Getting rid of the paci tonight- I'm scared!

BabyBurns

DD only takes it for naps and bedtime but she is very dependent on it. Tonight we told her she could have a surprise if she threw it away. She did and she got a hula hoop. 

My question is, how do we handle bedtime? Should we Ferberize her tonight? I know she'll need to be comforted and I'm determined not to give in. Any tips or suggestions would be really great!

JENandJEH

I don't know if I can be of much help because I didn't take my son's away, he just decided he was done with it one day.  I would say that Ferberizing her the same night as she's giving up her paci may not be the best way to go.  If that was her only comfort item, bedtime will probably be rough and I'd basically do whatever I had to to get her to sleep except giving her the paci. 

 

If she doesn't have another comfort item, ask her if she wants to pick one toy/blanket/other item you're comfortable with to sleep with.  When DS gave up his paci, he started sleeping with all 4 of his blankets but those are what comfort him so I just go with it.  Good luck!  I was petrified to get rid of DS's paci (and his sleep patterns really started to suck once he gave it up) but I will say for us, it paid off to let him decide when to give it up (he was totally dependent on it for naps, night and in the car).  He gave it up at 2 years 7 months. 

TheOriginalSP

All I can say is good luck and put in the ear plugs!  lol  The first 3 or 4 nights after we took away the paci it was hell.  She cried/screamed/fought for hours.  Not even joking.  HOURS!  But we would go in every once in a while to calm her down.

We let DD pick out a reward at the store after a full week of no paci.  It worked, but it took a bit of time.

Also late congrats on your little girl!