How to Get 2-1/2 Year Old off the Pacifier for Sleeping?

Hi D., My son fell asleep one night without his paci and we immediatley threw all of them away that night. We had a rough couple of days but it worked! I would suggest using the pacifier fairy or wizard (for a boy) and building up the idea that the fairy/wizard is coming to collect all the pacifiers for new babies and in return will leave you a boig boy/girl present.

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We took a two step approach. Not sure if you can take the ideas and modify them a bit but here it was: We first talked to him for weeks about giving them to Santa. We explained that Santa was going to take them to the babies but in return would leave him some presents. Then the night before Christmas we made Santa cookies and put all of his pacis on the plate. He refused to give up the one in his mouth but we just went with it. We figure now we only had to get rid of one. Then one night he misplaced it. We looked and looked and couldn't find it any where. Then at the last second I spotted it but I didn't say anything. From that point on he thought it was lost and it was over. I then threw them all in the garbage so we wouldn't be tempted to give in. He was a little over 2 1/2 at this time. It went SO much smoother than I expected. He did ask a few times to buy more at the store but I explained that he was too old and they only sell them to babies. I know Christmas is a ways off but maybe his birthday is coming or some other special occasion where he will get gifts. Anyway that is what we did and it worked out perfectly.

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Throw it away. In 2-3 days he will have forgotten about it.

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Hi D.,

We just got my 3 year old to ditch her paci a couple of months ago, which she was VERY attached to. We prepped her for a few weeks, telling her that soon she would need to let it go because she was a big girl. We asked her if there were any "big girl" toys that she wanted, and when she found something she loved, we told her she had to "pay" for it with her pacifier.

She wound up choosing a Disney princess "couch" that folds out into a bed from Babies R Us. She loves that thing! The first night she got it, she insisted on sleeping in it! So we let her - figuring do whatever you need to do to sleep as long as it doesn't include the paci! When we purchased the couch, we made her give the cashier her paci in a plastic ziplock (which the cashier then promptly threw away)as payment.

It was a rough first week, especially the first 2 nights. But every time she would cry for her paci, we would remind her that she traded it in for the princess couch. It made her feel as if she didn't just have to give it up, she got something in return for it. And it also made her feel like it was partly her own choice. Now she is so proud to tell everyone she has a princess couch because she is a big girl!

Good luck! Hope this helps!

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D.
Congrats on number four. I would try have him give them to someone else like the pacifier fairy and leave something he would really like in its place... Also remind him that big boys don't need a pacifier. Good Luck!!
Jenn

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Try the paci fairy or I just went cold turkey with both my girls. Child #1 was 13 months it took 2 days. Child #2 was 15 months it took 4 days. The longer you wait the more difficult it is going to be. The best of luck to you.

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Hi D.,

When I was a kid my parents took me to a toys r us and said I could trade my pacifier for whatever I wanted in the store. It worked, I got a nice barbie doll and they got rid of my pacifier before my brother was born. My parents said it was so exciting for me that they didn't need to even remind me of the trade after.
To this day they joke that they were very lucky that I didn't want something super expensive.

Best,
V

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Don't take it away. Just cut the tip off a little and then he will not want it cuz it's 'broken'. That's what worked for me over night. Wish I would have done that with my first child. It was much easier that way.

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My son was the same age when he had to give up his. Every day he would throw it and we would lose it, so eventually he threw it once more and it was lost! So we told him over and over you lose it and it's gone bye bye forever! It took about 2-3 days of tough bedtimes, but he got over it quickly! I did find it a few months later under the computer desk and made sure to throw it away asap, before he saw it! Good luck!

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He's old enough to get it himself if there's a nightlight in his room. You could velcrow it to him on a short ribbon. He may want you to get it because with 2 younger babies in the house they must get more attention. Try to break him of the paci...he's old enough to be mommy special big boy.

LOL!! I am not alone! I have decided this is "the weekend" I can't stand the "sucker" any more. Not sure what I am going to do yet. I am going to ask him if he wants to trade it for something and if not I am going to have to call it lost. I can't deal with it any more. My son is the same age and it is beyond time.

Good Luck!!