My baby doesn't use the pacifier around the house during the day. He sometimes uses it in the car and always at naptime and bedtime. I'll admit that I'm a bit dependent on giving it to him, especially in a restaurant or out in stores. I think I also feel like he NEEDS it at nap and bed times. I'd like to get rid of it before it becomes too difficult. I don't want him to be walking around with a pacifier in his mouth. Please, any good suggestions are welcome!
2007-03-18 08:18:38 · 23 answers · asked by Lil'Mama 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
If he's hooked now, 8 months is too early to wean him off the binky. Just give up on that until he's at least 1. Try weaning binkys and bottles at the same time. A few more months won't make any difference if he's had it this long. What I do with my kids (both under 2) when i get them out of bed from naptime or in the morning, i have them "drop binky in your bed" so they understand that "binkys are only for night-night" They are proud of themselves when they drop it in, so they're not sad to leave it behind. If you're sure you want to do it, check out http://parents.com/
P.S. my mom wanted me to jot down her opinion. She says "My son had a binky until he was at least 3. Now he's a LT. Helicopter pilot in the Navy. So, don't sweat the small stuff"
2007-03-18 08:27:12 · answer #1 · answered by BellaJ_DDils 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's only 8 months old. Don't worry about it.
Since he only uses it at night time and in stressful situations like stores it's nice that he has a way to soothe himself. It's easier than weaning from thumb sucking.
My older son had a pacifier and when he was two he just stopped using it. One day a few weeks after he quit he found one in his toy box and stuck it in his mouth. He got a strange look on his face, took it out and looked at it, then threw it down. That was the end of the pacifier.
This may not sound so strange, but he was a kid who constantly sucked on it until that time!
Our younger son never particularly cared for them.
If you decide to cut it off as some have suggested, you will only need to cut it once. Once you cut it, it doesn't hold air and collapses, so it's no fun to suck any more. My brother did this with his youngest and that was that. The kid looked perplexed and they said, "Oh! It must be all gone!" He didn't ask for it any more.
2007-03-18 08:50:03 · answer #2 · answered by Behaviorist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lil Mam
Did you ever go to college with someone that still had a pacifier? No. I didn't think so. He's still a baby. I think it's ok.
Personally I think the amount of time he uses it is little.
I raised 3 kids - (13, nearly 11, and 8) and one used the pacifier. When he was 3 we told him that he had to give up his pacifier- we only used it to sleep.
One day out of the blue he said he was ready to give them to the pacifier fairy and that was that.
Nobody but "us" knew he needed his pacifier -
It was a heck of a lot easier then you think.
If it bothers you that much I'd just cut it out cold turkey
but I think if you feel it's time try it out at a nap.
See how it goes. As I said nobody you know will have a pacifier past a certain age - :O)
2007-03-18 08:32:18 · answer #3 · answered by kelly e 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just take it away. He'll get over it in about a week, maybe two. YOu will have to let him cry it out at night, but it's worth it. I weaned my son off the pacifier at 3 months old; he cried for 2 hours 45 mintues the first time but he DID finally go to sleep without it and after that it was all easy, he cried less each sleep time and within a week he was completely pacifier- and crying-free.
2007-03-18 09:32:32 · answer #4 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A pack of smokes and a smack to the forehead.
No. Just kidding.
I think the first step to weaning the kid off is to wean your dependancy on the pacifier first. You admit to using it out in public, to keep him quiet I would imagine. Not surprising, and not a bad thing for you to have tried, but babies cry. Some research says babies need to cry and learn frustration early in their development. Accept that, and the fact that babies will cry, and slowly start the weaning process.
Good luck. And remember, there are a few people out there who don't get all bent out of shape at a baby crying in public :) Some are very sympathetic.
2007-03-18 08:22:53 · answer #5 · answered by psyduck702 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he's not walking around with it now, then he likely won't just start out of the blue. If he does try, just tell him they're for nap time or when he's out and about only. He'll want to be active, so he'll choose to go without.
Why would you try to take away his security blanket when he's only 8 months old? You're right.. he DOES need it at nap time. Now, if you'd decided on his birth that you weren't going to give him one and he'd never had one, he'd probably have found something else to attach to for a bit of added security.... but that didn't happen. So, now you have an 8 month old who sounds well-adjusted... but when sleepy or in social situations that make all babies a bit uncomfortable, he needs his pacifier a bit. So what?? He knows when he needs it, and he uses it appropriately. That sounds normal and healthy to me.
I say he'll give them up when he's ready... and if he gets to be 3 and still is attached, he'll be old enough to talk him through the withdrawal process... But at 8 months? To take them away and not give them back just seems cruel to me.
Trust your instincts on this one... he does need it for now.
2007-03-18 08:28:21 · answer #6 · answered by Amy S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you just keep it strictly for naps and nite time. That's what I did with my daughter and then when she was almost 2 she didn't ask for it one night and then the following night I just told her it was gone. She accepted it and adapted very well to life without a pacifier. I allowed her to use it during the day only when teething. This helped a lot.
Best of luck
2007-03-18 10:57:10 · answer #7 · answered by Allie D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I read in a parenting magazine that now is the right time to do so. Because this is when they becomes a habbit. How to get rid of it. I offer no help. Hum. I know studdies suggest to use binkies at nap and night time to reduce the risk of SIDS. Try to only use it during those times. We are getting ready to do the same thing only at night time binkies with our son . I totally understand the not wanting them to walk arround with it. My daughter just turned two and we now only use them at night and naps. My son is almost 8 mo old and we are about ready to do that with him too. I must admit that it is so nice when they cry to just put the bink in their mouth and they annoying crying will stop. I think it is a habbit for both parents and children.
2007-03-18 08:56:03 · answer #8 · answered by Alsign 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've also heard that snipping a little off the end each day will help. Same goes for having him use it less and less each day until he only uses it for nap and bed time.
As far as when you're out, do you give it to him because you think he's too loud? I see that a lot. If so, try to relax. Most people like to hear babies babble.
2007-03-18 08:39:39 · answer #9 · answered by berrel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Find something else that he can hold on to at during the naps and bedtime like a stuffed animal or blanket. When you start getting him off of it during those times he will most likely be less apt to want it while in the store.
2007-03-18 08:23:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