Breaking the Binky Habit with a New Baby on the Way?

Updated on June 06, 2008
J.B. asks from Cleveland, OH
6 answers

My 23 mo. old is very attached to her pacifier. She's only allowed to have it at naptime or bedtime (unless she's sick), but she still asks for it occasionally throughout the day. I've always thought that age 2 would be a good time for us to break the habit, but we've got a new baby due in early Oct. Should I still plan on taking binky away this summer, even though the baby will likely use one this fall? I'm afraid to go through all the trouble and heartache if she's just going to freak out again when she sees the baby happily sucking away on what she might percieve to be HER binky. What's your experience on this? Should I wait until later this year?
(BTW - Thanks for some great ideas on how to break the binky habit!)

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K.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

HI J.,

I am no expert - or vet mom - but this is my plan.

My dd is 22 months, my son 11 months and we're expecting Nov.
When my son was born, she was 11m, no way would I even try to break her then...
Now, I am at the dilema, if I break her from it, her brother still uses a paci (not as ferverently as she ever did love it but he does use it, especially naptime, bedtime and while sick like your daughter)
So, I just transitioned her to a toddler bed, yesterday actually.....
I thought she'd need her paci for this.
In about 2 months, since she'll be able to reason a lot more, I will explain to her that paci's are for babies and that we're getting rid of hers.
I hope it works.
After that, I hope to potty train her, I hope I can do it before the baby is born so we won't have 3 in diapers, she'll be 2yrs 3 months....
He will be 16 months so I'll keep him in his basics until he is 22 to 24 months, she's much more mature in everything than he is at any age so I think it is also an individual type case....

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M.R.

answers from Columbus on

Hi Jacki,
Have you ever watched the show with the nanny named Joe, well I have and she saved alot for me with the binky, i was in the same situation as you were, we were ready to get that binky out of her mouth once and for all! I know its hard when shes fussy and wants that binky and its also easier to just give it to her than deal with the furry of a tantrum, but you have to stick to it, everyone in the house needs to follow the rules you set for the success of the binky! So gather all those binkys up, even the back up ones, the ones in the car everywhere! Let her know there are babies being born right this moment and they need some binkys for them, ask her if she would like to send them to the binky fairy and the fairy would replace the binky with a very special surprise for her. We let our daughter put her 8 binkys on the pine tree in our backyard....that night wasnt the best, but she finally went to sleep the following morning, she rememberd that the fairy was going to leave her something special she went outside and found a mermaid she can put in the tub with her, did her eyes light up! It was that easy, she mentioned the binky twice that day, and i remined her about the fairy, and that was it. No more binky!!

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A.B.

answers from Cleveland on

I just wanted to let you know you are not alone. My daughter is about 30 months and we are expecting number 2 on July 4th. I just a few days ago got fed up with her and her binky and stopped giving it to her and told her all gone, and she has not had it in 3days. She is doing well (except that I have a hard time making her nap) and has only asked for it once today! I plan to use a binky for the second baby that looks nothing like the one Maria used. She used a nuki with the fat nipple and I plan to give the baby a soothie paci-and take it from him around 4 months (when they say they dont need it anymore)!

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T.M.

answers from Bloomington on

some people snip a little hole the tip of each pacifier so it doesn't work. they lose interest right away.

we read books, snuggle with a blanket, drink milk, and do other things to calm down.

another idea-- maybe she can give her binkys to the new baby, since she's a big girl now?

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A.K.

answers from Columbus on

i HAVE AN 18 MONTH OLD AND WE JUST TOOK THE PACI AWAY COLD TURKEY THIS WEEK. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE BAD BUT IT WAS FINE .
WE JUST REMOVED THEM ALL FROM THE PLACES HE KNOWS THEY ARE. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE CRIB, CABINET AND DIAPER BAG. SO HE COULD NEVER FIND THEM.

i WOULD DO IT NOW BECAUSE MY OPINION IS THAT THE LONGER YOU WAIT THE SMARTER THEY GET AND THEY KNOW IF THEY CRY OR ASK ENOUGH THEY WILL GET IT. I THINK YOUR TIMING IS GOOD NOW ALSO BECAUSE SHE WILL HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT BY THE TIME THE BABY ARRIVES.
TRY DOING IT COLD TURKEY...IT WILL WORK...GOOD LUCK!!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Cleveland on

Well, I can't speak from experience because both of my kids refused to take a pacifier! But I know that for many kids it is something they use to soothe themselves, just like my kids use their blankets and stuffed animals. I haven't pushed leaving their security objects behind or refused to let them take them places, because I figure that it might be something that they need in that moment. Does your child have anything else that she uses for self soothing? I guess my thought is that I'd let her keep using it unless you are able to help her transition to another form of self soothing and comfort. She's going to have a HUGE transition coming up so she'll need some way to comfort herself and at just under two, she probably still needs something. My thought is that she'll eventually outgrow it--"Lamby and blanket" now live in my daughter's bed and rarely come out except in instances when my daughter really needs them. Unless it is starting to cause a problem with her teeth or something, I'd say let her keep using it. You have it limited anyway, so it isn't like she's walking around all the time or everywhere with one! But if you definitely want it gone, I'd say follow other people's suggestions...

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