Pacifier Problems

Nail it to a wall when she can't suck on it any more she will stop, or cut the nipple part off a little each night.

None of my 4 kids ever took the pacifier, but my sister had kids that were addicted to it. The one way she found was helpful to rid her kids of it was to snip the tips off of the pacifier, so when the kids put it in their mouth it felt funny. It worked well for her. Good luck!

Hi D.
I feel your pain .. I JUST got my 4 year old son *turned 4 in dec) off his binkies a month and half ago.
This was a kid who carreid 4 of the binkies w/ him, one in the mouth and one up the nose to "Sniff" I know, wierdo lol. I thought for sure I'd be packing his b inkies up w/ him in his suitcase for college ;)
But like others have suggested. The binky fairy. IT was wonderful, I thougth why didnt I try this earlier??? We had warned cale about the binky fairy for 2 months prior to this "Day"..
WE would talk about it once every two weeks about how this nice binky fairy(who was sorta like santa but in a different way ( he could relate to "santa").. We said binky fairy comes and takes ALL The binkies from big kids, and brings them to lil babies who really need the binkies, then the fairy gives in return ,a big toy to the big kid for giving up thier binkies to the babies..
He was not into that at all, wasnt liking that idea, said he didnt want that fairy lady in his home, stompstompstomp..But... one day he lost all the binkies, it was nap time, and we found not one. I was like "Okay ..today IS THE DAY"..
I decided to tell him.. "Cale, guess what.*all excited acting*.. The binky fairy must have taken your binkies to the babies!! You know what that means??? It means tonight that the binky fairy will leave you agift by the front door in exchange!".. he was sorta hesitant, but then said a lil excited like "I get an optimus surpreme toy?"..(it is a transformer).. I then said "YES," I bet the binky fairy is getting you that!..(quick call to daddy to pick it up on way home from work then ) lol

He was ok ay for nap then.. he woke up from nap all talking about this fairy and how he is going to get his supreme toy.. Putting him to bed was not easy, he did cry but we reminded him of his "toy"..That Binky fairy was coming at night time, so you must get some sleep.
I made sure we had it in front of the door so when got up he'd see it and get it'..
The next morning he got his toy and was sooo excited.. For about a week I had to remind him of the trade.. that his binkies were gone . He did fuss a lil ..
BUT>. it was soo not as traumatic as I thought it would be.. It was harder on me as he is my last "baby" and I think for me it somehow made h im my baby longer lol. I know. a lil cookoo. but hey , he is my last =(.
So.. he asks for those binkies once in a while and then says 'Oh the babies have them, right mom" He has actually found a few binkies laying around that we forgot*Make sure to find them all and have them up">. because then. He said to me.. Ohhh, I get another toy right? more binkies to trade to the babies for the binky fairy. and by all intent and purposes. HE IS RIGHT.. I **did say that before right?.. so.. sigh.. I had to make sure we found every blasted one of those binkies because after he found thsoe two binkies
I Had to "Trade" and got him two packages of the Knex building toys he loves.. he got it in trade . It was worth it though, because no more would the inlaws be on my booty about him using a pacifier past age 4 lol

It works though. many "Binky fairy " variations but it works. I feel the best way to do this to a child though is to give advance warning.. So it is not cold turkey so they know this day is coming, and they "understand " it to a point.
This is usually only workable for the kiddos older than 2 and ahalf, 3.. as the youngsters younger than that age may not "Get" The binky fairy idea...
good luck.

Hi D.: I saw this on Supper Nanny and was so impressed with the idea.
Tell your "Princess", You're a big-girl now and not a baby anymore." Tell her that, "There is a Fairy-Binky that is looking for very special binky's for little baby's that don't have any of their own!" Tell her with excitement that "If we put your binky (or binky's) in a little gift bag and hang it on a tree, the Fairy-Binky will leave a VERY SPECIAL gift just for you and will give your binky to a baby that has never had one before!" Make sure you gather ALL of her Pacifiers and put in bag!! Then hang the bag up in a tree and when you put your daughter to bed, go out and replace the binky with a very special gift that you know she'd like. Make sure she can't reach the bag in the tree and remember to toss the Pacifier(s). This is VERY important, because if you keep even one Pacifier you may be tempted to give it back to her. So then the next day take her out and have her open her special gift. Hopefully she'll love it and whenever she asks for her binky remind her that she gave it to a baby and that she is a big girl now, then distract her with some other kind of activity.
Let me know how this goes. Sincerely, D. B.

