We are on day 5 of no pacifier. My daughter turns 3 in December and it was long overdue that I take it away. However, now it is like my daughter forgot how to go to sleep. I realize the "binky" was her "sleep prop" since it was only used during naptime and overnight. However, my daughter has always been an excellent sleeper. Up until I took the binky, she slept from 7:30 or 8:00pm until 6:30am and then would nap from 1:00-3:30 everyday. Now... she is having a very difficult time falling asleep and it is taking like 2 hours before bed, and today she wouldn't nap at all, so she just fell asleep in the car when I couldn't wait any longer. Is there anything I should do to help her fall asleep? Giving the pacifier back is not an option.
Has anyone had a similar experience and what was the result? Is she going to get over the withdrawals of the pacifier and then sleep as before?
i say stick it out too.
or it maybe a sucking thing shes missing and thats what calms her.
my DD is kind of the same way.
i give her a sippy cup with 1 oz water.
i dont want her to start sucking on her thumbs!
shes 3 also.
hasnt had a binky since she was 6 mths old.
...does she have a Lovey? Or loveys?
Give her something else to comfort with....
My son, took 2 days to adjust to sleeping without his binky. But he has a lovey too, that he sleeps with.
I don't know, how long your daughter will take to adjust, nor if her usual sleep ability will return.
I imagine it will... but who knows how long it will take.
Cold turkey is a tough way to go for anyone on anything. I have 3 girls. Only one had a pacifier...boy did she have pacifiers! One in her mouth, one in each hand, 6 in the bed ....the list goes on. She slowly "lost" all of them. I don't remember how old she was (she is 29 now) My fear in taking it away cold turkey was that she might start sucking her thumb which I thought would be worse since you can't take THAT away. I remember seeing on the Nanny show.....making a big deal out of the "Pacy Fairy" coming to take the pacy to a baby that really needed it since she is such a big girl now and trading it for a stuffed animal or some other "prize" that the fairy brought. It was a great big event with a thank you note from the fairy, balloons and really a celebration! It worked well on the show. But since giving it back and starting over isn't an option, I think all you can do is comfort her and keep telling her what a big girls she is and this is how big girls go to sleep. Start a new routine...jammies, brush teeth, read a book, snuggle with her and then to sleep. It will pass...keep loving on her!
Giving the pacifier back is an option. I'm not saying you should, but it certainly is an option. You aren't a failure if you change tactics. We also waited until our daughter was three to take her "binky" away. We did it gradually. It was only ever allowed during car rides and sleeping, which made it a bit easier than if she had it all the time. First, it wasn't allowed while in the car. Then naps and finally bedtime. At bedtime we started with every other night and stretched it out as she became accustomed. Finally she just stopped asking about it. It took a couple of months from start to finish and we RARELY had any issues. My thought was why deal with the stress for her or for us. I worry about doing all kinds of things "right", but some things we've decided to do in a way that makes sense to us and to heck with the accepted methods. What you're doing seems very hard on all of you. I'd try to adjust and adapt in a way that works for all of you. Who cares if you start over and she has the binky for a few more days to reset the process!
This too shall pass :)
Best of luck to you!!
Updated
Giving the pacifier back is an option. I'm not saying you should, but it certainly is an option. You aren't a failure if you change tactics. We also waited until our daughter was three to take her "binky" away. We did it gradually. It was only ever allowed during car rides and sleeping, which made it a bit easier than if she had it all the time. First, it wasn't allowed while in the car. Then naps and finally bedtime. At bedtime we started with every other night and stretched it out as she became accustomed. Finally she just stopped asking about it. It took a couple of months from start to finish and we RARELY had any issues. My thought was why deal with the stress for her or for us. I worry about doing all kinds of things "right", but some things we've decided to do in a way that makes sense to us and to heck with the accepted methods. What you're doing seems very hard on all of you. I'd try to adjust and adapt in a way that works for all of you. Who cares if you start over and she has the binky for a few more days to reset the process!
This too shall pass :)
Best of luck to you!!
Just remember it take three week to break a habit or start a new one.
Hi K., I think no one has answered you yet since it sounds like you are doing everything right! Time will go by (a different amount of time for every kid), and this tooshall pass.
Only thing I can offer is maybe get her a 'lovey'. Maybe something of yours, something to go to sleep with to bring her comfort.
Maybe you can ask her what she would like, maybe you can bring her to pick out her own 'lovey', a trip to get a small soft suffed animal purchased specifically for this purpose. If she 'believes' it will help her fall asleep, it just might work.
Otherwise, her sleep patterns WILL even back out, I promise!
Good Mama that the binky is not an option, but you may have to replace it with something else.
Good Luck!
Good for you for removing the pacifier! I know it's hard. Try a soft toy or doll, try a recorded message or music or story - some toys have a device inside for this - or try a new routine. You will work it out. I'd shorten the nap in any case. Work out a bedtime routine that is for "big girls" and she will manage to get to sleep. It may take awhile but hang in there!
Yes, she will sleep again. My oldest has ALWAYS had a hard time sleeping. I had a HORRIBLE time parting from his pacifier (being the child that never slept until he was 5). I'd say you're doing a good job. Keep your chin up and trust your instincts. She'll sleep again, just be patient. It takes 2 weeks to successfully kick a habit be it nail biting, nose picking, knuckle cracking or a pacifier. You're half way there. Good luck and best wishes!!
Yes she will it may take 10 to 15 days but she will go back to her sleep habits.
Just stick it out. She's trying desperately to get you to give it back. She will give up eventually, but if she's strong willed, then it could take a while. Maybe a new snuggly toy MIGHT help. Maybe used as a reward for being a big girl and giving up the binky.
