how did you cope?

Question

I have taken my sons pacifiers away today since he is 2 and a half now and already gettting a considerable overbite. Problem is he is miserable. All day long he has been whining and crying and wont take a nap or anything. How did you cope with this transition with your children? I feel like I'm losing it but I know I can't give in now.

To those who suggest that pacifiers are designed to be orthodontically correct, how are you arriving at that conclusion? That's a genuine question, I'm not neccessarily doubting it, but when pacifiers are only made to fit up to an 18 month olds mouth structure, how can they be orhtodontically correct for a 30 month olds mouth? I have specifically heard from dental hygenists that from 24 months and on, it can in some cases cause some palate deformation. Thanks for some of the other suggestions, as well, but I've tried keeping it just in his room before as well as mutilating his pacifier in various ways. I feel kind of sadistic when I do it, and it just seems to piss him off the same.

Answer 1

odnt take it away all at once. take it away during the day only allow at nap and bed and then make sure that he dont suck on it all night but that way he is not and just go from there until he dont realize that it is gone during the day and then take out and nap and then do the same thing with the bed time and good luck casue he is in for a rough time but it wont be so hard on him this way.

Answer 2

well first of all.. I hate to ask but where did you get the idea that the pacifier was causing the overbite? Most pacifiers are orthodontically designed so that they don't cause that kind of thing.. okay, you didn't ask, but what's the problem with letting him have his pacifier ( now I say this as a mother of 3 - all who liked pacifiers and all who gave them up on their own well before they started pre-school). My advice would be to let your son have his pacifier, but just calmly tell him something like he can only have it in his room. Don't be mean about it, but just tell him you know it's hard to give up so he can still have it as long as he stays on his bed, in his room, whatever. And then remind him if he tries to wander around with it. He'll figure it out and it won't be as traumatic and most likely will decide to give it up himself. I don't want to sound harsh and say you're being awful to him, hey, we're parents, we do the best we can.. but think about it.. if someone took away something that you considered very important, you'd be cranky too!!. And the other alternative is that if you're determined that the binky's gotta go for whatever reason, then prepare yourself for some miserable days ahead. He will get over it, but it may take awhile, and hopefully he won't take up something like thumb sucking which really can contribute to an overbite. The sucking instinct is still really strong in toddlers, it's how they comfort themselves especially when thy don't have the motional maturity or language skills to work things out. good luck, I'm sure you'll both come through this fine..

Answer 3

You might like the fact of giving in but that is a habit the child will break on his/her own. I use to suck my thumb till I was twelve. It is a security thing, taking the pacifiers away is like a setting him in front of a scary, gory movie. He/She will give it up when he/she is ready. Or try to give it to him at night only and make it a very gradual thing if anything.
Good Luck

Answer 4

only let him have it when a pacifier was truley meant to be used: to pacifiy him! use it at nap or when he's especially crabby, upset. who says he has an overbite? these are his baby teeth permanent teeth.jaw relation may be different. Did you or his father need braces? then he may just because of genetics not because of the pacifier. take it away gradually over several months not days.

Answer 5

I run a home child care. we had a child about your sons age. He also had a pacifier. his mom brought him one day without it and said he could no longer have it. the poor child cried all day long. I think for alto of kids its a security thing. I asked his mom to bring a fave blanket or stuffed animal. She brought a blankie. that seemed to sooth him and make him more secure when he has it. Its not easy to hear a child cry, esp when its your own, but you know its best for him in the long run.

Answer 6

I read something similar to this in another question possibly a month ago. A person (sorry I forget who wrote it, otherwise I'd give them credit) said that they cut the pacifer bit off and just let the child carry around the bit its attached to so he/she still had something familiar to hold onto.

Answer 7

no way you should give in no baby should have theyre binky past being able to sit unassisted if your child takes it out of theyre mouth to talk you have a huge problem but i herd having your child help you get rid of them helps them somehow cope better dont keep them around so you really cant loose if you dont have it how can you give in

Answer 8

We never had to worry about a pacifier, he gagged on them, we had to withdraw him from sippy cups. That will be your next challenge!

Answer 9

i was smart and took my younger daughter's away when she started getting teeth. that way she wasn't old enough to fight me about taking it away.

if you just took it away and you don't want him to have it at all, then cut the tip off of it and show him that it's broken, then have him throw it away. that way he'll know it's gone, and you wont be taking it away per say, he'll be getting rid of it and he'll be a big boy!

Answer 10

Its hard and frustrating, but in a couple of days he should forget about it. At least that is what my kids did.