Question About the "Binky"

I like to watch Supernanny, because she always has very clever ideas. I saw one where she told the child that the "Binky Fairy" was going to come for his binky, and bring him a special present. It could be a teddy bear or something that he could cuddle at night. I thought it was a great idea. Hope it helps, let me know if you try it, and if it works!

I think you are doing great. I never used a binky, but I know about it from keeping my beautiful 3 year old neice and one day she told me if I would quit smoking she would throw her binky away, I hated her binky. I could never understand her with it and she has an exceptional vocabulary. I did as she asked and she did to until mommy kept her and she bought her another. I think he will get rid of it if you keep talking to him about it and make it his decision. He will feel like a big boy and be okay with it then.

It's up to you when you get rid of the passifier, but with two of my boys who were very attached, i waited until their third bithday. We made a big deal about "being a big boy" and on their birthday they would get to throw their passifier away in the dumpster. It worked for both of them. They cried for it the first night and wanted to get it out of the trash, but as it was in the huge dumpster and not just in the kitchen trash can it was impossible.
PS No permanant damage to their teeth after having the passifier for so long.
---C.

Cut a small piece off of the binky every week. Eventually he won't want it any more.

Hi J. A.

My daughter was about 2 when she decided that she didn't need it anymore. We kept telling her big girls don't need binkies and we started to slowly take it away from her for certain things. Starting with not having it just to have, only to go to sleep, then not at nap times, then only to go to sleep at night, like you are doing. We walked into the house one day and she threw the one she had in her mouth in the trash can and I praised her and went scrambling through the house and diaper bags to find all the extras and throw them away without her knowing. And started making phone calls to the grandmothers and the babysitter to do the same. She never asked for it again. I have seen where the child put them in a large brown envelope and "mailed" it to the binky fairies and the next day the binky fairies left the child something special in the mailbox for the child. Or a friend of mine tied them onto balloons and sent them to the angels for the children in heaven and in return the angels left something special for the child the next day. Hope this works and good luck.
J. C

I had the same problem. At daycare not an issue, but as soon as we got home...she would go searching and find one. Even if she was not sucking on it, she had it with in an arm's reach. Then at bedtime she had to have it to suck on. I did the cut a slit in the rubber part of it routine and it worked wonders! She would go to bed, stick it in her mouth, then when it would not work to suck on it she would throw it away from her. She did that a few times and finally decided on her own that since it was broke she did not want it. There were a couple/few days that she was not so calm about it, but then she got used to it and finally she did not even want it near her since it was broken.

Good luck!

this is going to sound cruel but it works! he is old enough to understand, what you can do is drive down the road and show him the pacifier, and then throw or at least pretend to throw (convincingly of course) it out the window and tell him that his binkie is all gone and he is a big boy now! At bedtime he may cry and throw a fit maybe even for a couple of nights, but just stick with the "binkie all gone , your a big boy now" and he will give it up! don't cave no matter how much he cries, eventually he will get it! my mom did this with the bottle and whichever child it was cried but got over it! good luck!

As long as he is only doing it at night leave him alone. There is a reason that he likes the reassurance of it and he is only two...In my years ofd education, I have never seeb a kindergarten using one! So allow him this little vice.
My daughter (who is now an asst, d.a.) carried her blanket forever. I kept cuting it down smaller each week...finally she just did not care about it. the more you fret over it and he knows it, the nore he is going to want it.

J.

Don't feel bad my daughter was the same way, she would go to daycare and they would not give it to her, she would go to her grandmothers house and they wouldn't give it to her either. But as soon as she got in the car with me she wanted it and would cry, well when she was about 2 1/2 she started getting that rash around her mouth from the saliva and the pacifer. So I actually talked to her about it and said I was going to just take it away until the rash cleared up because she didnt like the rash either and she was ok with that then 1 week went by, and she would ask for it again. I told her do you want that nasty rash to come back and that went on for a couple of weeks until all the sudden she didnt ask anymore and I threw away them all out of sight out of mind. He does that to you because he knows you are going to give in. Try substituting the pacifer with something else for the mean time just to keep him occupied like the blanket give him that, don't try to take both things away at once. I know its not alot of advice but I just wanted to let you know I was in the same boat try reasoning you would be suprised how smart they are at that age. Well good luck.

