Help Getting Rid of My Son's Pacifier

I did a big girl party for my daughter to get rid of it. She got to have her friends come over for a party after she went 1 week with no "binky". Maybe that will work. We went no binky for about 6 mos. until my next baby came...even now she steals hers!!!

I love this Question!!!! My son finally got off the "Binky" at 4 yrs. old.....HE LOST IT!! ( I always told him, "the binky is your responsiblity...don't ask me where it is.")I swear he had that last binky for a year and a half. He also would drag this pillow around and rub it....he rubbed it to DEATH!! lol lol lol I love my kid! The only problem we have had wih the binky is my sons teeth....one of his front teeth did not come down all the way but the dentist doesn't really see a problem with it. Yes they do get over it real quick...He kind of whinned for a couple days but eventually forgot:) I'm glad he lost it because I was never able to just take it away. GOOD LUCK!!!

Cut the tip of the pacifier just a tiny bit or make a hole on the tip. When he sucks on it, this will change the "suction" on it and not make it so appealing. Do this to ALL his pacifiers...as he will probably want to try all of them so see if it "works."

There are some things you should try to avoid during the weaning process. For example, never use threats, punishment or shaming messages. These tactics will only cause your child to cling even more tightly to his prized possession.

Also, there are different view point of pacifiers and it's purpose in a child's life etc. Here are some links:
http://www.parents.com/toddlers/development/behavioral/pa...
http://healthresources.caremark.com/topic/thumb1to3
http://www.myonlinewellness.com/topic/thumb3to6

Per Dr. Joshua Sparrow (in the Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine): "Even before birth, may fetuses have already found their thumbs and gotten them into their mouths to soothe themselves. Babies learn to cope by this kind of self soothing or using a pacifier to self comfort themselves. From the very beginning of life, babies are learning to cope as they handle a range of inner sensations and environmental demands- a lifelong skill. Kids seem to cling more fiercely when they are threatened with losing control. Children will often stop on their own as they become more concerned about not appearing "babyish" to their friends, and peer pressure seems to be more effective than parental pressure."

Pediatricians will most always say to get rid of the pacifier early. They seem to not like pacifiers. Some say to get rid of it from 18 months old... some say 3 years old is a good age as they are more cognitively mature. So go figure... there are many different "rules" on this. It also varies from culture to culture.

My Pediatrician has also, at my son's 18 month check, told me to get rid of the pacifier. But, I am going to do it when I and my Hubby feel to do so. My son is 20 months now, and I am not having a problem with it. It is fine to me. In due time, we will "wean" him from it. The problem is often with other people looking at him and criticizing it. This does not bother me. I have seen other kids with pacifiers the same age as my son... and whose Mom's are not worried about it either. Everyone is different on this issue. I am sure you will get lots of feedback on this.

Good luck and all the best,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

I have 4 kids (7, 6, and twin 4 yr olds) and let the first one keep his until he was 3!!! It was so hard to not just give in and give it back at bedtime. I finally wanted to get them out of our house so neither of us could cave in at bedtime. I told my son that Toys R Us had a program where kids could put all of their binkies into a Ziplock and then use it to pay for one toy of their choice. I did this with all 4 of my kids and it worked every time. I would get to the register and then have my child give the biknies away so they would see that they were gone and then explain to the cashier as I handed them my cc that we would like to pay with the binkies because we knew they had this program. The cashiers always played along. It was about the same with each of my kids. They would ask for it a few times that day and I would remind them that the binkies were at Toys R Us and that we could play with the cool new Thomas train instead. I think we had one night of tears and by the second day it was pretty much forgotten each time. I was always so surprised at how easy it actully was once I did it.

Bottom line, get them out of the house and commit to it. Be strong, you can do it and you will be so glad you did!

Good luck! I know how hard it is.

