How do I get my 2 1/2 year old son to give up binky?

Question

He doesn't use it at school for a while now but insists he needs it at home to sleep. I have tried everything: giving it to the babies in need at the farm, leaving it for the tooth fairy. I've even tried sabotaging it. It's ripping and I'm afraid he will choke one night. I refuse to buy him a new one in hopes that this one actually does break. Nice, not nasty, suggestions please. What worked for you?

Answer 1

Make him a little poster with ten squares on it. Tell him every night that he sleeps without his binky, he'll get a sticker. Have him help you color on the poster and everything. Every day that he gets up and didn't need it, clap, carryon and tell him what a big boy he is. Then after ten squares are filled up, go to the store and buy him a new "big boy" toy. We did this for my daughter sleeping through the night without getting up, and it worked like a charm.

Answer 2

First off, some of these people are idiots. You could try any of the things you have tried in the past, but be consistent, if you say you are giving it away to the tooth fairy, let the fairsy have it and let your kiddo NEVER see it again. My son was 2 1/2 when he got rid of his too. I asked him sweetly to throw it away in the trash because it was nasty. He did, i jumped up and took out the trash and though we had some tears for a day or two he was certainly okay without it. It is a hard thing to try to get rid of, i know, but you can do it with a little will power.

if you don't have the heart for a few rough nights and some tears, just let him keep it.

Answer 3

Cut the nipple partly off, knock it off the table, and say "Uh-oh, It's broken! Sorry, there's no more binkies left." It worked for a friend of mine.
Personally, I limited my son's use of them more and more each day until he forgot he had one. When I was in the process, I just told him that I couldn't find it... which is how I was able to limit its use. I also started making up certain times when he wasn't allowed to have it. Like before/after dinner, during bathtime, stuff like that. Hope this helps!

(I really like spark's answer too, though. It takes the child's feelings and intelligence into account.)

Answer 4

I told my 3 year old son that there were hundreds of little newborns that needed Bink's. I told him that we would go buy balloons and tie them to the end of the balloon and send them up to the Binky fairy and she would make sure that all the Bink's got to the right babies. He thought it was a cool idea and it worked for me. But every kid is different. I hope you find something that helps.

Answer 5

my daughter doesn't take one, but i have taught preschool quite a bit from ages 6 mos to 5 years. most preschools do not allow them once a child reaches 2 (too much of a risk of germs and fighting over them). however, so long as your pediatrician is not concerned about your daughter's speech development, i would say let her have it. babies need security, and though she doesn't technically "need" it (the instinctive sucking reflex generally ends by 6-8 mos), the repetitive motion can be soothing.

to get my niece to give hers up (at about age 2 to 2 1/2), we started talking about what a "big girl" she was becoming. then we talked about how the other big girls don't have (we called them binkies) anymore. then we guided her to make the decision to throw them away herself. in other words, we encouraged her and put the idea in her head, but it was "her" decision- therefore SHE was in control. she went around the house, scooped up all her binkies and threw them in the trash herself, and when she would forget and ask for one, we reminded her that she wanted to throw them away. and no, she didn't start sucking her thumb as a "substitute"!

Answer 6

I don't think a binky has to be given up at 2-1/2. Maybe 3 or 4.

Answer 7

Once they lost the third binky, I refused to buy another one. The first night the would be kind of fussy but after that they were all right.

Answer 8

My daughter gave hers up at 29 months well not by choice I just took it and dealt with her being upset for a few days at bedtime she got over it quickly but I had some temptation to give it back during some over those crying fits especially at 4 in the morning. Anyways good luck with it!

Answer 9

First off, not to be all mean and critical, but he really should have been weaned about a year and a half ago... having a Binky for too long can damage oral development and cause speech impediments. That being said... I was having this problem with my daughter and a friend of mine told me to cut a little bit off every week like the one post says. She said it took several weeks with her daughter (she would take it to bed and press it against her lips even after the nipple was gone off of it), but with my daughter it only took about 3-4 days. After I cut off the first piece, she didn't like it anymore, but she kept taking it to bed with her for a few days anyways. She finally wouldn't take it anymore, so I told her that if she didn't like it and she didn't want it, then she needed to throw it away. She took all 3 of her binkys and threw them in the trash herself. I felt that by letting her do it, I was giving her the opportunity to part with it on her own terms. She never even asked for it again.

Answer 10

Please don't try sabotaging or hiding it any longer. Your son needs to know that he lives in a safe environment and that he can trust you to understand what is important to him.

The only actual concern you have raised is the safety concern; yet you are refusing to fix it or buy a new one. Why do you hope so much for this one to break?