Two Questions?? Indoor Activities & Getting Rid of Pacifier

I just took away the pacifier cold turkey and she never even missed it!! AND it is SO much better without it!!

Our daughter was not allowed to have it in her class either... So she had it at nap time and bed time only. We made up a story that a fairy flew in while she was asleep and took it because another baby needed it. At first she was upset and didn't want to hear the story but after 2-3 days she became really interested in it and we just added on some more details about her and why she needed it. I also read an article once and it was in parents magazine so maybe you can look on-line and see if they have it on there. They had suggestions of taking them and putting them in a box and going to the post office to mail them to Sesame Street for babies that need them (or whatever show they watch) ect. Thats how we got the fairy idea.

Our dog ate a portion of my son's pacie so we just hid the others and told him she tore it up. He blamed her for a few days and wanted to hold his pacie at nap time. That didn't last but a few days and then he wanted to throw the broken one away. My son and the dog are now friends again.

The Museum of Nature and Science is a great place to play indoors. Kids 3 and under are free with a paid adult.

My daughter is 16 months and has only been getting the pacifier at nap/night time now for about 4 months. I'm thinking of going cold turkey also. How else do you wean a paci when you're only getting it once/twice a day? I'll give it a shot and see what happens. She never asks for it any other time so I'm hoping it goes okay.

Hi, When our son was about 18 mos. He only took his pacifier at night also. What we did was cut the end of the nipple off. Of course we had a couple of spares hidden in case that didn't work. But we gave it to him. He tried to suck it a couple of times then threw it in the floor and never wanted it again. We have several friends who have done the same thing. Good luck!

I don't know where you live, but in Grand Praire, there's this place.
http://www.doogoland.com/

I havn't been there yet, but was told that it's awesome for toddlers-12years.
It's only $5 per kid and adults are free.

Should be pretty easy since you have only limited it to sleep. We did that with our first who stopped using it around 17 months. One day, I just did not offer her the pacifier at sleep and she didn't ask. After that, we got rid of them since we figured she was fine without. Her sister was born about a month later and I was really worried that she would revert back; however, she never did. It was so much easier than I thought. I was planning a fairy story and everything; however, never had to go that route! I would suggest not offering him his pacifier at sleep and see what happens. If he pushes for it then give it to him and start eliminating it at nap and then at night. Good luck!

I am not fond of Doogoland for that age. A great place for that age is Abbey's Playtown in GP. In Fort Worth, I've heard that Ridgmar Mall has a great play area. Also, the Museum of Science and History is pretty fun. There is a fountain outside that kids can splash in if you feel up to that. In Grapevine, there is a great play area called Paradise Pond. My son loved it from around 11/12 months and I've also taken an 11 year old who loved it as well. Also, I cannot recommend Little Gym enough. My son LOVES this place.

Lots of great suggestions so far. Playwisely is another activity that is awesome for kids 4 - 36 months. They have several locations across the metroplex.

We went Cold Turkey. She was already off at her preschool/daycare, so we knew she only wanted it when she got home. Threw it out one day, she fussed and went through withdrawals for a few days....then she was fine.
As far as indoor activities, not sure, besides the normal reading, coloring, drawing, things like that.

We created a "Paci Fairy" and put all the pacifiers in a special box one night and when my daughter woke up she had a new "big girl" toy from the Paci Fairy. I don't think she ever asked for it again. Make the gift something he really wants - maybe take a scouting trip to Toys R Us to find something that catches his eye.

As far as the pacifier is concerned, we cut a hole in the tip of the pacifiers. My son said his "bop, bop" was broke and did not want it anymore.

Good luck

There is the mall, little gym, gymboree, swim lessons, pottery painting, music class, story time at library and barn & nobles, jump houses, dallas north aquarium, children's museum, aviation museum, kidz muse, and the movies. Hopes this help. As far as binky goes cold turkey is what I did. Rough few days, but after the third he was fine.

