Pacifiers?

[Danielle Bean]

I may or may not have a way-too-old-for-this child still sleeping with a paci. Tell me your tricks for getting him to give it up with minimal trauma.

[Maureen Griffin]

WHat's too old? My son never wanted one but my daughter is a huge fan. She's almost 20 months old now and always wants a binki and a spare at nap or bedtime (and in the day if she remembers it). I'm starting to limit her during waking hours (mostly by distraction and keeping them out of sight) but do wonder how I'm going to eventually retire them completely.

[Danielle Bean]

I used to think 2 was "too old." But now I've ... uh, changed my mind about that. ;)

[Sarah Reinhard]

That's a good question - "what's too old?" I definitely laid down the law with my older (now 4), but my 20mo is, um, pretty hooked. (And pretty cute about it. I'm supposed to be immune to the cute thing, aren't I?)

I need to put a plan together for my 20mo. Guess this is the spur in my saddle...*groan*

[Maureen Griffin]

I wonder what kind of fight I'll get when I retire them. I thought final weaning would be horrible but had my hand forced when I couldn't nurse for 24hrs after a medical test. My husband put her down that night and went into her room when she woke during the night. She wasn't happy but didn't protest too much---(she was down to bedtime and night waking) -- so we just did the same thing the next couple of nights and she was weaned.

[Hallie Lord]

Right before our third child was born we took our 2 year old son to Toys-R-Us and let him trade his pacifiers for a Thomas the Train piece. This might not work for everyone but my son never asked for his "Nuk" again. Now if only I could figure out how to get my oh-so stubborn almost three year old to give up her diapers.

[Sarah Reinhard]

No fair bringing up potty training! :)

[Maureen Griffin]

no kidding - I just bought some of those flannel backed tableclothes to put on the couches under a blanket in anticipation of going for it with my son (and hopefully his sister will want to do it too).

[Hallie Lord]

I wish you both luck! I can't believe how stubborn my girl is! My boys were SO easy to train! I had no idea how good I had it. Serves me right. ;)

[Sarah Reinhard]

Your prayer opportunity?

A chance to offer it up?

A divinely inspired moment of screaming?

:)

[Maureen Griffin]

All I can say is thank God for washing machines

[Michelle Ouellette]

All of my children have been soooo different when it comes to those darn binks! My oldest never took one, and still sucks his thumb at night, (he is 6 years old, but he has other reasons for this behavior). Our soon to be 4 year old, had his taken away from him when he was 11 months old because when he would wake in his crib in the middle of the night, he would scream because he couldn't find his bink. No matter how many we had in there, he couldn't seem to find one, and we would inevitably have to go search for one to help him settle down. Finally, after getting up several times a night to do this, we decided to bite the bullet and just take it from him. We had 4-5 rough nites and then he stopped missing it. Needless to say, this is the one guy who now sleeps at the end of our bed everynight....hmmmm. Our daughter gave hers up on her own at the age of...come to think of it, I honestly don't remember, that's how little she fought it. She is now 29 months old, and has taken to sucking her index finger while holding onto her lovey...bunny-bunny. As for our 9 month old twins...one has recently decided he's done with his and refuses to take it even when he's screaming his cute little head off, and the other one settles right down the minute it touches his lips. Not sure when or how we will help that one get rid of his "little habit" as well.

[Michele Quigley]

My 2 yr. old is just a bit younger than yours as I recall and she still has to have it at bedtime. We tried a few weeks ago to have her give it up when she bit a hole through it but after a night of torture I promptly went out and bought her two new ones!

Of course I know she'll give it up eventually --afterall my 23 yr. old doesn't want one anymore. ;-)