Middle of the Night When You Are Trying to Break the LO of a Pacifier

Ok first off you will never be able to reason with an almost 2 yearold especially in the middle of the night. Yes in my opinion he is getting a bit old for the pacifier, but you are mom and it is your decision not anyone elses. None of my children were hooked on Pacifiers but it did take my youngest longer to give up the bottle than the others. Each child is different. I would say if by 3 he is still using it then start talking to him about it but he is still to young to understand he is getting too old. If that makes sense.

I agree, you can't rationalize with a 2-yr old. A "cold turkey" attitude is more effective instead of trying to ease them into the idea. My 2nd child - 2.5 yr old - just gave up the bink. She had chewed a hole in it, so we had to throw it out. She knew her binkie was "broken" and she couldn't use it any longer. We threw it out together, and that was it. She had 1 or 2 rough nights, and then she was fine. You just have to say "binkies are all gone, time to go nite nite" over and over, and offer a little more comforting than usual - my opinion but I have never felt it was fair of me to make them CIO when one of my kids was going thru a transition. He will "get it" pretty quickly, you just might have a couple of rougher nights. Hang in there - don't go back to the bink!!!!

Can I ask why you want to take it away? If it is only for night time, whats the harm? Why punish yourself? He may need it for comfort....and we all have things to comfort ourselves.

My kids didn't use a pacifier but I had that problem with breastfeeding. I suggest you substitute with something else and gradually do so. If you give in don't give in often, because it will be confusing. He does have to cry it out at some point, but do substitute with a hug, a bear, a toy, warm milk/tea or talking him thru it with pats on the back, etc. Feed him before if he is trying to use it for food replacement, but usually it's just for comfort, so re-train him into another comfort thing. He will eventually grow out of it.

I didn't take the pacifier from my kids that young but I do remember those nights of getting up and looking for it under the bed, across the room, etc. It got old. You could hook it to a blanket if he uses one or to something like that and then he can find it himself. Just be sure it's not long enough to get around his neck at all.
My last one was the hardest to break and being the 'baby' she was spoiled a bit I think. I finally told her she was old enough to give it up and I took it and that night she had a fit and I gave it, which is not good. Finally I told her she had to throw it away herself and she put it in the trash compactor and we saw it mashed. That night when she had a fit I said " Remember YOU threw it away" and that was the end of it. I know that won't always work but I'd wait a bit if it was up to me. At least for a few months yet. If it got too bad in the night just tell him that if it falls on the floor you won't come and get it. He will learn to sleep without it just like he learned to sleep without being held, etc., etc.