We decided to take away my 2 yr olds pacifier the night before last. The first night, we told him we couldn't find it (which was true & the reason we started this) and that we'd bring it in once we found it. So went to sleep and slept all night without it. My husband decided we should try to take it away permanently. We're sick always losing them, and spending half an hour searching for one at bedtime. So yesterday afternoon, he wouldn't take his nap without it. I tried telling him I would keep looking for it, but he screamed and screamed and wouldn't go to sleep. He was then a giant crab for the rest of the day and was in bed at 6:30 pm last night. He went to sleep right away due to sheer exhaustion, but once again isn't taking his nap today without the paci. He's not ready to give up his naps yet. He still really needs the nap. Will he eventually get used to not having the paci and start napping again, or will he just only sleep without it at bedtime when he's exhausted??
Can you replace it with another item to give him the same comfort? I know my little one had a similar problem but we replaced one thing for another. He eventually gave up and totally forgot about it.
I have come to realize that this process of growth and change is much harder on the Mommy then the child. My lesson was so pronounced during potty training.... I so desperately wanted to put a diaper back on my child because it was going to be so much easier then cleaning the accidents. My daughter kept asking and crying to just wear a diaper and trust me, I wanted her to wear it too! In my mind, I had to commit to the change so she could see it just wasn't an option. Within 48 hours.... we were through it!
No doubt that each child is different and so is each family:) I know listening to your child be emotional is so difficult because you know you could satisfy them, but if you have decided you are beyond the paci stage.... Just commit and my guess is you will find your child will progressively move on too:)
I second the idea of trying to find something else to help soothe him. We took away our daughter's paci when she was one. It took her about 3 days to "adjust" but she did just fine afterwards.
Ironically, about a week later, when she was having trouble going to sleep due to a cold, I gave her a paci to try and help her sleep. She refused it and threw it across the room. :)
I have a hard time understanding why parents decide to take away things to make their kids conform.
If your child needs to suck he WILL find something to suck. His thumb is very handy, it will distort his jaws, his bones will be misshapen, he will have to have braces, it will cost thousands of dollars to fix if he needs to suck and finds his thumb.
I think if he really needs it you may just have to have a stash of them handy and when you can't find one you'll have some ready to hand him. That way anytime someone finds one sitting around they can rinse it off and put it in the place they all go then you will never be without one.
I just hate to look at my daughters face and teeth. Everyone told me she was too old and to get rid of it. I did, I just took it and didn't care if she cried. I was supposed to take it away. She found the 2 middle fingers of her hand and the only way they could ever put braces on her was to break her jaw and reform it. We could not afford that so she has a distorted jaw bone. It is so sad.
My guy gave his up at 13 months (I truly lost it and when I found it a day and a half later I didn't want to go back) and while he asked for it a couple of days he stopped after the 3rd day, yay! I'd always heard the first three days are the hardest, and that seemed to be the case, and since then I have read 3 to 7 days is the norm.
Does he have a lovey he could cuddle with to take his focus off the paci? Maybe the "Pacifier Fairy" could bring him a new one?
For me it would be easy, just give him the pacifier. But then, I'm not a fan of taking away comfort items, just limiting where they can use them. (I would say no to the grocery store, but yes to nap, sick, etc.)
For me sleep was more important.
Go to the store and buy a bunch and tuck them away so you don't have to go looking all over the house for one.
IMO you should go easy on yourself and him and let him have the paci. You can buy one of those clips on a string and clip it to his clothes.
Is it worth going through this to take it away?
