Pacifier at 5

Here's a trick that worked for our 4 year old. We told her about the "Pacifier Fairy!!" If she left her pacifier under her pillow, she'd get a toy in return. We talked about it for a few weeks, asking her if she was ready and what toy would she want most. At first she didn't like the idea of giving up the pacifier. But the more we talked, the more enthusiastic she became. She wanted a particular doll, and finally decided she was ready. That night we all said goodbye to her pacifier, put it in a little bag, and put it under her pillow. She woke to her new doll, and only got weepy for her pacifier twice the next day. She hugged the doll and played with it whenever she missed her pacifier. It worked!!!

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Hey P. Bear! First don't be so hard on yourself, you didn't fail at anything...second, is easier than you think, but it takes courage to do it. My first to sons hung on to it until 3 (the first) and the second until he was 4. With both I used the Paci Fairy, I chosed one day (like an important one) I explanined the Fairy deal, "leave the paci, she will leave a toy" ( a little one), the day came and I had to do it like ripping a band aid, fast. The paci desapeared and he found a little toy instaed, now the excitment lasted only until the next nap, then he didn't want the car anymore! That's when you just have to be brave, confort them, lots of hugs and bear with a little crying for about 2 to 3 days....then is ALL over...they forget all about it. If I were you I'd choose Valentines, I'll explain to her that she is a big girl now, that the Dentist said that the paci had to go because her theet are going to be all crooked ( this helped with my second son) and that she is a pretty girl and so on...tell her that on Valentines the paci is going by by and then just make it desapear that day.Bake cookies, a cake CELEBRATE WITH HER and make her to feel proud of what she did...then when the tears came later at night remind her of the wonderful day she had and then just bear with her for a few days...she will be over it after 2 to 3 days. Maybe you can buy her a little stuffed animal or a doll she can sleep with now...
I hope it helps!
Best of luck!!!
A.

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A friend of mine did something creative with her 4 year old. She told her daughter that they were going to go to the toy store and buy a toy with the paci. She talked to the employees ahead of time, so they would be aware and supportive. The little girl walked into the toy store, picked out a toy, and handed her paci to the cashier to "pay" for her toy. The store employees cheered and made a fuss about her being a big girl and paying for her own toy. She was so proud of herself and her new toy. It worked for them!

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Yikes!!! A five-year-old can be reasoned with (but she can try to reason back) so I would just tell her like it is. I'm not in your shoes so I can only say what I think I would do but the dentist is right -- you don't want to have orthodontic problems later. (BTW -- in Europe it's much more common for kids to hang on to pacifiers longer than they do in the US. I don't know if it's better or worse but it is a fact.)

Weaning will probably be the easiest. So, explain to her that the dentist says the pacifier needs to go (maybe even have the dentist tell her him/herself) and make a chart. For one week, she gets to use it as she chooses preparing herself for the inevitable. The next week, it's nighttime only. The next, it's bedtime only and you go get it when you go to bed (so she doesn't have it all night.) The next week, it's gone but she gets some kind of big girl reward (toy, "date" to Medieval Times, etc.) That way, she knows it's coming but she has something to look forward to also.

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My daughter was almost 6 before we finally got rid of the pacifiers. She was the same way, happy, very outgoing, not insecure. We kept caving for various reasons. Finally I read her a story out of Parents magazine about about a child that left her pacifiers on the window sill for the paci fairy to take to new babies. We talked about it for a week or two, picked a date and just stuck with it. The paci fairy left her a big princess balloon instead with a thank you note. I won't lie to you, we had a few rough spots but we got through it. It was definitely a security thing. We cut all the pacifiers up and threw them out so there was no going back. Our pediatrician kept telling us not to worry about it, "she won't walk down the aisle with a pacifier" so we just kept waiting for the opportunity to take it away but it never arose. Do you know of any families with an infant? Maybe you can talk to her about wrapping hers up in a box to give to the baby? Good luck.

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