We had a "ceremony" and "graduated" from it when our cousin was born...therefore giving "the right of the pacifier" to her cousin. It was still tough, but we had a thorough understanding that pacifiers are for babies, and we aren't a baby anymore. I think making a celebration out of it, kind of like potty training and a birthday, it was a momentous occasion and stuck with her. Of course-- every kid is different! Best Wishes!

our son was VERY attached to his binkis as well. In fact he would have one in his mouth and at least one to hold on to. We were really worried about taking them away and when we couldnt find them it was such a huge ordeal BUT heres what we did. We had the binki fairy come and leave him a big present and take away his binkies to give to new babies. It worked really well. We gathered them all up in advance and We had a present wrapped in shimmery paper with a note from the fairy about how proud she was of him giving his binkis to babies that needed them. Then when he asked for a binki we would tell him the fairy had given them to new babies and look at the really cool toy he got. the first night was a bit rough. It took him about an hour longer to go to sleep, and he quit taking naps but adjusted quite quickly. I think having the fairy give them to babies instead of us taking it away because they were bad for his teeth or he was too old shifted the blame and made him feel good for sharing.
We took his bottle away after a visit to the dentist where the dentist said he shouldnt be having it. When he would ask for it we would just say the dentist told us no more bottle which worked as well, although not as fast and easy as the binki fairy. Good Luck, Jen

D.,

This is a little late, but with my son (now 4 1/2) we took his binky away the night before he turned one. We also plan on taking my daughter's away the night before she turns one (next month). Seeing as how your daughter is older now, that's not going to work.

I would suggest picking a day, with your daughter, that the binky's get thrown away/the binky fairy comes and takes them away/"gives them to another kid". Then create a countdown calendar that you and her can cross off the days each night. Then, when the day comes, throw a little "no more binky party" and say good bye to all the binky's.

We did the calendar with my son as a countdown to his sister's birthday last year, and also as a countdown to Christmas this year. He loved crossing off the days each night and counting how many more days were left until the "big day", whatever it was.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

I had a friend that had this same problem with her son. I know this sounds a little corny but on his 4th birthday we got a bunch of helium balloons, and we told him that he was too big for binkys and that he needed to let them go up to the little babies in heaven, so when they chose a mommy and daddys down here on earth they already had binkys that they loved... I told you it was corny :) but we started telling him a couple months before his birthday, and the morning of, he could not wait to send those binkys to the skys. and has been binky free ever since. If you don't like this idea, there are lots of other creative stories you could do. I hope this helps...
Good luck, B.

My husband and I told our daughter that the binky went bye bye. When she felt the need for it we cuddled her and read to her. She forgot all about it. At night it was the hardest, we spent extra time in the room with cuddling and reading. We also replaced it with a favorite stuffed animal. Maybe since the binkie went bye bye tell her she needs a special toy to comfort her. Occuping their mind with other things seem to work for our daughter. It took only a couple of days and she forgot all about it. Good luck!

Hi D.,

The Supernanny has great advice that I intend to use with my 2 year old when she turns 3. You collect all the binkies and put them in a special place (hanging from a tree in the yard, a special box, or whatever). Then, overnight the binky fairy takes them away to give to little babies who need them and leaves your child a special "big girl" toy instead. Hope this helps!

Put something realy gross on it that she does not like. Maybe hot sauce or mustered. You can even cut off most of it . You will have to go throgh alot still but she will stop. Something alittle to think about here ~ have you ever seen a bride with a binky? Lol!!!

We had a little ceremony for our son when it was time to give up the pacifier. We had few friends with other little ones get together for a "paci-going away party". After fun and playing, we made a big deal about going outside and tying the paci to a helium balloon. We all said good-bye to the paci and let him give kisses, etc... Then, when it was time, he let go of the balloon and watched paci and the balloon float away. He became emotional a few times after, but understood that the paci had flown away. He now is almost four and has totally forgotten about the whole thing!

