Weaning off of Pacifier

My son was 18 months when my daughter was born. I was worried too, but my daughter wanted nothing to do with a pacifier once she got home from the hospital. My son chewed through his last pacifier when he was 3. At that time he was old enough to understand what he had done and did fine without it.

What about a sippy cup filled w/ water? Does he have a favorite blankie or a stuffed animal that he has in bed? Or maybe a book or a safe toy? We gave our DS a blankie, sippy cup, and small stuffed animal. Then when he was older he got a book to help him relax before sleeping. The alternative was hours of crying. and it works for us:)

It will take a little while, but do not give in. I have a 6 year old nephew who still uses a pacifier!!! He has a speach problem now because of it too. I can not understand all of his words. He also had to have his front teeth pulled out after a fall on the coffee table ruined them, but he had the speach problem long before that. In the long run you are better off not giving in to him now. My kids never used a pacifier so I do not have great advice to get him off of one. But they all did take their sippy cups to bed with them. Same thing pretty much. They just needed to have something to suck on to help them fall asleep. I never wanted them to be thumb suckers or pacifier dependent so I let them have their sippy cups until it was time to potty train. Then we stopped that and gave them the reason to help keep them dry all night. It worked great with both my boys, and now will do that for my daughter as she has now been accident free during the day for three weeks. Time to take it away to help her stay dry at night too.
I would try to not use a pacifier with your new baby or your 2 year old may regress, steal her pacifier, or become angry and jelous of the baby. Only use one if absolutely neccessary like for long car rides when nothing else works. I did that with my first born. I was breast feeding and we were driving to Mankato. He got hungry and the only way to hold him off til we got there was the NUK. But otherwise I didn't use it. Stay stong. He'll get better soon:)

Hi A.,
First of all, remind yourself you did the right thing and that everything will settle in...soon. Remember, even at his young age, your son is very loved and capable of making adjustments, just like you are; not only with a pacifier change but with adding a sister to his life. You are very blessed to be right here, in this double transition. And, in transistion, it normal to have self doubt and fear---but fear is just a breath away from EXCITEMENT and self doubt a thought away from "You can do this!", "You are capable!", "You are ready!" "This is going to be a wonderful change!". The latter thoughts he can pick up on and they can help him through this transition.
P. Jackson, Life Coach

I didnt read all the postings but what I did with my two children, each we did differently. With my daughter we told her that it was time to give them to The Plug Fairy, she gathered them all up put them in a bag and we hung them in the tree outside. We told her that if she would give them to the Plug Fairy that she would leave her something in return. We just put a little doll in the bag and hung it back in the tree and the next morning she found it. It was hard for her also for the first couple days but we just kept remindiing her that the plug fairy took them and left her the doll. With my son, my sister was having a baby soon and we asked he to give his plugs to the baby when the baby was born, giving him the idea in advance made it easier when the baby was born, When my sister had the baby we put them all in a bag and took them to the hospital and he also had a couple hard days, but we kept reminding him that he was a big boy now and the baby needed them, and we really emphesized on that!!! Good luck I know it is soo hard !!!

I weaned my son when he was about 2. I cut the top off of it, and explained it was then 'broken' and he helped me throw it away in the trash. However, I introduced a new stuffed animal that he liked/picked out to replace the pacifier, which we praised him for for being a "big boy" now. He still had difficulty falling asleep the first night or two, but we just kept emphasizing the new stuffed toy as something to cuddle with, etc., and by night 3 (and naptimes on day 3) it was better. Hope this helps!

My son was very attached to his pacifier. I did everything from poking holes ans cutting of the tips. He still wanted it. So when I would let him fall asleep with it and then take it away once he did fall asleep. Then he would know he can sleep without it. We were out of town visiting a friend of mine and she suggested throwing it away before we left and saying we forgot it. We got home & I cleaned house searching for all those hidden ones! He did have a hard time at first but was ok so I thought. He did relaspe a bit and want it and wouldn't sleep without it. But, I agree with the blankies. I've explained to him that he is getting older and that only babies need to use those and by chance he understood and that was it. Now he sees a baby with one and explains to me that he used to have one when he was a baby. I don't know how useful this is as you have already started the process.

Why do you care if he has a pacifier? My kids all used one and stopped using it on their own. The oldest was 4, the middle was 5 and the youngest was 2. I talked with the dentist and the pediatrician. It hasn't hurt any of them. We all use transitional objects in our lives. For some of us it is a drink in our hands, some adults travel with their own pillow, some folks have certain clothes or foods that make them feel comfortable. Of all the comforting habits that children and adults have, using a pacifier seems like one of the most benign.

We took our son's away at about 19 months. I thought it would be a lot harder but he did really good. Your just going to have to let him cry. My biggest suggestion is don't give in. Also we started putting a small stuffed dog (webkin kind) in his crib in addition to his normal lovie. A few weeks later we gave him a blanket cause it was starting to get cold. Now he asks for his Bear and blankie every night. Also I really didn't think he would understand but I just kept telling him he is such a big boy and only babies need paci's when he would ask for it. It actually seemed to help! Good luck.

Hi A.,

You and your husband are doing too much...that is the main reason your little one is having so much trouble. It's not all because of the pacifier, he is loving your attention, and he knows how to get it. When it is time to go to bed put him to bed knowing that he is not hungry, his diaper is dry, and there are no other problems. He will cry for awhile, but you have to be consistent and follow through. You will be surprised how quickly he will figure out that you are not going to come get him. You could go through the routine you have now for the next few years, or you could try something different and have a happy baby again in just a few days...remember to be consistent and follow through.

C.

We just took my sons away. He was totally dependant on it, it was "the" securtiy item. I started slow and just cut a little peice of the tip off and let it go for a few days almost a week. Then I cut off a little more...and kept doing so till he just wasn't satisfied with it and threw it in the trash himself.

My mom got rid of my baby brothers by dipping it in tabasco and that was that....he never asked for it again. Good luck.

Just stick with it. We did our daughter at about the same time because she thought she needed it for EVERYTHING and enough was enough. She cried for a few days but got easier with time. It will pass.

You might want to try letting him get attached to another sort of lovie like the previous post. Both my kids were into a blankie. Actually still have them in there beds!