2 Year Old Dealing with Security Issues After Pacifier Removal

Updated on July 15, 2010
W.E. asks from Knoxville, TN
4 answers

My 2 year old has always been a fairly independent child. At bedtime, she kissed us goodnight and we left the room while she put herself to sleep. At daycare, she hugged me bye and went off playing not caring that I was leaving. However, two weeks ago that all changed. We decided it was time to take the Pacifiers away. We had slowly worked up to this point and she was only getting them for sleep, but we still decided the longer we waited the harder it would become. Well after the first couple of days she stopped crying for the pacifier, but now a new child has come out of all this. Now she screams when we try to leave her room at night and crawls up my leg screaming when I try to leave her at daycare. I know we took her security away, but I don't know what to do next. We've started sitting next to her bed at night and are slowly moving a little bit more towards the door each night. My question, is this normal? If we just keep pushing forward will we eventually make it to greener pastures? HELP!!!

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J.S.

answers from Chattanooga on

I also tried to take the Paci away at 2 and it DID not go well :(
I called the dentist and he said as long as it is taken away by 3 years old then his teeth will be fine. We gave it back at night just to not have to "fight" it. When explained several times that when he turned 3 it had to go to a "new" baby to help them b/c he was now a big boy. We also let him know that he could not have his birthday party and get his presents til the paci went away. So he agreed. We tied it to a balloon at the party and let it go and made a big deal of what a big boy he was and then he got all his presents. His new presents kept him busy that week and he only fussed for his paci once. I can't tell you what to do with yours, but know that we have been there and do what works for you :)

2 moms found this helpful

K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Does she have something else to latch onto, she (like my daughter) used the nuk as a security item so have her pick something else out that she can take EVERYWHERE with her to give her that sense of security back (either something you own or a new item you go to the store together and she can pick it out). We took away my daughter's nuk around 3 years (which we waited too long because her front teeth positions were affected by the sucking.nuk). She now clings to her pink fuzzy (a small bear head attached to a small blanket, found at target I think) as well as a build-a-bear (gray cat). At first she would bring the two items everywhere but after 6 or so months it was just one of the items had to come along and now at almost age 4 she does not always bring either of the security items along.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.G.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with Katie B. When we started to take away my youngest sons paci the ped told us to make sure he had something else to latch onto. He was a blanket baby so he had his blankie. He took it everywhere and had to have it for all naptimes and nighttime. He is now 5 and pretty much no longer needs it unless he's sick. Up until a week ago he still needed it for night time but he hasn't asked for it so I'm keeping it hidden for now. Just get her something else to love on (stuffed animal, blanket, etc) and that will become her security.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Lexington on

why did you feel you had to take it away at all? it is her pacifier, when she finds another way to self-soothe, she will leave it.

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