We just got rid of the the pacifier this past weekend and as I suspected naps and bedtime are not the easiest.. Bedtime is not too bad. She only cries for a few minutes but naps are a whole other story. She will cry and scream and make a huge fuss for a long time. I have stopped going in to check on her because that only makes it worse. The real problem I'm having is that she takes forever to fall asleep and then she will only sleep for about half as long as she used to. She wakes up crying like she was before she fell asleep. She is not an happy camper! She does have a special blanket to sleep with. Any suggestions?
Basically, you just need to wait it out - she will eventually get over it and sleep longer at naptime before she gives up naps entirely! Sounds like you are doing the right thing and remember, she will not recall this when she is older. You are not traumatizing her for life!
N.,
Children at this age tend to start to nap less. Now that you've cut out the pacifier you may need to develop a new routine to prepare your daughter for sleep. Does she like to be read to? Maybe try reading her a few stories before nap/bed time and letting her snuggle with her blanket and maybe a favorite stuffed animal instead. I have four children and I always got rid of the pacifier at 1 year old or sooner and never had a problem (sorry, I know this doesn't help you now). The good news is there are other ways to comfort and relax your child for sleep. Good luck.
I suggest you continue whatever you've started. If you give the pacifier back now, it will only make matters worse when you do finally decide it's time to take it away. This is a hard adjustment for your child and it's only been a few days! She will survive and thrive to be the happy camper you know and love! It took our daughter (also 21 months) almost a month when we took hers away in June. This is a great time to get rid of pacifiers for a variety of reasons like language development! Stay strong-we feel your pain!
about this age we cut our son back to one nap a day. you said naps so i assume that she is getting two naps a day. try one in the after noon.
N.,
My cousin cut the nipple off of the binky for her little one. That way she could hold it, but there was nothing for in her mouth. That's all I've got though, I'm still trying to break my 2 year old. Her brothers, 3yrs and 10 months never wanted one, so she is fighting for all she's worth to keep it. Good Luck!
R.
i feel your pain...going through the SAME thing but i am not strong enough to take it away...i keep giving it back =(
Hi Natalie! How are you? Well, I get a lot of contravercy over that fact that I have a 2.5 year old and yes, he still is on the pacifier. The way I see it, if the pacifier isn't harming his teeth (decay or overbite), why take it away? And also, pacifiers don't harm their adult teeth when they come in. So, he takes his "pacy" at nap time and bedtime only and all is well. Happy baby, happy mom. It was very stressful for both of us when I have tried to ween him off it. I'm sure he'll get rid of it when he wants and that's OK with mommy!
Time, this too shall pass. Give a few more days, don't throw in the towel just now. These Children of ours are so resilient.
she wasn't ready to give up the pacifier. give it back at naptime.
Give her about 2 weeks to get back to a normal routine.
