Home Saying goodbye to the binky....

[Bev]

Hey Ladies,

Just wondering if any of you can share some tips on weaning your baby/toddler off of the pacifier?? My 2 year old son is currently attached to both his pacifier and blankie. I don''t mind the blankie so much, but I think it''s time for the binky to GO!

We''ve tried to wean slowly by limiting the time he has it. For example, he is not allowed to have his binky when he is playing. If he does have it he needs to be going to sleep.

He has never really had a hard time with transitions. He weaned off of bf''ing, the bottle, sippy cup, and even potty trained very easily. We''re just having issues with the binky.

Any advice would be great! Thanks ladies!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 3/9/2010 1:01:42 PM
Author:Bev
Hey Ladies,

Just wondering if any of you can share some tips on weaning your baby/toddler off of the pacifier?? My 2 year old son is currently attached to both his pacifier and blankie. I don''t mind the blankie so much, but I think it''s time for the binky to GO!

We''ve tried to wean slowly by limiting the time he has it. For example, he is not allowed to have his binky when he is playing. If he does have it he needs to be going to sleep.

He has never really had a hard time with transitions. He weaned off of bf''ing, the bottle, sippy cup, and even potty trained very easily. We''re just having issues with the binky.

Any advice would be great! Thanks ladies!

I weaned Amelia early and she only had it during sleep, so we just didn''t give it to her. Since you''ve tried that, my advice is worthless.

I had a friend who said she started to cut a little bit of the binky away. Apparently it isn''t as satisfying to suck on when it has a hole in it. Her child was a bit younger, so not sure how that would work with yours.

Binky addiction...it''s scary, isn''t it?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

My older son was a binky addict and one day we just took it away from him and he screamed his head off for a week and then forgot all about it. That was a fun week.

 

[TravelingGal]

Yeah, it has to be done. Otherwise you look like this.

 

[Shoopy]

Can I give you a modern "I get my parenting tips from books, message boards and tv shows" suggestion

I once saw on Supernanny (

) a couple that had 2 4-year-olds that were addicted to the pacifier. She created a binky fairy (or something like that) and told them that if they put their pacifiers in the fairy's basket, the next day they get a surprise (kind of like the tooth fairy). The girl was all about it, the boy not too much. But the next day they got a bunch of coloring books, books to read, and some other smaller gifts and they were really excited about it. Didn't ask for the pacifier again.

Don't know if something like that would work for a 2 year old though.

I plan on having lots of fairies in my house. The potty fairy. The eat your vegetables fairy. The get an afterschool job, go to college, and move out of my house fairy

 

[meresal]

Date: 3/9/2010 1:19:30 PM
Author: fiery
Can I give you a modern ''I get my parenting tips from books, message boards and tv shows'' suggestion

I once saw on Supernanny (

) a couple that had 2 4-year-olds that were addicted to the pacifier. She created a binky fairy (or something like that) and told them that if they put their pacifiers in the fairy''s basket, the next day they get a surprise (kind of like the tooth fairy). The girl was all about it, the boy not too much. But the next day they got a bunch of coloring books, books to read, and some other smaller gifts and they were really excited about it. Didn''t ask for the pacifier again.

Don''t know if something like that would work for a 2 year old though.

I plan on having lots of fairies in my house. The potty fairy. The eat your vegetables fairy. The get an afterschool job, go to college, and move out of my house fairy

The morning show I listen to, the mom did this. Apparently there is a website that you can show your children as well.

She did it for her daughter''s 3rd birthday. Starting about 2 months before, she began telling her daughter that the Binky Fairy was going to come the night befor her birthday and take all the binky''s, so that other little boys and girls that didn''t have their own, could use them.

For giving up her binkies and becoming a "big" girl, her daugther asked for a pair of purple sunglasses, a purple vanity with mirror, and a tv for her room. LOL! I think there was still a bit of crying in the following days, but she is passed it now.

 

[steph72276]

Date: 3/9/2010 1:07:17 PM
Author: MC
My older son was a binky addict and one day we just took it away from him and he screamed his head off for a week and then forgot all about it. That was a fun week.

I did the same...only he cried for about a day and then forgot about it, until he found one under the sofa about a week later and then we had to do it again!

 

[Mandarine]

and here I try every day to get my boys to take a pacifier...hahaha.

