Suggestions for Getting Rid of Binkie?

Updated on January 20, 2011
J.S. asks from Leesburg, VA
19 answers

Hello Mamas,

I am looking for fun suggestions to get rid of my daughter's binkies (pacifiers). She is 2 -1/2 years old and we never intended for her to have her binkie this long. At one year we started limiting it to nap time and night time and that was going very well. Then I unexpectantly got pregnant when she was 15 months old and it was a rough pregnancy. Strong and unpredictable nausea, exhaustion for the first half and then modified bedrest due to contractions for the second half. On top of all that I was working as a consultant trying to land a full time regular job (which I did at 8 months pregnant) and we moved to a new house. Baby sister arrived shortly after her 2nd birthday and to be honest by that time my DD was using binkie all day. With new baby in the house I could not take it away as it calmed her when she was frustrated or stressed. Now the baby is 7 months old, my DD is potty-trained and in pre-school and it is high time she gives up the binkie.

So, after that long-winded explanation, what I am looking for is fun ways to have a 2 year old give up her binkie. Please no criticism for letting her have it for so long. Just helpful fun suggestions of what worked for you!

Thanks!

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L.M.

answers from Richmond on

I have heard were people take there child to build a bear. Let the child pick out the bear & put the binkie in it. Then when they wanted to they could hold the bear close to them. Could luck with this.

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

That was a lot going on, for sure! I needed a binkie after that-for me, it's called wine. Talk to her about it-she's getting older, going to school, the shape of her mouth, etc. If you take it away-she might start sucking her thumb?

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K.H.

answers from Boston on

My son and his binkie were inseperable! BUT one day i had had enough of the whining of the I want my binkie and all that so I just threw them all away. after a day or 2 it was forgotten. Sometimes thats just what you have to do. they are young and they will forget. Luckily my new baby doent take a bink ( she has never cared for it ) so it makes the disappearing binkie act more tolerable! good luck in whatever you decide!

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I'd first find out if she uses it at all at daycare. I was surprised when I found out my 2+ year old never took a binky to fall asleep at naptime at her new daycare (found this out three months after starting). That night when she asked for it, I told her she didn't need it to fall asleep because she didn't use one at daycare. She said okay and then asked for it / fussed once that night and then asked for it maybe one more time. I think it was harder on me to get rid of it than her!

My almost 18 month old son would have his binky all day if we let him!!! We try to limit to nap/bedtime/in the car but he's been sick lately so we've been slacking. I have a feeling getting him off it may be harder!

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

Cold Turkey gather them all up put them in a bag & out to the trash.Out of sight, she will cry but it is short lived.This isn't going to be fun she has become attached to this binkie it has become apart of her she will have to learn to cope without it & mom your going to have to distract her when she becomes unconsolable..
If you let it go on & on it will only be dragging it out then it'll become harder & harder to get rid of the binkie.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Buy a helium balloon, attach the binkie and have her send it to heaven so God can give it to a baby that needs it.

Environmentally correct? Maybe not. Quick and painless? Yes!

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E.N.

answers from Washington DC on

We tried the binky fairy, too, when my daughter was 18 months old. Didn't work - she cried for a full hour in place of her nap that day, then again for another hour at bedtime. We couldn't take it, so we gave the paci back to her. The deal was that she could only have it for nap and bedtime - no other time.

Around age 2 we moved across country and at her new daycare they forgot to give her the paci at nap one day - and she never asked for it. So we knew she could sleep without it, she just chose not to when she was at home. So around 2 1/2 years old, we tried an idea we heard on TV: we planted the pacis in our backyard and waited for a lollipop tree to grow (it "grew" while we were out on a playdate that morning.) She LOVED lollipops and it helped give her that sucking feeling. Naptime and bedtime were tough for a while, I won't lie, but she was old enough to get it. She was just sad about it.

E.R.

answers from Appleton on

I would suggeest the "Binkie Fairy" paying a visit, kind of like the tooth fairy. The sooner the better and quick. She will get over it faster than you think.

Good Luck!