I don't know about any indoor activities, but I always see a bunch of people at the play area at the Stonebriar Mall in Frisco. I haven't had to deal with pacifiers either, but my sister said to cut the ends off the pacifiers. This way you are not taking anything away, you are just making it useless and then they stop wanting it. I think if it were me, I would try cutting off the ends, but if that didn't work, than cold turkey is the way to go. He already only uses it at night, so I don't know how much more weening you can do. You will have a couple nights of pure hell, but he will adjust.

Pacifier: We just got rid of the pacifier with our 2-year-old, and here's what we did...

He was already down to the bink only during sleep, but it was time to ditch it altogether. We talked for a week or so about how we should give all his binks to a new baby who needed them since he was such a big boy now. Then one day, he and I went all around the house and gathered his binks from their various stashes (he even had one I didn't know about!) and put them in a bag. We were going to go to the mall and present them to a baby (hoping I could find a nice new mom who would "get the hint" and take them), but then a close friend came by who is about to have a baby. So we gave our bag of binks to our friend's new baby. My son was quite proud of himself for helping and sharing.

Now don't think that was the end of it...we had several days of difficulty falling asleep at naps and nighttime. But that lasted for 4-5 days and got progressively better. Now we are 100% binky-free!!! And completely back to our usual sleep schedule.

My husband thought cold turkey might be a bit harsh, but I think that's the only option once you have already reduced to sleep-only. It really was like ripping off a band-aid for us - do it quick, do it once. Hurts for a second, and then your done.

Doogoland is alot of fun. They have a slide, play kitchen, dr.office and a store. There is also a lego area and a doll area. I think their website is doogoland.com. I did a search for toddler activies and I got alot back, everything from songs, nursery rhymes, crafts and finger songs.

As far as the pacifier my friend went cold turkey her son only needed it to sleep and she told him they were all gone. It was a few crazy nights and then he forgot about it.

I took my daughter's paci away around 16-17 months, cold turkey. I told her they were gross and asked if she wanted to put them in the trash. She did and we had 2 days of withdrawal that were not so bad; she's never asked for it again.

I haven't read the other responses regarding the pacifier but my son also only got it while he was sleeping. I cut the end off of my sons and had another one stashed away incase going cold turkey didn't work out. My son put his in his mouth and pulled it back out with a confused look on his face. I told him that it was broke and that HE should put it in the trash so he did. After that anytime he would ask for it I would remind him that it was broke so he put it in the trash. I noticed it took him longer to fall asleep but it was alot easier than what I thought it would be. He would ask about it every once in a while but was ok with it when I told him where it was. Good Luck

Indoor activities for an 18 month old is easy. Wood puzzles, coloring, read books to him, the Big legos. Also buy an inflatable pool and put the soft plastic colored balls in it, and let him have a blast. 10 minutes outside should be fine but just make sure he has sunblock on. For the pacifer find another security item that you can subsitute. I hope this helps.

F. Decker
http://www.safe4myfamily.com
Helping Moms Work From Home
LETS GO GREEN!

cold turkey. and buy yourself some earplugs for a few nights! do not give into him. it will break your heart but it will be okay.

You have received enough sugestions about the pacifier, but my 2 year old watchied as we flushed it down the toilet. From then on he said it was gone and did great.
As far as indoor activities:
play dough, finger painting, coloring and color book, sticker fun, puzzles, Fisher Price tool set and bench and some tools make noise, indoor pretent lawn mower, CD's with dance along and fun singing, puppets and puppet curtain between doorway at his level, go to library one day a week at story time for his age, big blocks or Legos for toddlers and cars and trucks; build with him awhile and then go do other stuff and see how long he will play alone.
Let him help sook. We sit our 22 month old on the counter at nearly every meal and she helps, pour, mix, blend, cut, tear lettuce, everything. All four boys and her love to help and cook in the kitchen and the two oldest are becoming great sooks. Tonight the 12 year old made chicken and dumplings for 7.
We also built a sand and water table for outside and they love it. Under the shade with a sprinkler or pool 45 minutes at about 4pm is fine.
Good luck.