Hi - I remember this problem well as the mother of two binky babies. They are now 8 and 4. Each child required something different but we had the same target. Another baby! We explained that a crying baby (pick one of your friends babies) needed the binkies now more than our family. We bundled them all up in a package and we gifted them to the friend. (who promptly tossed them in the trash!) When my daughter asked for one at bedtime, I reminded her what a big girl she was with a big heart and that she had given them away to a baby who needed them more than she did. We had some fussing for a few naps, and then it was over. A week or so later we had some questions about the location of the binky but once reminded, she settled down. It worked for both girls. With one the ziplock worked well, the other had to wrap each binkie individually like a present. I did find that I was part of the problem. I loved the ability to 'plug' my daughters with the binky when they were sad. I had to employ different distraction techniques after the binkies went away but it was well worth it! (And it made the dentist happy!)
Good luck~

I also have a 3.5 y.o binky addict, and a 9-month-old.

Moving to a big boy bed, potty training & getting rid of binky were all issues and we tackled them in order of importance.

Big boy bed at 2.5 no problem (we needed the crib and did it a few months b/f baby arrived.

We tried the "baby needs a binky" route...but he was like "let's buy him some binkies at Target". One broke and we buried it. He only gets them in the car & in bed (he also uses 2 at a time like others have said, one goes by his nose?)-- anyhow, we're not pushing this one TOO much b/c we're now focusing on PT'ing.

BUT I love the SuperNanny idea of the hanging on tree, gift in return.

But as everyone says, he won't be going off to college w/one :)

Good luck and you're not alone!

The Binky Fairy worked great for us at age 3 1/2. I told her the Binky Fairy had notified me that she would be coming to pick up all of my daughter's binkies. She left the Binky Fairy a note and the Binky Fairy picked up all binkies during nap and left a new toy for our daughter. The first few nights were a little tough going to sleep but she was fine after that.

One of my friends cut the end off of her son's binky at age 2 1/2. He was sad that it couldn't be fixed but wasn't interested in sucking on it anymore without the tip.

Cold Turkey is the way to go! Good luck!

although my babe is young I have watched my friends wean their older children off their binkies.
one friend designed a sticker chart and gave her child a sticker every day he only used it at night. After some amount of stickers he would get a treat. they then made a chart for not needing one at night and he is off. I think he got to pick out some small toy as a reward.

My daughter now 8 was very tied to her binky. We got her to switch to a different comfort. We went to toys are us and picked out 3 stuffed friends for her. She got one when she gathered all her binkies up and gave them to me. She got another after going one day and one night with out one, the third she would get after going 3 days and 3 nights without one. If she reverted to using one she would have to give the friends back and start over. We only had one time where she gave them back, but after that she went off the binkies totally and actually would find ones around the house and give them to me saying to her "friends" that she does not need the binkies anymore cuz she has them. She still has her friends. They are on her special shelf where she can see them everyday.

Like most other responses, I have heard great things about the Binky Fairy. My oldest only wants it at night when he is going to bed. I have decided that this summer we are going to have a visit from the Binky Fairy. If you go that route, please let me know how it went.

Other suggestion I have heard, but usually works on younger kids is to start cutting the very tip of the binky off. If after a few days that does nothing, cut a little more off. I was told that it changes the sucking sensation that the kids get and most don't like it anymore.

I have not tried this myself, but I saw it work on Super Nanny. (I love that show) It was the same concept previously mentioned about the binky fairy and that she needed the binkies to take them to the new babies. Jo (the nanny) had the little girl gather up all her pacifiers (so she would take responsibility and wouldn't blame her parents for taking them away) and they put them in a bag and tied it to a tree outside. The next day they checked the bag and the pacifiers were gone, but in their place was a "big girl" present. I think it was a Dora doll or something like that. Anyways, that's all the thoughts I have on the subject. My son is still pretty attached to his, and after he gets most of his teeth, I'm planning on taking it away.

ohhh, I feel your pain sister! my daughter is 2and a half and still addicted to her binky. I have been trying to hide it during the day and use it only at naps and bedtime. but, the problem is, is that she keeps asking for it all day long. It's such a source of comfort to her especially during her teething times. I feel bad restricting her from it but at the same time, I don't want her addiction to get any stronger and create tooth problems too. my daughters front teeth are also spaced far apart, not sure if it's from the binky or genetic?
I also feel self concious whenever I take her to her toddler class and she's the only kid in there with a binky!! geeezz!
I need help too!
good luck!
J.