Clicky: Is it time to lose the paci?

kimbo1216

So.  I think we might be to a point where the paci is doing more harm than good.    Audrey started taking a paci around 4.5 months.  It was an important sleep association for her then, so we kept it to only sleep.  Eventually, it became only for sleep/car/emergency situations. lol. 

Anyway,  if she lost her paci int he motn before, it was nbd.  There were lots of times, she'd wake up in the morning without it.  Now, she is becoming increasingly attached to the dang thing.  If she loses it, she often cries until we replace it. I'm a mean momma and can typically hold out longer than DH.  I like to see if she'll just go back to sleep (about half the time she does within a few minutes). 

[poll]

Yes.  I made a poll because it's early and I am up with A while DH sleeps away.

 

ETA: to fix my extremely embarrassing spelling mistake in the title. 

CarlaAndJames

I voted take it away all together, but I really mean just bedtime, if that's the only time it's causing a problem. It sounds like it's definitely a sleep association, so if she falls asleep with it, when she wakes up she has to look for it.Even if she finds it herself without your help, it's breaking her sleep pattern and I think she'd be better rested without it. 

If you still want to use it for naps or car rides, if it's not causing a problem with those, we've found it pretty easy to comparmentalize. We dropped it cold turkey at bedtime when we Ferbered but we still offer it for other things. 

justme04

I personally can't stand seeing kids older then 1 with a paci.  Both of my boys actually stopped using one on their own around 6 months.  But I'd let them use one up to a year if they hadn't.

cvl105

I voted SS. I see no problem with letting her use it to sleep if it helps. I'm all for baby sleeping so Mommy can sleep! haha.

I suggest putting multiple pacis in her crib so that if she does lose one, she can just reach out and find another. My Mom used to have to do that with my brother...I'm talking 10 pacis in the crib.

Callie still uses a paci and I'm just lucky that she either finds it on her own or just doesn't need it if she wakes up without it I guess.

butterfly62682

cvl105:

I voted SS. I see no problem with letting her use it to sleep if it helps. I'm all for baby sleeping so Mommy can sleep! haha.I suggest putting multiple pacis in her crib so that if she does lose one, she can just reach out and find another. My Mom used to have to do that with my brother...I'm talking 10 pacis in the crib.Callie still uses a paci and I'm just lucky that she either finds it on her own or just doesn't need it if she wakes up without it I guess.

This. I don't plan to start paci weaning for another 6 months or so.

cvl105

justme04:

I personally can't stand seeing kids older then 1 with a paci.  Both of my boys actually stopped using one on their own around 6 months.  But I'd let them use one up to a year if they hadn't.

Have a kid who needs it beyond a year and you'll sing a different tune.

LauraOTR

butterfly62682:

cvl105:

I voted SS. I see no problem with letting her use it to sleep if it helps. I'm all for baby sleeping so Mommy can sleep! haha.I suggest putting multiple pacis in her crib so that if she does lose one, she can just reach out and find another. My Mom used to have to do that with my brother...I'm talking 10 pacis in the crib.Callie still uses a paci and I'm just lucky that she either finds it on her own or just doesn't need it if she wakes up without it I guess.

This. I don't plan to start paci weaning for another 6 months or so.

I agree with this also. I won't worry about night weaning the paci until 18 mo-2 years. I can't stand seeing kids who walk around with a paci in their mouth while playing, talking, etc (I'm talking to you, Kourtney Kardashian). But I see nothing wrong with using it at night at this age. I also put "land mines" of pacis...we have about 6 in there. He can always find one (some are even glow in the dark).

mrs mosby

DD is going through the same thing. I'm not sure if the sudden attachment is bc of the new baby or teething. We are letting her keep it for now. 

frugalwife

I was planning to wean the paci at 18 mo. But a few weeks ago LO had roseola and has been working on molars and outright refused it. Never wanted it back. He stopped nursing at that time too. I was completely baffled (and saddened about the nursing). Not sure if it was the illness or the molars. Putting him to bed at night and naptime has been a little more difficult but not bad.

Syncronicity09

my neice used a paci for sleep only and her teeth started to push forward at around 18 months, way forward! and it happened fast. The dentist told them to wean ASAP.

I would wean now. You are going to have to do it eventually and better now than after problems arise.

Kymbirleigh

I really can't say either way. LO weaned herself from it at 2 months.   We're trying to break the finger habit... That's her go to when she's stressed, hungry, or sleepy.

kimbo1216

justme04:

I personally can't stand seeing kids older then 1 with a paci.  Both of my boys actually stopped using one on their own around 6 months.  But I'd let them use one up to a year if they hadn't.

Well.  We can't all be as perfect as you and your child-rearing. 

How dare I let my 1 15 month old have a paci for sleep!  What was I thinking?!?

kimbo1216

cvl105:

I suggest putting multiple pacis in her crib so that if she does lose one, she can just reach out and find another. My Mom used to have to do that with my brother...I'm talking 10 pacis in the crib.

Haha.  Not a bad idea.  I may do that.  Fortunately, she did well last night.  This really all started around the time she stated day care.  I think all the adjusting has given her a stronger attachment to it?  Maybe.  Just a theory. 

I think we've decided to go with the give her one at bed time, but don't replace it if she wakes up.  I may give her one and throw an extra in her crib though.

Thanks for the vote ladies!

 

Diver0214

I know I am a little late to this, but I am with you. She gets one at night and when she wakes up I have one right next to her crib so I just give it to her and back to bed she goes,

I have tried putting more than one in her crib and she has just gotten used to me giving her one. I need my sleep right now. I think once all her molars come in and she is more comfortable we will try weaning.