How to Get Rid of the Pacifier????? - Downers Grove,IL

Updated on January 31, 2011
G.B. asks from Downers Grove, IL
24 answers

Hi,
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of the pacifier. My daughter is 3 and is super attached to it...ugh.

Thanks!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter left it outside the front door in a box for the "babies" and the they left her a beautiful Jewelry box outside the door!! I thought my daughter would go to college with her binky haha but she really did a excellent job. Good luck

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.Q.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter was close to 3 when we finally got rid of hers. We went to Build-A-Bear and let her pick out whatever she wanted to make and she put her pacifier in the stuffing and watched it get "built" into her dog.
The following week was a little rough - at one time she asked us to cut open her dog, but after that she was fine.

We did prepare her that we would be getting rid of the pacifier - we didn't just take her one day... but we didn't prolong it much either.

Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.B.

answers from Chicago on

I had originally poked holes in his pacifier, but he still used it. So finally I cut the tip off so only a little nub was left and he quickly became disinterested. It only took 2 weeks before he forgot about the pacifier all together. Hallelujah!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Chicago on

Our son just gave it up, on his own at 5 1/2. Yep, I said it, 5 1/2. He only used it to sleep, and it wasn't alowed out of his room. But each time we tried to break him of it before, he got so distraught we began to question our motives. Our pediatricians and dentist both said it was fine until his adult teeth, so we let him keep it. We know a few other kids who still had it at his age and older. All of whose parents told us in a moment of weakness, certainly not out in the open. Of course we were on the downmlow about it too!
We tried everything, even a shiny new bike. Which our boy promptly told us to take back! All the tricks, he fell for nothing.
So a few months ago , my husband says "why don't you just try to go to sleep without it, if you can't, it will be on the dresser for you". That was close enough for him. He went right to sleep, early in the morning, I heard him get up to grab it. We went like this for about a week, and then he stopped going for it, so we moved it to the other dresser further across the room, then in the drawer. After while he's so proud of himself for his progress, we're proud of him too. Then one day he takes it out and throws it in the garbage!
So we are a plug free family finally. No drama. Our son is a happy, smart, funny, thoughtful, artistic, creative, gorgeous child. He makes friend easily, does well in school, is kind to other people and animals. So he kept his stupid pacifier longer than most kids. Big deal. He's fine. He will be fine.
Your daughter will too. Don't sweat it.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.L.

answers from San Diego on

Hi G., Just take it and throw it away, no games no lies(pacifier fairy) adults should not have to lie and play games when they are supossed to be the ones in charge not the child. Pacifiers are very addicting, I raised 3 children with out them. Be honest, don't lie to a 3 year old, and then at age 5 expect her to be truthful we are the biggest influences on the lives of our children. J.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.A.

answers from Little Rock on

My pediatrician told me at my oldest sons 2 year check up to cut the nipple from the tip to the base with the slit being at the roof of the mouth and center of the tongue. This would make the pacifier nipple pinch their tongue when they tried to suck. My son had a pacifier in his mouth 24/7, so I was a little skeptical that it would work.

I went straight home that after noon and hid all but 2 of his pacifiers and did as he said. I gave the first one back to my son and he popped it in his mouth. He immediately took it out and examined it. Popped it back in and yanked it right back out and said "Sassy bok" and said well throw it in the trash. He threw it in the trash and I handed him the second one. He popped it in and took it immediately out and said "sassy bok too". I told him to throw it in the trash too. He never asked for a pacifier again. He did whine at bed time for a while, but went to sleep without it. The next day, it was like he had never had one.

I broke my second and third child of their pacifier exactly the same way with great results. They only used theirs at bedtime and naptime. My daughter, the youngest, did ask for hers occasionally and I just reminded her that it was broke and she threw it away.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.U.

answers from Detroit on

Time for a visit from the "Binky Fairy!" Worked great for my daughter when she was 2.5! And I don't care if people think it is "lying" or not. Is pretending to believe in Santa or the Tooth Fairy lying also? We just told her that she was getting older and the Binky Fairy needed it for a new baby and she was not a baby anymore that needed it. We just left it on the windowsill one night for the Binky Fairy to take and the next morning there was a "big girl" present in it's place. DD fussed for about a week or so still, but it got better each night. I'd rather have her mad at the Binky Fairy than mad at us!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Chicago on

Cut holes in them. This way you are not taking it away - your daughter will make the choice to not have them anymore. This worked liked a charm with my 2nd DS.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.M.

answers from Chicago on

We cut the tips off of all our daughters pacifiers, and once she realized she was not able to "suck" on them anymore, she was finished with them. She even threw them in the garbage...letting us know they were broken.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.G.

answers from Detroit on

I agree that you should just take it. Explain to your daughter that she is old enough to get rid of it, and that it is not good for her teeth, etc. Then make sure they are ALL gone, and be strong. From what I've heard, they get over it in 3 days (like most things - crying it out, taking away the bottle, etc.)

