Pacifier Weaning?

[oomaumau04]

DD is 8 months old and only uses a pacifier for naps and bedtime. I would like to start weaning her from it, but am not quite sure how...I tried getting her to sleep tonight without it, and it didn't go too well. Lol. Any tips? Thanks!! :)

[Joyto5]

If she's anything like mine it's a necessity till they are ready to give it up.

You could offer the breast more. Worked for our last when we had to get rid of his due to his sister and her teeth. She would always swipe his. I'm glad they both nursed to help with that transition.

[TayNRobbiesMom]

our first was FF and she had her paci til just before a yr. She kinda naturally gave it up as she was learning to communicate her needs through words and sign. actually her NOT needing it at night was the first sign to us to start easing it away. Good luck!

[shay823]

We got rid of my son's binky when he was about 3 1/2 months. As soon as he started self-soothing with his thumb we took it away. I just had to rock him to sleep for a few days then it was like he never had it at all.

[Stephanie]

We didn't wean ds of his paci until he was 2. He was much more ready at that point than he would have been at 8 months.

You can try cutting the tip or poking a whole in it. I have heard that it works from others.

[majubee]

my son was 2 before we took it away. I tried sooner but I learned quickly that if I wanted him to nap then he "needed" it. he loved his paci. I felt so bad to take it away. but his speach improved tons afterwards, well I guess age had something to do with it too.

[oomaumau04]

We didn't wean ds of his paci until he was 2. He was much more ready at that point than he would have been at 8 months.

You can try cutting the tip or poking a whole in it. I have heard that it works from others.

Really? That's not...bad? I don't know...I'm not even going to try at naptime right now, because she already has issues napping and I don't want her getting any less sleep than she already is!! I'm starting with bedtime and I plan on moving verrry slowly. She didn't seem to mind it once she was tired enough and I rocked her. She cried for about five seconds before falling asleep...but then she woke up a little later (like she always does) and would not go back to sleep until I nursed her. Hmm. We'll see how it goes I guess...if she gets too upset about it I'll forget it. :)

[ima062002]

Unless my pedi/dentist told me that the paci use was causing problems with my child's teeth/gums and even then I'd consider paying for braces :), I would not do anything about it. Pacis are comfort thingies and as such very important to a child who's gotten used to using them.

FWIW, and this is by no means a professional opinion, if your child only uses it before bedtime/nap and not constantly during the day, I don't think that there would be orthodontic issues. Just wouldn't be on my list of things :).

I am no help, hu? Sorry, but I thought that maybe a different perspective might help in looking at why you feel that this must be done now.

[Mary_Mary]

I had my daughter off the paci for a while. Had to do it cold turkey when she was about nine months old, although I usually still let her have it if she were really upset in the car seat. (Since there was little else I could do for her then.)

Then, about three months ago she was very sick and not wanting to nap very well and I started letting her use it again. She had a throwing up illness and I wanted her to settle down and sleep and NOT cry and risk throwing up again.

Well...she's back to being totally addicted to the things. Back when she was just mobile she would stalk the other babies in the infant room and steal their pacifiers.

It doesn't help that I live in a house full of enablers. My hubby and my sons tend to give her the pacifier if she gets the slightest bit upset so I'm fighting a losing battle in getting her weaned off it. I've sort of given up trying. If she finds one lying around she'll glom right onto it. If she finds another she'll carry it around with her.

She's an addict.