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

I think this depends on your daughter's personality. My daughter is the type that needs a replacement for everything. We waited until 4 1/2 for her (lots of issues). The longer you wait I guess the more it costs you. She went to build a bear and put it in a bear and called it her "binky bear" that she could sleep with. Then the Binky Fairy visited her that night and left a special note and a little gift for being a big girl. For my son, we just nipped the tops off of all of them and then the next day they disappeared. He was fine. My nephew at 2 1/2 drove them out the door in his toy truck for the mailman to take to the babies. The only issue you may have is if your youngest still has a binky. My kids at 4 and 7 found some binkies a few weeks ago and were sucking them again until they disappeared again. I don't know how she will do if she finds one of her sisters around.

M.S.

answers from Boston on

I just just cut a small hole in it, she never wanted it again. Now she gives it to her dolls.

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M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

What worked for my older two (and hoping it will work for #3 when it's 'that time') is cutting an X in the tip of the only surviving bink left (the others convieniently got lost!). It releases the suck. They got a little upset, they would bring it to me and say it was broken. I would look and oooh and ahhh- yup, sorry, it's broke. They would carry it around and sleep with it but not in their mouths and one day I said, "Well, it's broke, why don't you throw it in the trash?" and that was that!

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R.K.

answers from Odessa on

We moved to another town when my daughter was 2. We took her paci away then and said it got lost in the move. She cried for it for about 2 days and that was the end of it. We had also been telling her that when she turned 2 she would be a big girl and big girls do not take pacis.
Good luck. I think I was more anxious about it than she was.

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J.Y.

answers from Chicago on

I'm anxious to see what people say. My 2 1/2 year old is very attached to his. I tried having the paci fairy come a couple of months ago. He very willingly gathered them all and placed them out for the fairy. He was also very excited by his new big boy toy. But, then, after 5 months of no accidents he wet his pants 4 times in one day. He regressed in other ways too. Finally, in the evening when he was curled in the corner sobbing I felt so guilty for taking them away that they I called the paci fairy and asked her to bring them back! I'm trying to slowly limit when and where he can have them. Right now it is in his room and in the car. Soon, I will only let him have it in his bed and the car. Then, no car. Then, only night, no nap. So far that is the best plan I can come up with that will limit the stress for both of us. I'm sure many people will have a lot to say about my giving it back, but I can only do what feels right for us. I, personally, cannot deal with my son being so stressed out. He needed a more gentle approach.

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S.T.

answers from Chicago on

I feel like we are in similar situations- minus the new baby! We are working on getting rid of the binkie too. We lost out jobs, our house and then moved and frankly didn't want to cross that bridge while it was going on- we had bigger fish to fry. Now she's 26 months and still loves the bink. I feel your pain!!

By my friends recommendation, we chose to try snipping the tip of the binkie a little every few days and while that is happening to keep prepping her that binks are for babies and that the binkie will go away soon.

Good luck!

L.M.

answers from Dover on

Immediately begin limiting it to nap and bedtime (as little as possible for both). As soon as she falls asleep, take it so it is not within reach when she wakes up. When I took it from my son he was fine as long as he didn't have it when he woke up (but if it was there when he woke there was no way to take it until he fell asleep again).

Give her lots of extra attention and positive reenforcement for not using the pacifier.

Pick a date or an event and stick with it....on your birthday you get a special gift if you are no longer using a pacifier (it's a gift just for a big girl) or sending it someone you know who is having a baby or leave it out for the Easter Bunny who will leave something special in the basket for the new "big" girl.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Plan and simple, get rid of them. The Binky Fairy is a good idea. Gather up all of them and "send" them to babies that need them. Then she inturn gets
"sent" and present for being a big girl. She is old enough to understand. You have to stand your ground and dont give in.

M.3.

answers from St. Louis on

I can totally understand this. Its sooo hard to take it away. What worked for me, my son was about 22 months, he had a dentist appointment, the dentist showed me 3 different places the binki was effected his teeth and mouth. On the way home, I rolled down the window, and threw the last binki out of it. It was a rough week but Im so happy that I did it. So, my answer, cold turkey. Bribes work good too. ;)

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

We just went cold turkey. That was what worked best for our son. Limiting it just wasn't happening.

We just took his away a few months ago, so he was almost 2.5 at the time.

One day when he was asking for it, we just said "all done binks!". And oddly, he was totally cool with it. I was not expecting that. He also has a blankie, so if he asked for a bink, I just said "let's go find your blankie"...and if he still asked for it I just repeated "all done binks".

He got it, and we really never had any blow ups over it. That told me that he was ready to give it up anyway.
So you might try cold turkey. She may surprise you.

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