My little girl is 21 months old. She was using her soother way too much. It was interfering with her speech and her teeth were starting to push out. For 2 days last weekend she hardly used it at all and only put it in her mouth if she saw it. So that night when she went to bed I threw it in the garbage. I feel really bad. She really misses it.
2006-10-19 13:57:40 · 20 answers · asked by BrightEyes 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I think you did the right thing. She'll get over it! We finally had to let my son cry himself to sleep after having tried everything else. The two nights that took, I cried after I left him! And in his three years, I've got plenty of things I feel guilty for! We've got to do what's best for them, even if it's difficult for us. Just tell her the binky went to the moon or something.
2006-10-19 14:03:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You did the right thing, it would have to happen sooner or later. But...If she is having a hard time (have you ever tried to quit smoking, or anything that is a long habit?) or if it disrupts her sleep, or you feel bad or guilty, try another approach. Try telling her that she can only have it during nap or bed time-"because she is such a BIG GIRL, (they love that!) now. BIG GIRLS don't need "binky's all the time. Then just do a slow taper. The super nanny on t.v. had the little girl gather all her pacifier's for the "binky fairy" (or whatever you call her pacifier) for all the babies who needed them. They told her they would hang them in a tree and the Binky Fairy would then take them and leave her a present. If the little girl started to miss it before morning, they just reminded her that she was a big girl and about all the babies who didn't have any binkies and needed them. In the morning, the little girl was so excited to see her present hanging in the tree where her pacifiers had been. Kinda like the "tooth fairy". Might make the process easier and more fun for both of you. Pacifiers can be a good thing and serve a purpose for a healthy length of time. I have heard they can even reduce the risk of SIDS! You're a good mom, you did a good thing by trying to help her break a hard habit. But I know (I have 2!) how much you love them and hate to see them suffer, at all, even when you know it is what is best for them! Good Luck!
2006-10-19 21:21:30 · answer #2 · answered by Lived Life 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you aren't wrong to take it away. I honestly never wanted my baby to have one- but the nurses kept giving him one at the nursery in the hospital. So I gave in, and he really only needed it to go to sleep for the first 4 months. Around 4 1/2 months, I took it away, and simply sang to him to get him to sleep. It was such a bonding experience, and great because I could be the one to soothe him, and not an object. He does love a blanky though when he goes to sleep-which I feel is fine to have. So maybe try a blanket or stuffed animal. You did right by taking it away from her- I've heard horror stories about letting the kids have them for the longest time, to a point they couldn't be taken away at all. She'll forget about it, but in the mean time, try to comfort her yourself if you can by singing, rocking, loving, or the blanket or stuffed animal.
Goodluck!
2006-10-20 00:50:13 · answer #3 · answered by m930 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't feel bad. If it was ruining her teeth and giving her speech problems, you were doing the right thing. My aunt and uncle didn't take their daughter's away until she was three. It ruined her teeth ans delayed her speech also. She cried for a while, and then moved on. My parents took the bottle away from us on our first birthdays. We cried, and got over it. Your daughter Will thank you for it one day. I know a little girl who is almost 5 and still has her pacifier. She already gets teased for it. If she wasn't really using it anyway, and even if she was, you did the right thing.
2006-10-19 21:03:01 · answer #4 · answered by t g 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you weren`t wrong. You were being a good parent. It would have caused problems with her teeth which may have meant braces in the future. She`d have to get rid of it eventually and the soon the better!
P.S. my cousin had a speech problem, and for some reason drinking from the sippy cups with straws drasically improved his speech. It worked for my sister too.
2006-10-19 21:07:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because if you had not taken it her teeth would start growing crooked. My mom took my pacifier away when I was 26 months old. My teeth were crooked and I had to get braces. That convinced me to take my baby's pacifier away when she was 13 months old. I want my little girl to have pretty teeth and to not get braces. Because braces costs money nowadays.
2006-10-19 21:08:30 · answer #6 · answered by **Dannitria** 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope _ you're right on the money - buy opaque garbage bags, so that when things get spirited away (such as the piles of art work from kindergarten) they can't find it. 21 months is time to give it up.
2006-10-19 21:06:29 · answer #7 · answered by Clockwork Grape 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my daughter was about the same age when i took her pacifier away but i took it away cuz she got in trouble... she went to bed that night and slept better then she ever had previously. Get her a stuffed teddy... or a new doll or something. she will be over it before you know it!
2006-10-19 21:35:51 · answer #8 · answered by smomus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for your encouragement. I have to do the same with my 24 month old. You did a good job. It took a couple of days with my first one, but she did get over it. You did a good job.
2006-10-19 23:47:42 · answer #9 · answered by kelliemag 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you are wrong for taking it away. Sounds like she was growing away from it anyway. Give it a little more time and she will forget all about it. Besides, taking it away from her now saves you some money on orthodontist bills.
2006-10-19 21:01:48 · answer #10 · answered by Hot Mom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