08. I took hers away at naptime and did this for a month. Then I gradually started taking it away during the day along with at naptime (ex. in the am when we were playing or out running errands). She also had hers clipped to her at all times and it was a habit to constantly have it in her mouth. When I finally took it away at night that was when it got tough. She had a very difficult time getting herself to sleep without it. It took about 2 to 3wks of restless sleeping and crying, but she finally adjusted to sleeping without it. Good luck, and keep trying!

M.
Mom to Ella 3yrs, Nicklaus 2yrs and Joseline 4yrs

All of these suggestions seem to be good! I do think you are doing th right thing since the affects of the pacifier will eventually begin to show in the development of her teeth. They always say when you "punish" your children, you punish yourself. No one wants to see their little baby suffer but actually she won't be suffering. LOL She will be extremely unhappy for a few days but guess what, she won't love you any less. Thats the beauty of it all. As a mommy, which is the most diverse and important job in the world, you will HAVE to do things that your children won't like but you only have her best interest at heart. Take the pacifier and just console her when she is upset. That's all you can do.

Good Luck!

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it if she's only 2... I know there are some people who have tried things like putting bitter-tasting sauces (lemon juice, hot - not super hot - sauce) but I say if she is going to get emotionally charged by steps like that - just wait it out.
I thought my son would NEVER put it down, but once he was 2-ish and only using binky at bedtime he started realizing other kids didn't have them in their mouths during daytime. Then at night he stopped his interest gradually...

Pick your battles and choose what to get stressed about - this could be one to back off of for a while and see what happens, you know??

I was going to say what Rachel said - take all of them while she is sleeping and get rid of them - then she has no choice. She may even forget about them sooner...and she will have a lack of control over the situation (no screaming WHILE you're taking it away). So, if she starts asking for one, just distract her and then eventually her 'habit' will go away. Although, I have heard that the fairy story works, too...and I am a big proponent of making up fun stories for your kids...little kids believe almost anything - and it makes childhood magical...they will learn the harsh realities of like later on - your daughter doesn't care about her teeth right now - she cares about what she feels comfortable with, so hopefully making her happy with the fairy story will appease her - or give her another 'comfort' in its place that doesn't have harmful effects, like a blanket or something.

I'm a first time Mommy of a soon to be 2 yo also. I am afraid of the pacifier for all of the same reasons. I told her the pacifier had to stay in her bed and she was only aloud to have the "paci" when she was in bed. Each time she wanted it, I would put it back in her crib. I play a game with her to see if she can spit the paci into her crib but then it has to stay there. On the recommendation of others, I'm telling her that the birthday fairy is going to be taking her paci for new babies that need it more than she does, but in it's place, she is going to leave a present. I told her again this morning and I really think she is getting it and it will be ok removing them forever. Her birthday is a month away so time will tell, but it's a suggestion for you to try. Good luck!

Try a paci-fairy. Collect all of her pacifiers. Make it a big deal that she is all grown up now and the paci-fairy will be coming to collect her paci's and deliver them to a new baby that needs them. Maybe leave a little "big girl" gift from the fairy as a "thank you"? Cold turkey is the only way to go. Just make it a big deal how grown up she is and how helpful she is by sharing them with another baby that needs them. Lucky for me, my then 6yr. old son was strong and said "just take the paci(from my then 2yr. old), he'll be fine. He was right! My sister tried the paci-fairy for her son and it was great! He was so proud! Good luck!

I've had 4 kids and 3 of them were "ninny babies". The only thing that ever worked was to get rid of all but 1. Give her a day or 2 to realize that there is only 1 in the house. When she is sleeping or has put it down, take the last one away. Get it out of the house in the trash so you are not tempted to give in. When she goes looking for it help her look high and low, commiserating that it seems to be lost...where did it go??? When she screams, and she will, tell her it's lost and look again. This will go on a few times and for about a day or maybe 2 she won't be happy, but eventually when she realizes that it's really lost and gone, she'll give up. A nice new book or toy to use as a diversion will help ease the pain. Do not go to the store during this time because she may ask you to buy another one. The store is closed. If it's in the trash you won't be tempted to give in because every time you do she knows you will again. Hope this works. It's almost as bad as potty training! Good luck.