Ditching the Pacifier at 18 Months - Suggestions??

I haven't done this myself, but I've heard about it...
Having the child "give it away". Like maybe for Christmas she could leave it for Santa (with the plate of cookies or something) and either ask him to give it to another little baby that needs it or ask for something new in trade??? Maybe she could even start "practicing" getting used to not using it between now and then by leaving it somewhere that she can see it (on a dresser or under the tree, etc.), but try not to use it. Just a thought...

i heard several times to cut holes in all her pacifiers and tell her it's broken and to try to get her to throw them away herself. you might go through a rough week or so but she will forget all about it soon.

I say let her keep it for a while. She's still young. Our oldest was a paci ADDICT and started losing interest when she was 3 so it was easier to give up. Plus, as they get older, they understand that binkys are for babies. Good luck!

I took all four of my childrens when they started cutting teeth (worried about dental problems) except at bedtime till they were 12 months then we traded to your child being a MOM with "Baby". Baby being a doll of any kind just as long as the baby has a non removable binkie to suck on. It worked great for me. They replaced their binkies by soothing Baby when she was crying and wanted held. It is too cute to watch. You might have to show her how though. Good Luck.

Here's what I did for my 2 (within wks of turning 18 mos).
Wean to nighttime only (so they learn other self-soothing methods for sleeping at naptime). Then we made a little game of throwing things away so that concept would be understood. Then we took away all but one paci and had only that one for a couple of nights. finally, we put a hole in the paci and when my child told me it was broken, I agreed and had them throw it away. Later and the next couple of days when they asked for it, I just reminded them that they had thrown it away. There was little fussing the first or any other night, thankfully. Good luck!

Hi S.,

I've benn told of 2 things that work, cutting the tip a little at a time and cold turkey.
My dd isn't very stubborn, maybe depends on your child's personality.
I intend on doing the tip option. I have a 4 month old (she's 16 months) so I am going to do them both at the same time, a little late for her, a little early for him.
My sisters struggled horribly with her daughter who is extremely head strong. She stopped napping for a while and well... It stuck so it worked.
With her son it was easy.
My other sister told her son to say bye bye to them and threw them away in front of her, when he asked for them, she reminded him they had gone bye bye.
Again, he has an easy personality ... He did stop napping tho.
Good luck!
Let me know what works!

Amy

Hi S.!

I took the paci away from my daughter when she was about 18 or 19 months. The way I did it was one night when she fell asleep in the car, without her paci, I brought her in put her to bed. I put the paci out or her sight but in a place I could find it if she cried for it. That night she slept all night and didn't look for it. The next day for her nap I made sure she was really really worn out and I rocked her to sleep. That night the same thing. There was a couple of times I gave her a warm milk bottle and as soon as she went to sleep I took it from her. That didn't last long at all. It was easier then I anticipated. I hope this helps and that it goes smoothly!! You could let her go to sleep with it and then gently remove it and then see how she does all night without it.

I just took the paci away both times and did fine but both of mine were much younger at the time. Could you perhaps find a special touch she likes to soothe her? Both of my boys like to have their ears rubbed. A little strange but it works especially if they're sick. It still works for my 9 yr. old. Good luck!

If you celebrate Christmas, how about making it into an ornament on the Christmas tree? Santa might even take it as a gift, and leave a stocking or present to replace it!

My 3 year old boy still has his, at night. I'm thinking I will get rid of it soon after his third birthday. IT's not really an issue, because he knows ( and has known since 16 months) that it is only a night thing. And he's not going to need it. So, I say, take your time. Just restirct it to night time. I agree 3 is alittle late, but it's so not a big deal to him or to me. There's a lot going on with potty training and play and eating and new siblings...just do what you can do...:)

My daughter was about the same age as yours when I finally got rid of her pacifier. She was also at the same stage...just using it to get to sleep. One day we just got rid of all of them. When she asked for it, I told her that I didn't know where it went. She never really threw a temper tantrum, but she continued to ask where it was. Eventually she stopped asking. I guess we were lucky. To be honest with you, I think we needed it more than she did. It was almost a habit of ours to give it to her when she went to bed.