He is the most dependent on "paci" at naptime and bedtime. I am getting concerned that it is making his teeth crooked and I am getting dirty looks if he takes it out in public! How can I break the habit without making him too upset?
2007-01-08 02:34:22 · 16 answers · asked by mom-knows-best 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Set a date. Third birthday, when he can no longer use a pacifier. Talk to him about it enthusiastically.
In the meantime, take the pacifier and slowly cut of a tiny bit from the top. It won't feel the same. Then each week leading up to the big day cut a bit more off until there is no silicon left.
You could also take him to a pediatric dentist. Good idea about this time anyway. The pediatric dentist could praise him for taking good care of his teeth including getting rid of the paci.
2007-01-08 03:35:54 · answer #1 · answered by Marjery B 2 · 24⤊ 4⤋
This might be a repetitive answer because I think most paci fights are the same.
I have a 2 1/2 year old that lived for her pacifier. I can not begin to explain our battles over her loosing the pacifier her crying for almost two hours straight until one is found or another is purchased. Finally I had to break down and get her off. It took me 3 days but this worked. The first day while her paci was here I kept it from her and I only gave it back until we had a MAJOR meltdown crying, kicking, screaming, you know the usual type detox things. Then the next was ok but at bed time she really really needed her paci...I even got a song out of the deal. So I gave it to her until she went to sleep and I took it. Finally On the good third day I left with her and the pacifier I let her loose it on purpose and then when we came back home I did not mention it I waited for her to ask. When she did I explained to her that she lost her paci just like she lost almost all her little toys and it gone with them. No made up stories just the truth..they are smart you know. She wined a little and I continued to remind her it was her paci and she lost it so it was gone. At night when she tried to whine about it I used time out as a punnishment if she would not stop crying because she was suppose to keep it because it was hers. Believe it or not this way worked because not only was she responsible but it made her feel like a big person because she had to keep up with something. I am paci free now and I feel like I just helped someone quit smoking. LOL!! Sometimes it is us the parents that are the problem so if you have one in the house the chances of you giving it back is probably 95% so just loose them all before you attempt to take him off. GOOD LUCK!!
2007-01-08 13:02:38 · answer #2 · answered by itsmeagain06 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
This is soooo tough but I do have a positive rather than negative approach that worked well with my now four year old. Take things slowly at first. For starters tell him that the Paci has to stay in bed...not even around the house. If he wants his paci he can go get in his bed and have it. After a day or so of this he will decide his freedom is more valuable and then it becomes his choice not mean mommy's.
After a couple of weeks of that he will get use to not needing his paci. The hard part will be getting it out of the bed. I would go buy him something nice (doesnt have to be expensive just something he will love) show it to him along with a chart with stickers. Every nap and bedtime he goes without his paci he gets a sticker. When he gets ten stickers he gets the gift. The important part here is to make a REALLY BIG DEAL out of it. As you put him to bed tell him "Oh I cant wait to give you your sticker" when he gets up from nap/bedtime it is the first thing you do. PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE. If he insists on the paci remind him he wont get his sticker and wont get his gift. Again, this makes the experience his own choice which will make the outcome more successful. Remember throught all this....CONSISTANCY. The first time you allow the paci out of his room or give hime the paci and a sticker...you have lost and it will be all the harder to break him of it.
2007-01-08 10:55:08 · answer #3 · answered by KB 3 · 13⤊ 2⤋
We had trouble with thumb sucking and did this: first we had a rule that thumbs (or in your case pacifier) can only be used in bed or in the car seat. Having to stay in the room (where there were no toys) was enough of a deterrent for most of the day. My child gradually let go and within a few months was very much off the thumb except when unwell--and then I would remove it after he was asleep and put a stuffed toy in his hand to hold onto.
You can also take out the bulk of the pacifier by piercing a small hole to take away the sucky thing. WARNING: pacifiers do come apart and you should watch closely for signs that the rubber/plastic is failing because you don't want it to choke your child.
If you approach your child with a positive attitude and stick to your guns on when and where you think it is acceptable your child should respond well.
2007-01-08 12:43:36 · answer #4 · answered by Orpah! 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I only would let my children use it at nap/bedtime. When my children were about that age we went to a craft store, bought a small box that they could decorate, put their paci in it and the paci fairy would come that night and leave a small present. Make sure he only has 1 paci and only let him use it when he is sleeping. If it is gone before he is 4 their should be no permanent damage to his teeth. Good luck.
2007-01-08 10:56:04 · answer #5 · answered by applecrisp 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I have a 2 1/2 your old daughter, and she is hooked on her paci too.
We have a rule, that she only gets the paci when she is ready to go to sleep.
I have been told by many people, to just take it away, and she'll get over it. But, this to me seems harsh, and I figure that right now it provides some kind of security for her, and when she is ready - she'll give it up.
2007-01-08 23:41:09 · answer #6 · answered by star22 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I know you have done this, but ask him to give it up first. Tell him he is a big boy and if he gives it up you will buy him a hot wheel or other favorite toy. If that doesn't work when you put him down for bed and he sucks and falls asleep, take it and throw it away. When he wakes up, ask him where's the paci? Act like you don't know and say "oh no, it's gone bye bye!" He'll scream and have a fit when it's time for nap time, but he'll get over it.
Plus, you're right, keeping the paci could even mess up his teeth.
2007-01-08 10:47:07 · answer #7 · answered by downinmn 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
My son is three today. Up until about six months ago, he was addicted to his binky as well. We just started phasing it out. When he was awake, we didn't let him have it. And during naptime and bedtime we just started "forgetting" it during our bedtime routines. It took a couple of weeks, but he has been binky free since then.
2007-01-08 10:45:26 · answer #8 · answered by urbanfossil 3 · 7⤊ 1⤋
This worked for a friend of mine. She told her son that there were other little kids out there who didn't have a pacifier and asked him if he could give them his pacifier. He did and only asked a couple of times for it. The mom just reminded him that they had given (she just took it and threw it out) it to kids who didn't have one.
2007-01-08 11:26:21 · answer #9 · answered by jess 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
when my sister was little, this worked for my mom... she only let her suck on it when she was in her bedroom, so she'd play for awhile, run in her room take a quick suck run back out, etc., then when Easter came, the "Easter Bunny" was collecting pacifiers for the little kids who didn't have any, so together they collected everyone she owned and put them in a basket under our tree for the easter bunny to take, and that was the end of it.... i almost forgot, she also trimmed the latex part off, so that she could barely stick it in her mouth.... not sure why , probably scared her teeth were going to be buck or something.....but hey it worked
2007-01-08 10:52:13 · answer #10 · answered by 26 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