Crying it out: Pacifier or No Pacifier?

Question

Our daughter Emma is doing great with sleeping. We are at the point though where she needs to be able to cry herself back to sleep. She wakes up twice per night and just screams. We go in every 5 mins and soothe her, and she eventually falls asleep, usually within 15 mins. We are wondering if we should stop the pacifier at the same time because she cries because it falls out and can't get it yet, or cries with it in and is just crying to go back to sleep. So, if it is because of the pacifier, it is a catch 22...and makes the falling asleep worse. Any thoughts? And please don't make me feel bad about the crying it out. Emma is the most loved baby and is laughing, smiling, so affectionate, etc. We don't let her get hysterical, it breaks our hearts. So just know my question is about the pacifier...thanks

Sorry! I forgot to mention that she is 6 months old :-)
If I do stop the pacifier, is it better to do it cold turkey? She only uses it at night, not during the day at all...

Answer 1

I have a 4 month old and in the same situation. She used the pacifier to fall asleep. She used to spit it out once she was asleep but recently she started to fuss and cry when the pacifier falls off. Two to three times per night she starts to scream and usually calms down when the pacifier is back in her mouth. It usually happens within three hours after she falls asleep. I don’t know that it will help to take the pacifier away, because it is the only way she will fall asleep now. What helped us. It might not work for you, we put her on her side to sleep, nut monitor with the camera that she does not flip to her stomach, and before we go back to sleep I turn her to sleep on her back. We tried it for a few nights and it has worked, on the side she can hold the paci with her hand and push it back in. also a few times when she was crying we picked her up and she would burp and calm down. Try picking her up to see if she needs a burp. Good luck, hope you find a solution for your little one, I know it frustrating.

Answer 2

That is exactly what I am afraid will happen with my son. He is 4 weeks and the pacifier soothes him, but he gets hysterical when it falls out. But he only does that when he is awake, at night we don't give it to him and he doesn't mind yet. We let him cry for couple of minutes and he falls asleep without it and doesn't wake up at night. Personally, I would just take the pacifier away, she might cry for couple nights, but if you can stand it, she will get used to falling asleep without it, especially if she doesn't need it during the day.

Answer 3

It seems like she's just crying herself back to sleep and it would be easier to take her off the pacifier now. I didn't have a hard time taking my older daughter off the bink, but if she only uses it at night and seems to cry whether or not the bink is there, I'd say take it and she may cry a few minutes longer or whatever, but it wouldn't seem to be a big transition. I think it's easier to do it when they're younger since they're not as attached to things. I know some 2yo kids who still have binks (my opinion, too old) and by then it's a fight to take them away. She's only using it at night which is a good sign, so I think you'd be safe to take it away now. :)

Good luck!

Answer 4

You didn't say how old she was. My daughter used hers until she was about 1 or so. Then we just took it away one day and she was fine. I would just give it back to her or let her cry a little longer when she does wake and she may go right back to sleep without it. Everything will work out you sound like you are doing everything perfect! Good luck! :)

Answer 5

Whenever you are brave enough to deal w/ the repercusion of taking away then thats a good time, I think its a given that she is going to cry but if you don't mind dealing w/ it and she isn't going to use her thumb or fingers as a substitute go head and take it, she is still lettle so it shouldn't take all that long for her to get over it, and don't worry about letting her cry it out, there is nothing wrong w/ it, all parents have there own methods of taking care of there children and not many of them are wrong.

Answer 6

It may be tough but get rid of the pacifier, she may not have teeth yet but all the pacifier does is pad the orthodontics wallet.

Answer 7

depends on how old she is. some babies need a pacifier until they are a certain age. my son did that. he wanted it every time he woke up until he was about 6 months old. then he didn't want it anymore.

Answer 8

get rid of the pacifier