T.B.

answers from Chicago on

Offer her some special thing if she gets rid of them. Let it be her choice, but make it well worth it for her. A special trip somewhere, a fun day planned... you get the idea. Then talk to her about how she's a big girl now and big girls don't need pacifiers anymore. It will be rough for a few days, but she will get through it. Just be glad it's a paci that you can throw away, and not her thumb! :)

T.
Barefoot Books Ambassador
www.ReadandGrow.com
Winter Sale going on NOW!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.B.

answers from Chicago on

The Binky Fairy came to our house and took the pacifiers away. We talked up the idea for about a month... How LO was a big girl and didn't really need the binky anymore, how there are kids out there who don't have binkies.... Then on the appointed night, we had her leave one binky out for the fairy and let her go to bed with the other. Both pacifiers went into the trash that night and in the morning she had 2 small gifts and a certificate that hubby made waiting for her where she had left the binky. She asked for the binky a lot the first day or two, esp at nap time, but within a few days it was like she never had one.

G.T.

answers from Modesto on

this question comes up a lot. type "pacifier" in our search box and you will get tons of great ideas.
3 is old enough to just take it away tho, have her trade it for something at the toy store. Once she makes the trade you NEVER give her the paci back, you just remind her that she got the "dolly" or whatever and the paci is now gone.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Cut the tip. Works like a charm!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Throw it away and tell her the paci fairies came and took to a new baby...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.L.

answers from Chicago on

My oldest son was also very attached to his pacifier. First, we put limits on using it, only for sleeping, explaining that we couldn't understand him talking to us during the day with the pacifier in his mouth. Then, we explained that it was time to pick something new to sleep with that would be better for a three year old, so we planned a special shopping trip and he picked a new stuffed animal. We allowed him to keep the pacifier in a box in his dresser in case he wanted it, but he never did.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.G.

answers from Omaha on

When our daughter turned 2 we knew it was time to take the binky away. I cut the end of her binky off and we told her it broke. She inspected it and then we told her since it was broke she would have to throw it away. We gave it to her and she threw it in the garbage. That was that. She asked about it for a couple of days then seemed to forget all about it.

Note she only used her binky at nap time and bed time. We never allowed her to have it during the day...

Good luck!

F.G.

answers from Cleveland on

I have the same issue - however my daughter is 2 - i asked her doc & she gave me good advice - she said its a lot easier to get rid of a binky than a finger - my main concern was her teeth but they are baby teeth and a finger is way worse for their teeth - maybe just try giving it to her only at night and during naps! hope this helps!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.V.

answers from Chicago on

I poked some holes in it so it wasn't as satisfying. My daughter threw it away herself because it was "broken"

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Boston on

Oooh, I like the cutting a slit in it so that it does not feel good. I have heard of others who made a ceremony of tying a bunch of pacifiers to a helium balloon and let them go back to binky heaven.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.G.

answers from Chicago on

Hi G.,

I don't see my first posting, otherwise I would amend it with another idea that helped us. I recommended the pacifier only at night, then go cold turkey. Only 2-3 days of whining and asking for it.

Our problem has been toilet training and one thing that is working for us is to have a sticker chart reward-system. Maybe it could work with the pacifier. When the kids get 5 stickers, they get to go with dad to the toy story and pick out whatever they want (of course, within reason and with a lot of influence on their decision making!). The next set of 5 stickers is a visit to an ice cream shop, somewhere we don't go often and make a big deal about going. The kids get so excited about these new adventures, they want to earn more stickers.

Good luck!

V.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.E.

answers from Chicago on

I can share my experience with our son who LOVED his binky. We limited his use to nap/bedtime first (or on the 7 hr car ride to his grandparents). He had to keep it in his room in a binky bucket.

He had several, so after time they would get holes or other unhealthy look so we'd toss and not replace them.

We weren't as worried that worried about his use and his dentist admitted his own 3 and 4 yr olds just quit using them and it won't hurt their teeth at that age. Honestly, he lost the last 2 when he turned 4 and had pretty much lost the urge to suck by then.

I know not everybody has the laidback attitude we did but it's just another perspective.

Good luck.
AE

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.J.

answers from San Francisco on

Just did this last month for my 3 year old son! On his birthday we took his binky tied it to a helium balloon and let him let it go. He was recently going through a phase of really enjoying balloons flying--so I ceased the opportunity.

As the balloons was flying away, I told him..."Hey look your balloon is taking your binky to all the other crying babies that need a binky"! He looked at me and said "do you hear that" when I asked him "do I hear what?" he said "the babies crying?" I told him "I did, but...wait listen I don't hear them crying anymore they must have gotten your binky?" He said, "oh yes" and that was it.. When we went back inside we had a toy train that we said his balloon left for him. He was so excited he didn't even want to open any of his other b-day presents.

That night he did ask for his binky for bed, but we told him "remember you gave your binky to the other babies who were crying" his reply was oh yes the balloon drove it there...Every now and then he ask for it, usually when he's sick or really upset. But the binky is gone.! Just be prepared if she is still taking naps that she doesn't nap as well. Since the binky is gone the biggest battle of my day is getting my son to take a nap, but that is a whole other issue....Good luck hope you find something that works :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.D.

answers from Chicago on

I cut the tips off of my them and then they were told that they were broken and I had to throw them away.

They gave them up (however I only EVER allowed them to have them in bed during naps and nighttime...never outside of the cribs.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions