Does anyone have any good suggestions as to how to wein a 2 1/2 year old from his binki without causing too much stress and crying?? My son's binki and blankie are his two favorite comfort objects....the blanket doesnt bother me, but getting rid of his binki is long overdue! Please help with any good suggestions??
2006-06-27 10:53:50 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Wean your baby before she is six months old, or you will have a much more difficult struggle later when she’s older.
~ Start the weaning process by offering the pacifier only at naptime, at night, or when you or your child desperately needs the break. Allow your child to use a pacifier only at home.
~ Introduce a substitute comfort toy or blanket.
~Dip the nipple of a pacifier into lemon or grapefruit juice to make it taste bitter.
~Stop buying new pacifiers, and let your child know that when the final pacifier wears out or disappears, there will be no more.
~Throw away all but one pacifier and begin talking to your child about how to get rid of that last one. Give her a week or so of warning and preparation before you finally take it away.
~Create an incentive program to encourage your child to give up her pacifier. Use a chart, giving her a star or sticker for every day she does not use the pacifier, redeemable for a prize when she fills it.
~Take your child to the toy store and offer the option of trading in her pacifier for an item she associates with being more grown-up.
2006-06-27 10:57:31 · answer #1 · answered by mz_elegant_1 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My 11 yr old daughter was about 2 1/2 when we decided to give up the binki. It took alot of thought, but it worked...I took her to the toy store and said she could trade her binkis for a new toy or two. All she had to do was hand her binkis over to the cashier when we were checking out. I explained that the cashier would give them to the Binki Fairy for a new baby that really needed them. I told her what a big girl she was, and how nice it was that she was giving up something she loved to help a new baby out. I also reminded her that if not for some other little girl giving up her binkis to the Fairy, she wouldn't have had any herself. That sealed the deal. A quick "these are for the Binki Fairy to give to a new baby" and a little wink were all the cashier needed to get the message...although she whispered and asked if I wanted to keep one just in case. (I didn't.) I just kept reminding my daughter how brave she was and that there is a very lucky baby out there that has a binki because of her kindness. Quick and painless! Good luck!
2006-06-28 02:58:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you know anyone who is having a baby tell your son that he is a big boy and big boys don't need a binki but babies do and have him give his binki to the baby. This worked great for my 2 1/2 year old daughter. I was amazed that she never cried for it. She asked the first two nights she didn't have it to go to bed with but hasn't mentioned it since and she will be 3 next month.
2006-06-27 23:39:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cut it right down the middle, don't cut the tip off, just make a solid cut from the tip to the base. Then when he wants the "binki" just let him have it like its no big deal. It won't feel the same in his mouth and he will just be done with it. If this doesn't work, which it usually does, try putting Tabasco sauce inside the cut pacifier. He will cry if you do it this way, because the sauce will burn his mouth, but he will be too scared to put another binki in his mouth after that. But just try cutting it first. Let me know how it works out.
2006-06-27 18:03:14 · answer #4 · answered by Pete 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have more than one "binkie", toss out all of them except for his favorite one. Then use a pair of sharp scissors to cut a small slit in the tip of the favorite "binkie". The "binkie" will deflat and not work right anymore. He'll fuss a bit over the broken "binkie", don't buy a new one. Just explain to him when it's nap-time or fussy-time that big boys don't need baby things like a "binkie" anymore. Praise him when he does without it! :) Worked for my 3 kids.
2006-06-27 17:59:41 · answer #5 · answered by kc_warpaint 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can set the binki out for the binki fairy - tell him the fairy needs the binki and will leave him a toy/treat/something else instead - it is a variation on the tooth fairy idea
or you could cut some of the nipple a little at time until there is not much left - this worked for a friend
or, take it away cold turkey and just tell him no more
Good luck!
2006-06-27 18:29:46 · answer #6 · answered by pammy_6201 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was Supernanny that had the little girl gather all her binkies and they tied them to the tree for the "Binkie Fairy" and then in the morning they were all gone and the Fairy left a special gift just for her!
I also saw where someone had the child tie all their binkies to a bundle of balloons (filled with helium) and "sent them up to the babies in heaven"! Then i think the child got something else really special in return as well.
I thought those were cute ideas.
Good luck!
2006-06-27 18:02:53 · answer #7 · answered by mamabunny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This might sound bad, but I have twin brothers, and they both had binkies until they were almost 3 or 4, and we just gave them candy to suck on, and teething toys to chew on. We also hid all the binkies in the house (outta sight outta mind), and got them involved with other activities such as watching favorite movies more often and playing outside and working on milestones such as potty training. I'm 30 wks pregnant, and I honestly have no clue how I'd deal with something like that, but those are things my mom tried lol...Good Luck =)
2006-06-27 18:00:38 · answer #8 · answered by shaunies_babygirl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tried and true answer here is one you probably don't want to hear. Experts say just to take away the pacifier and do not give it back if he throws a fit. If he does and you give it back, then you'll just be teaching him that he can get what he wants by having a fit.
Also, pacifiers can cause a variety of real dental problems once a child's teeth start coming in-even if they're baby teeth. The roots will be set to grow in an awkward pattern by the pacifier. The pattern will be maintained when his adult teeth come in. In short, braces will be required to straighten it all out.
So do yourself and your son a favor and just take it away. Be strong and ignore the tantrums. It's tough to do, but it's the only thing that really works.
2006-06-27 17:58:53 · answer #9 · answered by this_isridiculous 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gather up all the Binky's, tie them together and then tie them to about 8 helium filled balloon's and tell them that there are other little baby's that need them now. Send them high in the sky (never to be seen again). the good thing about this is that when he see a baby you can say "Do you think that is one of your you gave up? That was so good of you to give them up so that baby could have one." This needs a to be a big production that they are involved in. Good Luck
2006-06-27 18:22:51 · answer #10 · answered by WorldConnect 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