Napping Without Binkie

My daughter used to want the binkie more frequently. THen she found her fingers. Now she hardly ever wants the binke - she just sucks on her fingers. My daughter is really patient and not fussy but she used to want to suck all the time. We found out that she is allergic to dairy and so I am off all dairy. I think she has a lot less tummy aches and she wants to suck less. She still will take the binkie sometimes but she is pretty satisfied with her fingers. And yo know what, I am totally okay with that. She is learning how to pacify herself.

I had a similar problem with my 5 year old when he was that age, and now again, the same problem with my 2 year old. I talked to my pediatrician about it a few years ago, and she was so supportive, telling me that a pacifier will not harm my child, and if they are able to soothe themselves with it for now, it is a good thing for them to have; that until I am able to ween it away, it is really no big deal, and not to compare myself to what other mom's or kids are doing! I felt so much better getting her endorsement! I am now on child #4 and so far, have found that they will give it up when they are ready, and it gives you alot more sanity in the house - for everyone!!! They won't go to college with it, right?! Good luck!

Hi A.,
I can sympathize with you and it WILL get better. When we took the paci away from my son about the same age...He went from being a very relaxed easy-going child and a good sleeper to a crazy little monkey climbing up everything unable to settle down and slept alot less. It was crazy. I think that he must have just used so much energy sucking on the paci that he all of the sudden had tons left over! :)
And I think it was hard to not have something to help calm him down. But after a few weeks- maybe it was even a month, he was back to normal routines- though he still seems to have more energy- I think it just comes with the age. But maybe try going in and rubbing her back for a little while and if she comes out after 1/2 hour putting her back down and telling her it is not time to get up yet.
Perserverence- I agree that although it would be easier to just give in and give her the paci for naps- that might just confuse her and she might want it all the time again- and the next go around will be even harder if she knows she just has to perservere and will eventually get it back.
Best of luck!

My son went through the same thing when he quit the binky. Sorry to say, there's not much you can do, just wait it out. He is back to 2 hour naps now.

I'd ask my husband to please take a few afternoons off and then go plan some outings with your other daughter during nap. Yep I'm a selfish mom who loves nap time and I let my 4 year old have a bink, which she has never been hooked on but sometimes likes to hold, if it means that she will sleep and not be cranky all day. My 13 year old had one until he was nearly 5 and he isn't any worse for the wear. Of course both had very limited use just for nap and did not go everywhere with one in their mouth.

Be strong - think of it this way; the older she gets the more she is used to a "routine." Would you rather try and take it away when she's 3? Hate to be ruthless, but you just need to find a healthier way for her to comfort herself. I'm in a similar boat though; I'm swapping out bottles for sippy cups 'cause it's easier to do at ONE than it will be to do it at 18 mos.

Don't turn back now! The transition is probably almost over!

And, yes, it is a lot easier to do it now than it would be a year from now! My son got rid of his pacifier at 2.5 years. It was a rough transition...and, yes, naptime was the hardest...but he adjusted fairly quickly (in hindsight) and has done wonderfully for naps and bedtime ever since. You know, he ended up skipping a couple of naptimes or they were very short, but on those days he would just have to go to bed earlier. They still need the same amount of sleep, even if they skip a nap.

She will bounce back and eventually start napping again. Most kids are not ready to get rid of naptime that early. Hang in there...and know that although it seems like FOREVER..it really isn't. She's had her bink for 20 months...even if it took her 1 month to transition...that's pretty good in the grand scheme of things. Tiring for you...but it will end. Hang in there, Mama!

Give her the binkie for naptime. When she's old enough to go without naps you can take it away for good. Just be sure it's only for naptime. I hid my son's in a cupboard. He found where it was and started climbing on the counter to get it. So just be creative when hiding it. =)

A.,

One possible solution is to put your daughter on your big bed instead and stay there with her until she goes to sleep. This could be story time for the two of you or you could also include her older sister.

It sound like your daughter wants a smoother transition into her nap time. Another suggestion might be music.

Think about what helps you to relax and get ready for rest.
Wishing you all the best. With my whole heart, C.

You have gone two weeks, do not give it back. She is ready, it is just a change. Try doing something different, if she is falling asleep without it at night she is done with it, it may have more to do with a growth spurtor teething.

Teething can reek havoc on naptimes too. If she is teething try teething tablets or motrin before naps.
The fact she is doing so well at night she just may need naptime changed up a bit.

If she fusses at naps, ignore her, I know that is hard, but at 20 mos she will get herself back to sleep and you are giving her a gift allowing her to teach herself to do it. It is not mean to let her be for a while and teach her at least quiet time and that when you lay her down it is time to rest.

Make sure the room is dark and cool, put on a a music box, fan or whatever for white noise. Change the time of her naps too maybe. I had to adjust nap times at the year mark and at almost two to accomodate them and the changes they were going through.

If she isn't napping try changing her to an earlier bedtime, that way she gets the sleep she needs and you have some time with her sister.

Just don't give the pacifier back at this point. At that age, if mine woke up too soon and were fussy I left them lay there for another 20 minutes and 90% of the time they fell back to sleep. I never did crying it out until way after the year mark but at naps I did let them fuss if they were still tired.

What about giving it back to her during nap time only and only in her bed? Or maybe she needs something else to take its place. A new doll (for her age of course) or other special item. Just a few thoughts. My kids used a bink also, but we didn't go cold turkey. And aren't husbands great... "let's take the bink away" then he is off to work and we have to deal with the rest. Good luck

A., I only have one comment and that is to keep going! Do not give up. . . you've gone two weeks so keep it up. I'm hoping another one of these smart mommies has a specific answer about getting her "over the hump." I just know that if you've gone this far it would be a shame to cave in and have to do it all over again in 6 months.

My 4 1/2 year old daughter was like that when we took her binkie away. So, we tried to make the conditions in her room like it would be at night. I even did a bed/naptime routine and finally she slept for two hours. We darkened the windows so no sign of daylight came in. We used dark sheets until we found the curtains that were life savers on terms of my daughter's sleeping. I can't remember the name of the curtains. They are energy saving curtains. You can buy them at Walmart or other stores that carry curtains. They take all the light out of the room. My daughter slept with no problem when everything was dark. She even slept better at night. I also used some type of baby lullaby music in on a CD, which also helped with noise coming from outside her room. Keep going, your daughter will eventually nap. Good Luck.