Fiery, I watched that same episode...hehe.

My nephews were both paci addicts. The oldest, decided he was done one day. He saw that his baby brother had a paci and he decided he wasn''t a "baby" anymore (he was 2). The youngest was a little harder. My sister started cutting time with the binky (as you''re doing) and then told him that his teeth were going to get all messed up due to the binky. Then he watched a cartoon (cars maybe?) and said he was done because he didn''t want his teeth to look like the character in the cartoon! hehehe

 

[MonkeyPie]

My brother was a hardcore binky addict. So my mom, knowing how much he liked trucks, told him that when the dump truck came, it was going to take away his binky to another little boy that didn''t have one. My brother was seriously stoked about it and he would toss his binky in the truck, then wave goodbye happily as it drove away.

Unfortunately, he kept finding old binkies for quite some time, so they had to repeat the process many more times over the following months lol.

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 3/9/2010 1:46:55 PM
Author: MonkeyPie
My brother was a hardcore binky addict. So my mom, knowing how much he liked trucks, told him that when the dump truck came, it was going to take away his binky to another little boy that didn''t have one. My brother was seriously stoked about it and he would toss his binky in the truck, then wave goodbye happily as it drove away.

Unfortunately, he kept finding old binkies for quite some time, so they had to repeat the process many more times over the following months lol.

LOL! This reminds me of my brother. My mom got rid of his pacifier and he was fine the entire day. Then in the middle of the night he woke up screaming because he wanted it but my mom made HIM throw out all of the pacifiers in the house "like a big boy."

It was snowing so my dad wasn''t going to the store to get one (besides they were all closed) and had no clue what to do. My mom tried to soothe my brother back to sleep but he pushed off of her, ran behind the couch, and grabbed a pacifier from under the couch!

We all almost died. It was hilarious. Who knows how long that thing had been there or how dirty it was

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I''ve got a binky addict and I am actually okay with it (for today). I am sure I am the ONLY mom of a 2 year old that feels this way but if she still needs it to soothe herself so be it. I am not ready to make her give something up that she is not ready for. I wish you LOTS of luck!

 

[janinegirly]

Date: 3/9/2010 1:06:22 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 3/9/2010 1:01:42 PM
Author:Bev
Hey Ladies,

Just wondering if any of you can share some tips on weaning your baby/toddler off of the pacifier?? My 2 year old son is currently attached to both his pacifier and blankie. I don''t mind the blankie so much, but I think it''s time for the binky to GO!

We''ve tried to wean slowly by limiting the time he has it. For example, he is not allowed to have his binky when he is playing. If he does have it he needs to be going to sleep.

He has never really had a hard time with transitions. He weaned off of bf''ing, the bottle, sippy cup, and even potty trained very easily. We''re just having issues with the binky.

Any advice would be great! Thanks ladies!

I weaned Amelia early and she only had it during sleep, so we just didn''t give it to her. Since you''ve tried that, my advice is worthless.

I had a friend who said she started to cut a little bit of the binky away. Apparently it isn''t as satisfying to suck on when it has a hole in it. Her child was a bit younger, so not sure how that would work with yours.

Binky addiction...it''s scary, isn''t it?

Yup, and got a binky addict over in my house too. At 18 mo''s, I''m not going to tackle this one until maybe 2. We need Dr Drew or someone to do a show on it.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 3/9/2010 2:21:44 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I''ve got a binky addict and I am actually okay with it (for today). I am sure I am the ONLY mom of a 2 year old that feels this way but if she still needs it to soothe herself so be it. I am not ready to make her give something up that she is not ready for. I wish you LOTS of luck!

You''re not the only one

when my son was 2, he was still going strong on the binky. His brother was newly born and so the extra "comfort" and soothing was something he needed. I don''t remember how old he was when we finally put our feet down. One upset is looking at all his baby pictures and he had his dang binky in his mouth in nearly every shot

 

[curlygirl]

We did it cold turkey right before she turned 2. She was a serious addict in the beginning. Then she started to reform and only used it to sleep and for meltdowns so we feel like she was ready. I probably would have done it sooner but we turned her life upside down at 17 months by giving her a sibling so I didn''t want to add any more trauma until we were past that! We just told her that she''s a big girl and doesn''t need it anymore and that was it. Took them all and hid them. She cried for about 20 minutes the first night, 10 minutes the next and then she was over it. She has never asked for one since then and it''s been almost a year. Her little sister has never taken one and there were times when I really wished she would but each child is different.

