When & How to Wean off a Binkie???

Updated on November 07, 2008
B.W. asks from Salt Lake City, UT
5 answers

My 2 yr old son is obsessed with his binkies. He doesn't use them during the day unless he's tired, he's talking great and I'm not worried that the binkies are hindering him at all. The problem is at night. He is still in a crib, and a few times a week, he will throw them out and then scream until one of us comes digging around under and in his bed for them. It's starting to get really old! Binkie clips don't work anymore because he knows how to unclip them from his clothes. We usually give him about 5 binkies at night, and they ALL end up on the floor. I'm tempted to just take them away cold turkey, but we have another baby due in about 10 weeks, and I am wondering if I should wait until she comes and we are all adjusted that change? Let me know your opinions, please! My biggest concern is that it will continue to get worse, and I will be up all night with BOTH kids!!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the encouragement! We decided to take them away this morning. We told him he was a Big Boy and it was time to throw his binkies away. He threw them in the garbage and said "Bye-bye, Binkies. All gone." I'm sure we have a rough couple of days ahead of us, but I feel like it will be okay! Thanks!!

More Answers

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N.S.

answers from Pocatello on

Cold turkey, with him seeing them go into the trash and being taken out to curb, etc. is best. He needs to know that they've been thrown away because he's a big boy and doesn't need them anymore. Do a sweep of the house to make sure there aren't any he might find later. As for the timing, that is totally up to you and how you feel. When you feel it's right. If you just clear your mind of all the what abouts, and just go with whatever feeling comes first, go with that. You know best about the when.

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M.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hi Becca,
I have 3 kids and they were binkie babies. So, when i thought it was time I took the binkies but 1 and had him throw them in the garbage and wave bye bye to them cause he is a big boy now. Then we walked the garbage out to the street (after I left them in the kitchen garbage he knew and wanted them again) So we really had to get them out to the street and told him that the garbage man took them. Then with that one I kept I cut the tip off. So when he wouldn't stop crying I finally broke down and gave him the cut one and he didn't want it. That way he weaned himself. good luck!

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A.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

The best thing my MIL did was loose my oldest favorite and only binkie at 9 months. He cried at night the first night only and then that was it - never a thought about it. Have a big throwing away party, if you want, since I have heard those work with older kids. But cut it out cold turkey as soon as possible. I knew a family that gave their daughter a new one as a present for graduating preschool!? No way should it be encouraged for that long!

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D.K.

answers from Denver on

I would take them away now, cold turkey. Once that baby comes it will be even longer for him to give them up.
Are you moving him into his own bed when the baby comes? I just wouldn't do both big things at the same time. By two he shouldn't need a crib I wouldn't think either. Maybe letting him keep the binkie for a while but time to move him into a big boy bed. Behaviors can get worse when a new sibling arrives, if you are tired of him throwing them out then you need to put an end to it. Personally I would look at him and just say "I guess you don't want them anymore" and let him scream. May sound harsh but he is totalling controlling the situation.

You just need to make up your mind what you want to be the outcome. I say take them away, he will adjust to it in a matter of a few days or move him to a big boy bed. He is two and you will have your hands full with the new baby, do you really want to be doing these big changes after the fact?

That way he won't associate the baby with the changes. If you empower him now with being a big boy it will be easier when the baby comes.

I never gave my kids pacifiers, they didn't want them, both babbled too much I think. However if I had and it starts causing issues like them waking, crying or making you jump to find them, it is time to get rid of them. They are not good for his teeth, regardless if you are worried, they can cause growth issues in the roof of the mouth and make teeth stick out. Ask your Dentist.

My daughter was 23 mos when I put her in a big girl bed and my son 25 mos, both transitioned in one night. Get a bed rail, take the pacifiers away, send them to the binkie fairy or whatever works for him. Reward him with a big boy toy, really talk up being a big brother and you would be surprised how easy it can be. I can say when my son came along, my daughter was shy of 3 and she had NO PROBLEM with an adjustment, she was so excited and it was so much easier then I had expected. Good luck and CONGRATS!

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A.H.

answers from Denver on

I have a friend that gathered up all of her two year old's binkies and told her she could use them to buy whatever she wanted at the toy store. They took her to the toy store, told the clerk before hand what was going on, and then her daughter traded all of her binkies in for her toy. And she never looked back.

Just an idea if you're desperate...

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