We’ve been having the pacifier debate at our house recently.
The boys absolutely love their paci’s!! Love them!!
But they are now 19 months old and part of me thinks its time to get rid of them. The reason I say part of me is because they sleep so well at night and during naps with their paci’s. That’s the main reason I hesitate, I don’t want to lose their good sleeping habits.
During the day and play time they are without the paci. Sometimes Daddy DT will give it to them if they are whining or fussing.
But if I walk in a see them with it, I just ask for it and they usually happily hand it over. They know I put them on the kitchen counter, and occasionally Little H will walk over and ask for it. But only close to nap or bed time.
So my question is for all. If your child used a paci, at what age did you take it away and how?? Any tips would help a great deal. Thank you!
Only my oldest used one and she was past two when we took it away cold turkey.
That was a HORRIBLE decision.
She turned into a whiny, fretful child whose sleep habits were totally messed up for a long, long time.
My sister’s plan of attack was much more sane. She limited paci use to the crib/bed only. As soon as they woke up she made a game of tossing the paci back in. Later in the day if they wanted a paci they had to go sit in the crib to use it!
Awesome pictorial btw! lol. Great pics of expression in this post! My kids all used one. My thought was always, they’ll get rid of it when they want to get rid of it., lol. But that doesn’t work well in all situations because you don’t want them still needing one in preschool, right? lol
Just be sure that when you do decide to do it, you have THEM do it. Like actually have THEM throw it away, do a happy dance, clap, have a mini party! Celebrate. (and be prepared for a couple little garbage pickers that night)
Or, you can just limit it to nights at first, like a gradual withdrawl.
Yeah. Good luck with this! You’ve got TWO to contend with! ha ha (maybe you should have some wine handy. for you.)
Your babies are so lovely! My mom got rid my pacifier when I was 1 year old. ‘Cause I always drop from cradle and cried. My mom was tired to got up a lot of times in a night to pick up the pacifier for me, so she got rid it.
Mindee- see that’s what I am afraid of, I basically do the same thing, get them to leave it in their cribs.
Sheila- Thanks, yes I was thinking a gradual withdrawal would probably be the best.
Talita- see they go to sleep with it but usually spit it out during the middle of the night, and never wake up.
Okay the last picture is great….looks like he is really considering things there! What cuties…very lucky
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I heard a story from a friend of mine where they had a “all grown up!” event. They had a celebration, and then retired the pacifier. Losing the paci became a sense of “I’m a big kid” instead of crying. Maybe they got the idea from jon and kate +8, but wherever they got it, it worked.
I know someone that clipped just the tip of the pacifer and then gradually clipped more and more off until it was gone. By then, the kid didn’t even really like the pacifer anymore because it was “broken.”
Im new to your blog and OH MY GOSH your boys are precious!!! I am expecting my first this November(thanks for your comment about the dog adjusting!)..so I have NO clue on the paci issue, however im interested to see what your other readers advise!
What beautiful babies, you are twice blessed.
We never used a pacifier, my mother threatened me if I would use one she would not sit for me…so we didn’t use it. I don’t know if it was a good decision or not.
On a Nanny 911 episode one time they tackled this issue. They picked a date (like a week away) that the paci fairy would come and collect all the pacis and give them to other little kids that really needed them. Each day they would anticipate the day the fairy would come (ie. 4 more days). Then on the “big” day they whole family went around gathering the pacis and putting them all in a bag. That evening they went outside and hung the bag in a tree for the fairy to pick them up. Next morning they would run outside to see that the bag was gone and clapped and cheered. It seemed to have worked for Nanny, but I don’t know if little H and W are old enough to understand all of this?????? Good Luck!
I don’t envy you at all during this time, but I feel fortunate that Abigail never took a pacifier.
My parents said when I was two, my Dad gave me this speech: “Are you a big girl like Aphia (a 4 year old friend)? Do big girls clap hands? Do big girls kiss their Mommies? Do big girls take baths? ETc… on to Do big girls go without pacifiers? He said I shook my head, and he took my pacifier away and threw all of them away, cold turkey. For them/me it was simple. I hope it is for you!!
