Pacifiers - New York, NY

I had the same problem with my daughter couple months ago. My kid’s pediatrician told me that I should try to get rid of the pacifier after her 2nd b-day. So, a month after her birthday I told her that she is a big kid and that there are babies that need the pacifier and she should give the pacifier to them so they don’t cry (I showed her couple of “A Baby Story” episodes on TLC and pointed out crying babies). I gave her a box to put the pacifier in it and we “mailed it” to a baby in need :). That night when she went to bad and asked for the pacifier I told her to remember that we put it into a box and gave it to a baby……she cried and cried (it was breaking my hart) but I gave her a kiss, said good night and walked out of the room. Checked on her couple of times but I didn’t talk when I came back into the room. She fell a sleep after an hour, but woke up twice trough the night (I just came in hugged her and tucked he back into the bead). She did this for 2 more nights and she never asked for a pacifier again…..
Hope my experience helped you a little.

I agree with just taking them away. There's no way I'd buy any more, especially if he's purposely ruining them. I'd also be very careful. If he's strong enough to chew and crack them, he might be able to bite the tip off and choke on it....there's another good reason to just take them away. Of course he'll be mad, but I'd rather deal with an angry toddler than a choking toddler.

I wouldn't buy any more, if he's chewing the heck out of them then he doesn't need it for their intended function, try finding something to substitute for chewing on. I know the night won't be easy but just give him a few days and he'll be over it. those first few nights will probably be really bad, crying, tantrums, etc... it hurts us worse than it hurts them... :)

I'd go cold turkey. But it won't be a fun time for either of you!

Maybe give him a fruit juice popsicle? That way he gets a treat, and can soothe those gums at the same time. Or a frozen banana- yummy! (Grapes work, too, but cut them in half before freezing.) At night, you may have to put him down pretty mad. I don't think there's a way around it. But better now than later!

My son never took a pacifier but my daughter does, so my son who is almost 2 loves to take hers (she's 9.5 months) and chew on them too. Of course, if you want to get rid of the pacifiers NOW then you shouldn't buy more....BUT, I'm going to suggest that if you're going to buy more, you buy a less destructible kind, since he's using them primarily for teething (I'm guessing. Those hospital pacifiers that are green that they give newborns? The company makes another pacifier that's for older babies that is really TOUGH but still rubbery and the same shape, all one piece. When we're having a bad teething episode with our 2-year-old, we give him one of those tough pacifiers and he goes to town chewing on it (this is what his teachers at daycare do if he's biting, for instance, because he only bites when he's teething). He hasn't yet destroyed one of these pacifiers, and they really actually help him. So, just a thought, thinking a little "outside the box" as they say...