I agree with S.H.
My son is 2.5 years old and still has his binkie, he calls it his "bo-bo". I am not even trying to get rid of it. It is his security right now and he will eventually not want it. When we go out it stays in the car, when we are at home it stays in his bed and if he wants it he can take a nap or rest. My peditrician told me it was fine he had it. In fact i asked him because i heard other people talking about they should not have it past 18 months so i wanted to know his take on it. He told me his daughter had it till she was 4 and nothing because wrong with her mouth, in fact they didn't have to take it away, she gave it up!
I worried about his teeth and mouth but after much research nothing is to worry about! and if something does then thats why i have insurance!! lol
Unless you and your husband want to take it away or see its becoming a problem then why take it away?! do it based on your decision not others. friends and family even strangers have their opinions about my son and his binkie but i don't really care...lol its not their child its mine!
Do what is best for your son not others!
Good Luck!

try having him mail it to a baby that needs a paci because hes a big boy. let him decorate a box to mail them in and address it to the paci fairy. and when hes occupied you take some confettie and sprinkle it in and around the mail box and have a thank you note writen to your son for giving his pacis away and ofcourse dispose of the box of pacis. good luck i hope this is helpful!

I don't know the answer to that, but please let me know when you have tried something that works. My son is only 8 months, but I am so ready to get rid of it, but just feel sooo bad. Good luck. M.

We had the same problem with a grandniece and what happened was at a visit to her pediatrician he talked to her and he took it from her and threw it in the trash and that was the end of that. When she asked for it at home we reminded her about her doctor and that didn't last too long till she stopped asking for it again. Of course you need to get rid of all the ones laying around and just have one for a few days, try it, it may work, did for us.

Hi M.,
I have a 2.5 year old son and he still uses his babanks (that is what he calls it) and I have no problems with him having it. I had mine till I was 4 and really don't see a problem with it. I do hear a lot of remarks from some relatives and my daycare ladies, which doesn't make me too happy, but it's my choice. However, I did start the weaning process and my son only gets the pacifier in the car, at nap time and at bed time. He does not get it at all at daycare and that is fine with me. If he does find one at home durring the day with me or at his fathers house, I simply ask for it and he will give it to me. I figure for sleeping and long car rides, which we do almost every weekend to see my sister, it's okay for him to use it. I personally think that the best time to get rid of it is when you and your child are ready, especially your child. I hope this helps. Good luck and take care,
H.

I saw this on Super Nanny...

She told the child that there were many children who needed his pacifier and that since he was such a big boy now... it was time that he shared. Then she had an envelope marked for the paci-fairy and the parents put it in the mailbox for the paci-fairy to come get and take the pacifiers to other needy children. (just don't forget to take them out of the mailbox and throw them out so he doesn't see the envelope the next day!)

I say just toss them when he's sleeping. When he wants it, you just say they're gone. I think if he has the image of them being tossed and you being responsible, it will be harder because in his mind, you took them, so you have the power to bring them back.

It will be hard, be prepared for long and loud days and nights. Plan ahead for a time when you know you'll be staying home. Avoid the nursery aisle in the stores, etc.
He WILL get over it in a few days.

You should quit cold turky. it will help your child

For me cold turkey was a last resort. I tried weaning my son from it at 18 months. He was only allowed to have it when sleeping, then when he got use to that we would go one step farther, only at bed time. Then not at all.

This was suppose to work and did not only because my MIL likes to go against my wishes! I found out when she was watching him she kept it in his mouth all day long. So I decided my son had to go though detox! LOL

I threw out all but one pacifier and poked a hole in that one. I gave it to my son and when he tried to use it he couldn't. I said "Uh oh it's broken I guess you have to throw it out!" He put in the garbage realized what he did and started screaming like a banshee. He got even more mad because it was all the way at the bottom and couldn't reach it! He had a fit for almost 20 minutes then gave up.

Since night time was the hardest part, I thought now would be a good time to get rid of the crib. I put a mattress on the floor so when he woke up in the middle of the night looking for his pacifier, he would get distracted by his toys, calm down, and go back to sleep. Worked out great! It took him a couple of days to get use to it. He only had that one major fit. He kinda whined the next day or two but he coped with it rather well. Hope this helps, good luck!