 

[anchor31]

My sister and I were binky addicts. My parents started by restricting the time to use it (in the crib and car), then cut up the tip bit by bit. My son is probably going to be one (he NEEDED a binky at 3 weeks or else he would NOT sleep), so I''m going to try that. Good luck!

 

[packrat]

I can''t remember how old Trapper was when we took his away..I think it was about 6 months ago maybe? He''d have been about 2 1/2. I don''t remember if I snuck in during the night and took them or right away that morning. It wasn''t much of an issue w/him that day until bedtime. The first night was horrible. Then each night got better after that, and it only took 3 nights before he was fine again. He has 2 blankets he loves, Linus and Moo, and he has a bear that giggles when you pinch his foot, so we just used them to distract him from the pacifier. If we''d known how relatively painless it was going to be, we''d have done it way earlier. (of course, who knows how he would''ve reacted then-he had that thing in his mouth 24/7 when he was little)

Good luck w/it!

 

[Jas12]

My grandma told me my uncle still had a paci at 2 and he was obsessed with flushing the toilet. One day he wanted to flush the paci down and she saw an opportunity, said yes. He flushed and when he realized what he did could not be undone he cried for a bit and it was over.

I am wondering what to do about my son too. I knew from the get-go that i only wanted him to have a paci at night for soothing purposes. So he does have a few that are in the crib only. Weird thing is, they are just comfort items, he doesn''t usually put them in his mouth, he just holds onto them.
Do i get rid of them or let it be? I am holding off till baby number 2 arrives b/c that''s a big change , but then i may try some of the suggestions on here if i feel he''s adjusted.

 

[So Excited]

Date: 3/9/2010 1:30:41 PM
Author: FL Steph

Date: 3/9/2010 1:07:17 PM
Author: MC
My older son was a binky addict and one day we just took it away from him and he screamed his head off for a week and then forgot all about it. That was a fun week.

I did the same...only he cried for about a day and then forgot about it, until he found one under the sofa about a week later and then we had to do it again!

I took my daughters away at 15 months and it was only a week of crying and all was done.

 

[iheartscience]

I actually had my paci until I was FOUR. I was really small for my age and my dentist had no idea I was 4-he thought I was 2, 3 at the most. When he found out my mom told me he said "WHAT?! Give me that pacifier!"

My mom ended up taking me to the dime store and letting me "buy" anything I wanted with my paci. I got a pair of slippers with roses on the toes because I thought they looked grown up.

It worked and I guess she got rid of the rest of the pacis at the house before I "bought" myself my slippers. I did get upset about it later and steal my Cabbage Patch Kid''s paci for a while after that, but I don''t remember freaking out about it for too long. But since I was twice your son''s age I probably understood it a little better!

 

[Butterflyblu]

The binky fairy that is actually a great idea! I just basically started weaning my Daughter when she was 2 I didn''t let her have it during the day and started telling her she didn''t need it anymore she was a big girl. She agreed to some point lol, but then I weaned her off within a week. It really wasn''t that hard for her to let it go.

 

[miraclesrule]

In the grand scheme of things, it''s a lot easier to wean from a pacifier than a thumb. I sucked my thumb until I was 12

My Mom tried everything. I bet she wished she had given me a pacifier.

 

[Haven]

I don''t remember ever having a binky, and I never sucked my thumb, but I still have my baby blanket to this very day.

I do remember telling one of my younger sisters that binkies are for babies and she promptly discarded that thing and never used it again. She was probably around 3 or 4 at the time. Do you have any pre-teen cousins you could use to shame the binky out of him?

 

[jewelz617]

I don''t have much advice. My daughter threw her binky out of her crib one night and never wanted it again. But I have heard it''s best to go cold turkey. Just take it away. The first few days are rough and after that, they forget they "need" it altogether.

 

[Bev]

Thanks for the advice, ladies! I think I''m going to continue limiting his binky use. Right now he can''t have it unless he''s going to lie down and nap or go to sleep. Next step will be using it only at night time. Hopefully we''ll be binky free soon!