I’ve heard other people poke holes in the paci so that it’s not as enjoyable to suck. Best of luck!
I am curious to see what works for your boys since I am sure Aiden will be a addicted to pacifiers. He seems to be easily calmed by his pacifier since he has been introduced to one. I was hesitate to give him one but I figured it was better then him finding his thumb!
Well, I’ve got an Early Childhood Education degree and have been working as a private Nanny for 3 years (starting when the twins were 6 weeks old.) And, I tell you that, to tell you this: a child at 19 months old does not have the reasoning skills to “self-soothe” thus- something out of the norm happens, and they will cry. Pacifiers were invented because children find the suckling motion soothing. Pacifiers provide a way for very young children to self-soothe. NOT on my life would I take a pacifier away from a child who for the last 19 months been able to self soothe. Not only will it affect your sleeping schedule, but it may very well provide a stumbling block in your boys’ emotional growth. They will have to learn a whole new way to accomplish something that previously was working great!
Why do you feel like the pacifer needs to go? I only ask because I hope it’s not that you’re allowing ignorant people to judge your mothering skills. W & H are growing quickly into fine young boys! They are so obviously, happy, healthy, and stimulated! If it’s because your afraid of the dental repercussions- I wouldn’t be too concerned. Most dentists say it’s not the pacifier kids with problems, it’s the thumb suckers. If it’s because you want them to progress emotionally- without a pacifier, I honestly tell you- it’s simply not fair to expect that of a child less that 2 years old.
If you’re convinced it must be done, I would go with Dory’s “SuperNanny” way- set a date and stick to it. In the few days before the “event” there is a book I would reccommend you start reading to the boys, “Little Bunnies Pacifier Plan.”
Now that I’ve written a book, I hope I don’t sound to harsh. I’m not a mother- I only have book smarts and experience with other peoples children…sos this very well may be something I can’t possibly understand. But I am very passionate about what I do- and thus, I tend to be quit opionated.:-)
What to do with the paci is such a hard decision! I took my kids’ pacies away at age 2. I actually cut the tip off, glued it back with a teeny bit of honey, (without letting them see me do this of course) gave it to them and they put it in their mouths only to immediately pull it out. They both had the same response, “My paci broke!” And then they threw paci away and that was that. I’m fortunate that it was easy for me. I know it’s not always the case. Good luck!
It’s time to toss the paci’s. Their pictures would be so much better without the paci’s in the way. Plus you have that great camera now but those ugly paci’s are in the way of their cute smiles. And I also read that those paci’s can make the kids have buckteeth. Which is totally uncool. Plus your older brother says it’s time.
Oh my!! TOO much cuteness!! Cuteness overload!! They are SOOO precious! I want a baby so much! I sat next to a little boy at ‘Transformers’ this weekend, and debated stealing him 🙂 He was A-dorable!!
I’d say just make sure they don’t start sucking their thumb if u take away the paci. I had a friend in elementary who sucked her thumb for WAAAY too long! It got difficult to break the habit! 🙂
Yikes, I can’t help you there. We never gave our 5yo a paci because I didn’t want to have to deal with the takeaway part later on. Good luck.
My mother dipped ours in vinegar and handed it to us. Once we got the awful taste we didn’t have anything to do with it. We have also used this technique on my little cousin, he was about yours boys age when we did it!! Works like a charm!!
Good luck!
Ask your mom how old you were when she cut the tip off of your paci. You use to love your paci. KB never had one and I don’t remember it being a problem for AB. He wasn’t as attached as your boys he was too busy biting. I’d give them a little longer with it.
They are just too cute!
Your boys are just adorable!!! How precious!! I guess with the paci situation, I was lucky. I used them with my boys (who are now 12 and 14) and they both stopped using them on their own around 9 months. I am now expecting again (BIG surprise) and will probably use a paci again. Hopefully, this little one will just give it up on its own too….not sure that I will get that lucky or blessed!!! LOL!
I don’t remember how old they were (under 2) but I cut a hole in the pacifiers so that they collapsed when they tried to suck. That only worked with one of the kiddos though. For the other two every couple of days I would cut a little more off until there was just nothing left but the handle. lol That helped them to finally tire of their suckers (that’s what they called them).