Community› The Bump Message Boards› Toddlers: 24 Months+
Toddlers: 24 Months+
New Discussion

Pacifier, how to get rid of?

ladybug2785ladybug2785 member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+
DS just turned 2 and I'm concerned that his pacifier use is causing his teeth to become crooked. Our pediatrician said that it's fine for up to 3 years old and that people just side eye moms with children who still use them and that it doesn't affect teeth.

DS only uses his when he is sleeping, at a doctor appt or like today when he is sick and not feeling well.

We tried to have him throw his pacifiers away a few weeks ago because 'he's a big boy now' and he threw them away no problem, but then DH I were nervous he'd be really upset at bed time if he didn't have it, so we gave it back. I know, bad on us. 

Anyway, anyone have any stories or tips on how you got rid of the pacifier?

Lilypie Pregnancy tickers  
Report Reply to Post

Re: Pacifier, how to get rid of?

  • JENandJEHJENandJEH member
    We got lucky with DS1 and he gave it up on his own at 2.5.  His teeth weren't suffering and he only had it in the bed for naps and night.  His pediatric dentist told us that they don't worry until kids turn 3 so we were just kind of going with it since he wasn't addicted to it during the day.  One day, he decided to bite a hole in his paci at nap and laid down without it.  Did the same with another one at bed and I told him that we only had one more so if he bit that one, they were all gone.  I handed it to him, he bit it and told me "all done!" and went to bed.  That was it.  He never asked for it again.  

    DS2 uses his in the car and in the bed so he's a bit more attached but we're going with it for now.  He's got his first pediatric dentist appointment in April and I'll bring it up again with them and go from there.  I'm hoping it will be as easy as it was with DS1 but not counting on it.  

    My SIL had great success by having my niece mail leave her pacis for the Paci Fairy to take to the new babies in the hospital.  The Paci Fairy left my niece a doll in their place I think.  I've heard of snipping the end off with scissors and then telling them that they're broken.  Most kids won't like it with the end snipped off.  
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • blu-eyedwifeblu-eyedwife member
    Daycare was a big help for us.  He only used it for sleeping (so naps and bedtime) and my goal was to "wean" him from the pacifier like we did with nursing, by dropping one usage at a time.  I wanted to drop the nap first, so we started on a weekend.  Aaaaaand he did not nap.  Spent the whole time crying. I didn't want him to disturb the kids at daycare during nap time, so I sent his pacifier in with him on Monday and talked to his teacher about it.  She said they'd work on it during naps, and if it got bad, they'd give him the pacifier.  His teacher felt like it was easier to work out at school, because of the peer pressure - examples of other kids not using it.

    Day 1:  At naptime the daycare provider asked him if he was a big boy.  He said he was.  She told him that big boys don't use pacifiers and pointed out all his friends who didn't use pacifiers.  He lay down and whimpered a little bit then went to sleep.

    Day 2: Nap without a pacifier no problem.

    Day 3: At bedtime he announced he was a big boy and didn't need a pacifier.  And we were officially done with the pacifier.
    June '15 January Siggy Challenge.  Pinterest Fails
    image

     Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • sunnyday016sunnyday016 member
    We took it away cold turkey a few weeks ago because he literally chewed the nipple of it off. He had it separated in his mouth! (holy choking hazard) So, that freaked us right out. No more pacis for him. Honestly, it's been going really crappy without it. He is really hard to settle down for naps & bedtime. The paci used to be an instant calmer for him, and now he just cannot relax. 

    ...so good luck!
    S- March 09 E- Feb 12 L- May 15


    Report Reply
  • jc&catjc&cat member

    We just crossed this bridge recently with DD who was just about 2 and 3/4 at the time. She would need it at night and naps (she was dropping naps just before this time) and if she woke at night. Like NEEEEEDED it. I was nervous but knew it had to go eventually. Doc said 3 as the previous poster mentioned but we had to get it doen. 

    We talked alot about our friend's little girl who is just about 1 and how we should give the pacis to her since she is a baby and DD is a big girl. That went on for a bit but she wasn't giving in easily. Then we went bribery. I told her she could trade her pacis for an Elsa doll (Frozen) from the disney store. I put them in the zip lock bag (saved one emergency back up at home) and off we went to the mall 2 days later. She grabbed the doll and practically threw the bag on the counter and walked away. We were STUNNED. The people at the disney store made a huge deal of it. Gave her a bunch of stuff, certificate, etc for being a big girl. That night she did get PO'd when she asked for her paci and threw Elsa out of the crib once but was ok in the end. Night 2 she freaked and after that, never asked for it again. So, I suggest a replacement for it as a security item and don't be afraid to bribe. Good luck!

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • ladybug2785ladybug2785 member
    Thanks for all the awesome tips ladies :)

    I think DH and I will wait until he is 2.5 to see if he gives it up on his own. If not I'll use some of these tips.

    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers  
    Report Reply
  • Leap08Leap08 member
    Honestly, we just did it cold turkey with both girls. By the time we went cold turkey they were only allowed to have the paci at bedtime. With DD1, one night we couldn't find a paci and so we just put her to bed. I think she was about 18 months. We wanted her to be done with the paci before DD2 was born and that just seemed like a good opportunity to give it a try. She cried for about 10 minutes for 2 nights and that was it. DD2 was just over 2 when we got rid of her paci. One night she wanted to sleep with DD1 (she has a full sized bed). We told her that they could try it, but that she couldn't have her paci in her sister's big girl bed. It totally worked. She never even asked for it again. In retrospect, we probably could have gotten rid of her paci earlier.
    Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • ladylisaltladylisalt member
    I also am loving all the ideas ladies. My DS is 2.8 and still uses the paci at bed, naps and when upset. I honestly havent worried about teeth with it. His DCP dosent seem concerned either, she goes with the flow. We have started to talk about the "binky fairy" for awhile. You can Utube Elmo and binky fairy. My son loves watching Elmo sing "how he's a big boy now". He also grasps the idea he can turn the binkys in for a present but isn't "quite ready". I am hoping by this summer to get rid of them but honestly I am kind of scared bc I know its going to suck. MY DH and I have always gone the slower approach to weaning from things instead of the cold turkey. I know it will eventually be gone but I try not to stress about it.

    My friend just had success recently with her 2.5 year old, turning the binky's into the fairy and getting a present. All went well, so it does work for some kids. Good luck, I will need it too eventually.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Advice"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1b80a2.aspx" alt=" Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"