Off The Nook: Ten Ways To Help Get Your Baby Or Toddler Off Of The Pacifier.

 

Off The Nook: Ten Ways To Help Get Your Baby Or Toddler Off Of The Pacifier.

 7-5-2012

My monkeys are 28 months and 3 days old.

 

 

Many babies enjoy some sort of comforting behavior to help soothe themselves be it sucking on a thumb, in one of my own twin’s case, two of her fingers, or in the other’s case, her pacifier.

 

It may seem like a really bad thing for them to have that pacifier, but there is a benefit to it. Pacifier use is proven to reduce the risk of dying from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in children during their 1st year of life. But there is one undeniable problem that goes along with the binky, and that is breaking the habit.

 

 

 Also, paci-suckers can become a problem at bedtime. A child may wake often to find it and not be able to do so on her own. Later on they develop the motor skills to be able to locate it on their own and to pop it back in their mouths without trouble, but that takes some time. I remember putting 3 of them in the crib to help at bedtime.

 

 While some babies and tots abandon the nook easier than others, it can be a grueling, pain-staking process for many other parents. (I happen to fall under this category.) Nobody wants their child to be walking around with a pacifier in their mouths come 3 or 4 years of age. I have seen this before and quite frankly it does look ridiculous.

 

So how can you break such a strong habit usually started at birth in the hospital? This is true because my 1st two many years ago were given pacis and were hooked, and one of the twins, (the one who happened to be in the NICU) was given a soothie and that is how it all began. My 6 year old and other twin did not get one in the hospital and did not become paci-addicts.

 

 

What can poor mom and dad do to help wean their loved one off the nook?

 

 

1) The earlier the better

It seems that if a pacifier habit is kicked before the child turns one year of age, it will be easier for them to ‘stay clean’ so to speak. The longer the habit continues, the harder it usually is to break. Don’t fear all hope is not lost. (Keep on reading.)

 

 

2) Cut down on the frequency of pacifier use

This is a slower process than quitting cold turkey, but some children are so bonded to their paci that cold turkey might mean hell for awhile and break your heart into pieces. While yes, some will simply give it up when removed from sight, but some will not. Again, the longer they have been bonded.. the harder it will be.

 

I’m a firm believer in baby steps. Try giving them access to the pacifiers less and less slowly over the course of a week or so. Soon enough the nookie may only be used for naps and bedtime and not for during the day soothing.

 

 

3) Put another soothing aid in its place

Find a special blankie, plush toy, something your child already is or can become bonded to, and put that in bed with them at night and let them use it when they feel the need. Since using a pacifier is all about having something calming for baby, a better for them substitute might just help do the trick. Remember for small babies not to put stuffed animals and blankets in the crib overnight due to the increased risk of SIDS. Later on it’s certainly a viable option.

 

 

4) Pacis are for babies

If your child is 2 years of age on up, they should be able to comprehend most of everything that you say with clarity. Under 2 likely this won’t work. Tell them or even show them that binkies are for babies and not big boys and girls which they now are.

 

Let them feel proud of being ‘grown up’, and maybe hand off the binky to a younger child and say goodbye to it. This may be easier for some then for others, but it might just work in certain cases.

 

 

5) Have a bye-bye ceremony by burying the nook

I seriously wonder if behind my back Annie would go and dig the darn things up . Again, this is best for older children who understand things and can rationalize and comprehend what you are saying and doing. Say farewell to the pacifier by having a little ceremony, burying it out in the backyard.

 

 

6) Praise, praise, and more praise

Show your child through praise that going without the nookie is a really good and very positive thing. Reward them for the times they self-soothe instead of grabbing the pacifier. When they see how happy and proud this makes you, they may opt to continue making mommy so happy by self-weaning from the nook.

 

 

7) Cold turkey

This is always an option but this can be brutal and I personally just don’t have the stomach for it. For some this will be easier for then others. My mother ‘says’ that with my brother all she did was put the pacifier on the window sill and when my brother wasn’t looking she snatched it up and got rid of it telling him the birdie came and took it away and that was it. Maybe it is that easy for some or maybe she forgot the massive meltdown that followed thereafter, but maybe it can be that simple in certain cases. It won’t work here.

 

Some moms swear that while difficult, cold turkey was best for them. It can be a really tough time for the child and parent, especially during times they like to soothe most: When they are sleepy, frightened, in the car, taking a nap, going off to bed at night. But it may take as little as a day or two to get them off this way. For some, maybe a week or longer. Only do what you feel comfortable doing. Expect the waterworks but if that doesn’t happen you got really lucky.

 

 

8 ) Make it taste icky

Put something on the nookie that isn’t pleasing to the palette so that every time he or she takes a suck she goes ‘BLAH!’ You may have to repeat this several times before she realizes something has changed and it’s no longer a tasty little habit after all. It may just end the problem altogether, much like is suggested for thumb suckers as well since you can’t physically take that away from them.

 

 

9) Cut the pacifier tips or poke holes in it

Do it to all of them so when your child goes for another nookie and another one (because we all know we have a stash of many), it won’t feel quite the same and may deter some children from continuing on with it. Just be sure if you go this route to supervise your child while they are using it or attempting to use it should I say. In very rare cases cutting the tips could possibly lead to little pieces coming loose. Poking holes may be a better option. 1 piece nookies that get cut should be just fine though.

 

 

10) Leave the nookie for the ‘paci-fairy’

Of course, only a slightly older tot will understand this concept, but it does work for some. Explain to them on their level that the pacifier fairy takes the nookies and hands them off to little babies who do not have any nooks to call their own and really need them. Go as far as putting it under the pillow if it helps.

 

You can opt to simply wait out the pacifier situation, but the longer they are on it, the harder it is to give it up. This goes for any habit in general. The reality is that somewhere between the ages of 24 and 28 months pacifier sucking may have an affect on a toddler’s mouth and teeth. So try these techniques before that time comes if you can.

 

 

I’m in this age period now with my Annie and am going to start trying some of these things today. I have a very strong-willed child, but God willing we will be nookie-free very shortly. It may take all of these for us to get there with her, but later in life her teeth will thank us.

 

I don’t want a 3 year old paci-sucker!

 

 

Good luck!