pacifier? my friend or enemy?

MariM

Nadia loves her paci. She took to it right away and it instantly soothes her when she's fussy. Unfortunately- she hasn't figured out how to keep it in her mouth! Last night, she had me on paci duty screaming for me to put it in her mouth every time it fell out (every 30 minutes or so).

I tried not giving it to her- but she wouldn't let me put her down.

I tried takimg it from her when I thought she was sleeping deeply- she woke up!

So- my question- do they ever learn to keep it in their mouths or will I be on paci duty until she learns how to pick it up and stick it back in herself???

(Oh! and we do pull on it like they reccomend in the happiest baby on the block).

GenaAndJosh

Spencer had the same issue!  However, now when he is sleeping and it falls out, he stays asleep.  I know Nadia is a few days older than Spencer so maybe he'll pick up the same trend.  GL!

MellyMelB

I tried giving Sophia the paci when she was tiny and she took to it a few times but it always fell out. I tried tucking it into the swaddle but when it fell she never cried for it. Hence, she never took it. I think the paci is a help and a hindrance but unlike the thumb - you can always take it away when the time comes.  

Sophia is the "bobo thief" in school and with her cousins, tho, because while she does not take one herself she wants everyone elses.

FSUSammy

Mikey was the same as Sophia. Early on I'd give him the paci but it would fall out and he wouldn't wake up crying for it. Once he found his thumb around 4 months he would self soothe himself. Now he sucks his thumb anytime he is tired or as soon as we put the bib on him. I'm in no rush to stop that habit though. I see a lot of kids in daycare that wake up from their nap and immediately jam the paci for no reason. I'm glad Mikey isn't like that. He jams the thumb in his mouth for specific reasons so I know it won't be too hard to break that habit.

MelanieJH1016

Zoe is a paci girl. She only uses it for sleep though. It only stays in her mouth until she falls asleep but she doens't wake up needing it back in her mouth. I think she did do that in the beginning, but i can't remember how long it lasted for. I feel that she is reliant on the paci to fall asleep, but as long as she stays asleep now even when it's out, i am fine with that!

YapYap0813

Both my girls were paci girls, Hannah still is at 10 months. It takes a couple of months before they really can hold it in their mouths by themselves, I just always kind of stuck it out until then. It sucks (no pun intended, lol) but it was the only way I could keep them asleep!

ANJ410

The day Nicholas learned how to put that pacifier back into his mouth himself was a huge turning point in our relationship! Unfortunately it didn't happen until he about 6 months old.  Before that he woke up every half hour all night long crying for it. It is your friend though...it helps soothe a crying baby better than anything else.  Hang in there.

Mrs.Honeybunny

Angelina is a major paci girl! still at 25 months! but now it's only for night time. it's always in her crib until she is ready for bed. anyway I used the swaddling for soothing more than the paci. the moment I swaddled her she would know it's time to go to sleep...worked like magic!! now the paci is totally my friend! when she's sick or really sleepy it does wonders. the only problem is I can't get rid of it right now with all the changes coming. we are trying to concentrate on other things like getting her into her own room and into a toddler bed before julian arrives. also potty training...just too many things to deal with.

my recommendation is yes to paci since you can't cut off a thumb lol but try to get rid of it as early as possible...1 year old! not doing it this way with Julian. we just got rid of bottles!! so yeah you learn with #1

good luck mama, it gets better, I PROMISE

I used to have angelina in a moses basket on my bed or in her positoner inbetween me and DH and just kept my hand holding her paci lol you do what you got to do in the begining.

love4ever2006

I agree with Gretel. If you stick with the paci my only recommendation is to take it away as soon as possible. I was going to try to do it now but as I am in the same boat I won't be able to do it after the baby is here since I have read and hear from friends that toddlers imitate their little brother/sister and I do not want to deal with those changes right now. The bottle is the same....it would've been easier at one since now he knows exactly what he wants and asks for it.

Good Luck

Barbie?