My darling son just turned 2 in May. He has never used his paci during the day, but definitely needed it for naps and at night time. Well, at his 2 year visit I asked his pediatrician about his overbite and how it was effecting his speach - very poor enunciation. She suggested seeing a ped dentist. We went and had a very successful appointment! I couldn't believe that he sat still to have his teeth cleaned!!! No cavities, plaque or tarter!!! Then came the not so great news - the majority of his overbite was a result of his paci. I knew it was coming, getting rid of the paci, but I never thought this quickly. She said the quicker the better and that if we got rid of it now that there was a good chance that his teeth/overbit would almost completely correct itself (great news!!!). So good-by...cold turkey! We survived the first night. He was such a trooper! Grandma caved during nap time, but we were back on track that night. My question: he seems to be sleeping ok, and through the night, but he has been cranky getting up in the morning and has begun fighting goign to sleep at night. Almost like he is not getting 'good' sleep anymore. My perfect sleeper now wants me to sit with him until he falls alseep. Any suggestions on making the transition a little easier for him? He has always been such a good sleeper, I hate to see that change in him. Thanks for all of your help Mamas!
Congratulations! It really is much easier than you think it is going to be isnt it. I bet his sleep will go back to normal very soon-don't worry. I would be careful staying with him until he is out though. This may replace one sleep aid with another-you!
Have you tried cutting the tip off? It makes it a less of a sucking device at that point and my daughter would just hold it in her mouth for comfort--I would remove it once she was asleep. Slowly, I would cut it down smaller and smaller until she just didn't like it anymore. There was still a transition, but easier and less traumatic that when I tried to make her go cold turkey.
I was really strict about limiting the pacifier and, while I would do it again, I think it made her a little too dependent on it for sleep.
I got some good advice from my sister. The paci is a soothing mechanism. He will need some things (hugs, cuddles, books, etc.) to replace that. I don't see a problem with amending the nightime routine to include you . . . for a while, but just like when he was a baby leave while he is drowsy, but alert until you can back it out and just do your routine and leave. It will probably take a little time, but good thing is, you've probably done it before:)
I went through the SAME THING. My son was an awesome sleeper when he had the paci. He never got up, always was ok with sleeping in his bed and now that he doesn't have it, he is a night walker (goes to the couch or my bed) or simply refuses to sleep in his bed at night (he's 3.5 now). I have ZERO solution for you other than saying you're not alone and I feel your pain.
I would LOVE to have him back to his old sleeping patterns.
Good luck to you.
My daughter did the same thing when she gave her pacis to the Easter Bunny for the baby bunnies. She had a hard time going to sleep then. She wanted me sit with her, talk to her, play with her hair... For the first week or two, we did it. Whatever was going to make the transition easier for her. After a week or two though, we transitioned her away from us sitting with her. I kinda used it as a stepping stone & it wasn't bad. It didn't take much time at all and we were back to normal. She is again on a GREAT sleeping schedule and sleeps wonderfully. Good luck!
Replace the paci with a security item of another sort. My kids have blankets they love. We are attempting to stop the thumb sucking habit with our 4 yo. I think the habit is almost broken. We have been doing this for several weeks...the first three were bad. My son didn't fuss or argue, but he did fight sleep. For 4 years, his thumb soothed him to sleep and now he doesn't have that. But we noticed recently that he hasn't been having as hard a time...your son will get better rest, he just needs some time to adjust. GL!
Our son just turned 25 months and we are removing his binky as well. Although we didn't use the "cold turkey" method (we used www.bye-bye-binky.com), our son is doing exactly the same thing. It has been just over a week since we started the process. WITH his binky, he'd go to bed fully awake (even with the light on) and we'd switch it off when we left. NOW, he wants rocked and held etc etc. So, we started off rocking him and then laying him down and rubbing his back until he fell asleep. We did that a few nights. Then we started off just rubbing his back. Then hand on back (no rubbing) then just standing beside the crib, then standing in middle of room, then by the door, then in the hall, etc. We spent a night or two on each step and now he's just starting to go to bed on his own again w/o much fight.
Now, I will say that my son is getting up earlier and taking shorter naps, but I hope that that will change as he adjusts over time.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I pray he adjusts quickly!!
Have you tried giving him something to replace the paci and tell him this is what will comfort him while mommy and daddy are in the next room? Like perhaps a new or old favorite teddy bear or blanket?
