I have always given my daughter a pacifier during naps and bedtime, but never during waking hours. She has been really good with taking naps and bedtime with her binky. However, my husband and I decided about a month ago that when she is 17 months old, we will get rid of her pacifiers, cold turkey. We don't really have a specific reason for picking the 17th month. We were planning on doing it when she was 16 months, except she got sick with a cold and I didn't want to have to deal with weaning her from her binky while she wasn't feeling well.
Well, as of today, she is 17 months old and I just tried to put her down for a nap without a pacifier. She was quiet for the first five minutes then she started to whine. I ignored it for about 10 minutes, but because I had heard something on the baby monitor, I went into check up on her (should've invested in a video monitor!). She had spilled water on herself (don't ask) so I had to change her. She was whiney the entire time and once I was done changing her, she clung onto me, while continuing to whine. I put her on her bed and she started to cry so I just lied in bed with her. Within 5 minutes, she got quiet and fell asleep, and I stepped out.
I have a pediatrician friend who had mentioned in passing that use of bottles and binkies after the 15th month can permanently change the shape of their mouth, increasing their likelihood of needing orthodontic treatments in the future, which is the main reason why I'm trying to wean her. But now, I'm second-guessing myself. Should I go through with it? Should I wait until she's 2? When is a good time to wean kids off binkies? When will she get used to sleeping without a binky? Is there anything I can do to make the transition easier for her?
Have her leave the binkies out for Santa to take to the little babies who need them. Santa will leave her an extra special gift because she's SUCH a big girl now. ;-)
No one here can tell you whether or not to go through with it.
I personally don't think that binkies, when used just at night or naptime, are that big of a deal for toddlers under age 3.
By that time, it's easier to do the 'binky fairy to take them away and bring a present' or Santa, or whatever. For a 17 month old, it's going to be harder because they just don't have the ability to understand this kind of explanation.
My thought on binki's is they are to replace a bottle/nipple and about 12 months is good. I hate when I see 3 and 4 year olds in public with them. They shouldn't have them at home either, but that's my two cents.
It's going to be a challenge to change her habit...but stick with it!
I am old school. It comforts her. What is the big deal. It is nap time and bedtime. She is not walking around with it all day. Then if thy get lost do not replace. I just don't understand taking bottles and bin lies from babies.
Would you want so done to take your morning coffee. Y daughter sucked her thumb. Perfect teeth! So it is up to you Mama. For me not a battle I want with a 17 month old. When you look back and you think 17 months you will think of whining etc because she misses her binky.d. You should remember how cute and funny they are at this age and how lovey do ey they are and how much enjoyment they give. Right.
Does she actively suck the binky throughout the night or just when falling asleep? If she is only using it to fall asleep, then I doubt it is going to hurt her. If she is sucking all night you could try taking it out once she falls asleep. I personally wouldn't want to become her pacifier (needing you to lay with her in order to fall asleep) just to get rid of the binky.
She is still very young. She will be able to understand the concept of being a big girl when she is closer to two. I have found it to be much easier on them when they can cognitively understand and be able to give input on a substitute item/ritual. Habits are rarely broken. They are usually replaced with a different thing or behavior.
There are many questions on this site about sleep issues. I wouldn't mess with something that works at this point.
Sounds like you made a great start today! Why go back now?
Please don't become her substitute. Find a soft plush toy to be a replacement source of comfort for falling asleep. She needs that.
You did great so far. We usually wean our kids at 2 but always provide a new love. She will get used to sleeping without a binky. It will be just another of life's transitions.
This is actually an easy one, I promise. Cut the tip off of the end of the binky. Give it to her as usual. She will quickly decide they're "broken" and therefore not as satisfying, and won't want it anymore. My youngest was a total binky addict, and this is how we did it. She was 2 at the time, and gave them up cold turkey with no problems. I had anticipated a huge battle, but because it was HER idea to give them up (i.e. she had the realization they were all "broken"), we had no problem at all.
I personally think if the baby wants the binky let them have it. My daughters had theirs till they were 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. Only for naps and bedtime. They have perfect teeth. My son never needed or wanted one.
They won't need or want it in college. Don't create stress for you or your baby. It is soooo not worth it.
Honestly, mine used hers until she was 4. Now, at that point she only used it to fall asleep and then I took it out, but she still did use it a bit. She's 9 now and her teeth look better than most kids. She'll need braces, but honestly kids need some sort of orthodontia more often than not nowadays anyway.
You should do it now and not wait till she is older...it'll be much harder then. Give her a lovey to cuddle. Keep at it. It will be hard at first but then she will get it.
The older she gets, the harder it will be. If you do it now, you'll probably have a bit of whining the next few days, and then she will forget. Wait until she's 2 or 3 and she'll be arguing for it. I'd get rid of it now, before she gets old enough to request/demand it.
A woman I knew said her friend told her son that there was a "Binky Fairy" that came and took all the binkies of big boys and girls and gave them to babies. She took her son's binky and put it on a branch on a tree outside together with her son, and she said it worked like a charm, the kid never really whined about the whole thing.
My son, he never really cared either way about his binky, we were very fortunate.
Good luck!
Our kid rejected them and couldn't be convinced to take one. My MIL tells me that in Denmark, kids have a binky tree in the town plaza. When kids are ready to be big boys/ girls, they graduate from their binkies and hang them from the binky tree. (It happens before they start pre-school).
I suggest that you either cut them all, or throw them all away if you decide to wean her. That way you can't relent when you are feeling beleagured. The whole family will tough it out, and in a week to 10 days, you'll be over the hump.
keep at it! it was the first day and a new routine. give it a month and then revisit. She just needs to re-learn her soothing cues and processes.
Most kids drop it on their own by age 3. Making a thing of it now might just make her cling overlong, or she will switch to the thumb which is much worse for potential problems.
If you have concerns about her teeth in the future, do take her to a pediatric dentist.
My kids never used a pacifier or sucked their thumb and they both needed braces. (Both were candidates for invisalign though).
One of the things that can happen if she's not ready to give it up is that she'll find her thumb or a finger. That's something that cannot be taken away so please consider the lesser of 2 evils if she truly isn't ready.
If her binky is the proper size and she's just using it a few minutes to go to sleep it's not going to hurt her in the long run. It's the kids that run around with it in their mouths all day and all night that are going to have permanent damage.
Mine never used them as little babies but I actually introduced one at 9 months to one child! He just liked to chew. He never sucked on it. I was never worried about a habit. He just wanted a chewy and those things are great! Then he lost interest once the teeth came in.
She'll adjust. I promise.
When my kids were little, my husband and I agreed that our children would NOT be those 2, 3, 4 , even 5 year old trying to talk around a plug in their mouths.
So, the night before their first birthday we put them to bed as normal, rounded up all the binky's an threw them all away. The one they slept with went in the trash when they weren't paying attention after they woke up on their birthday.
Yes, it was hard for a few days, but no more than a week. And, it was harder on us parents than our kids. The binky was a convenience, especially in the car. Kid started fussing, shove the plug in their mouth and no more fussing.
Those kids are now 10 and 6. They don't ever remember having a binky or having them taken away.
Tough it out Momma. You CAN get through this. It's going to take a few days of adjusting, but STAY STRONG. If you take it away and give it back and take it away and all that you will confuse the issue and make it all the harder to get rid of it for good.