Hello, My daughter went through the same thing around 2 yrs old. I thought it was going to be very difficult to get rid of the binky but what we did was we gathered all the binky's in the house and got some yarn/rope and she helped me to string all the binky's on to make a binky necklas. She then put it on & sucked on each one and then we packed it up and said we were going to send it to a special baby that really needed them since she was a big girl now and didn't need them anymore. She helped me package them up and we had a lot of fun. I worried how the first night would go and thought it would be a big struggle. She asked for it once and I reminded her that she was so nice to send them to a special baby and she dropped it and ended up having no problem giving them up. I was amazed! So I just recommend finding something fun or crafty to do with him and then be done with them. They obvisously don't need them since they aren't using them at daycare but they have just gotten useto it at home. Good luck!
M. - www.FollowingOurDreams.com

My daughter was about the same age when we got rid of her binky. I had read somewhere to gradually snip off the end until there was nothing left to suck on. So I cut off the very end of her bink. She sucked on it a little and then refused to put it back in her mouth. Whenever she asked for her bink I would give her the one with the missing tip. Again, she would suck a minute then take it out. We repeated this process for two nights. There was a lot of crying (not sure which of us cried more!) but after that there was no problem! Good luck!

Hi J..

I've had much success by following the 3-day rule. It is very hard on everyone(especially Mom)to let them just cry it out. You'll pretty much get no sleep for those 3 days, but it is worth it. Here's to all those wonderful 4th days...

I was having major problems with my son's binky use; well actually it was more along the lines of a binky addiction!! My friend absolutely raved about the cut method, and all of the psychology behind it. She found it on www.bye-bye-binky.com , which is great that it was also free. We went with it and OMGosh... worked so beautifully for my son with NO tantrums, not even one! Thank you God. Five days later he did not want anything to do with his binky. What a relief it was to all of us to finally be done with those darn binkies. Highly recommended! I am also interested in others experiences.... B.

My son was a serious "binky" addict. I have photos of him with 2 binkies in his mouth and 1 in his hand while sitting on the floor playing trucks. If it wasn't in his mouth it was usually in his hand or right beside him. At about 2 1/2 years old, we had only one "binky" left, and I'd tried everything else to stop the habit when my Dad told me to try "losing" it. While he was playing I put it somewhere he would never think to look for it. When he wanted it, we went searching together. We went through trash cans, looked under furniture, in the toy box, in all the cabinets, outside...anywhere and everywhere he wanted to look. After 2 hours of seaching he accepted it was gone and never asked for it again.
This is how my Dad broke my sister of her "binky", and several of my friends have tried it successfully too. The key is that the child has to see for themselves that the "binky" is really gone.
Good luck
CK

J., I have the same problem. Sorry I can't offer any solutions, as I have tried them all. I hope amy suggestions you receive get passed on to me so I can try some other methods. Letting her cry is pretty much out of the question with us. We had several and she did let some of them go with Santa Claus when he was in town. But she said a tearful "no" to us letting the Easter Bunny have the rest of them.

Patience and persistence is key....My daughter had never used it at daycare (from 1!) but wanted it all the time at home. We had a lot of transition at 2...new house, new sibling and new "big girl" bed so the pediatrician said 2 rules - only at night and only in her bed. He also said cutting them is a big choking hazzard so be aware if you choose that option. Sounds silly but we took her pace - we talked for months on end that there were "sad" kids in the world with no pacis and that when she was ready she could share them. Within a few weeks of her 3rd bday I asked if she could try one night without it and she said yes but she wanted me to stay with her awhile so I stayed until she was asleep - this took about a week. We showed up at her 3 year check up with a beautifully decorated gift bag of pacifiers for her pediatrician to "share" with the sad kids.
Note that I have since found a few that were missed and she has told me she doesn't need them. Sometimes they know they are ready even when we don't! Don't beat yourself up - like the other mother said....he will not likely be toting it to his graduation.....cut yourself some slack!

I know you've received a lot of advice. Mine - go w/ your gut. If YOU are ready to move past the Pacifier, and think its time then you're more likely to stick with whatever plan you come up with. I put it off and off and off because I just knew it was going to be a battle. But we're expecting #2 and I wanted DD to be w/out the "pa" for as long as possible just in case #2 takes one. Otherwise how do you wean #1 while #2 still has one, KWIM? So if you're ready, nerves steady, then get it done.

What we did, in the process of stealing my nerves we started only allowing DD to have the paci when it was nap & bedtime. We also had her "put it back" every morning when we got up. We always kept them in a cabinet in the kitchen. During the day if she asked for it, we made her lay down, and then took it away from her as soon as she got up. Thinking that would be boring and she'd stop asking for it so much. We never took it in public w/us, except on long drives, after she was about 12-14 months old. But the nap/bed thing didn't help us much....

What worked: Cutting the tip off. We hid all her Pacifiers except 1. We cut the tip off at first, told her it was broken, but she would still put it in her mouth. She would suck on it, look at it, suck on it, chew on it, and give it up. I cut it back much further so she didn't have much to even bite down on w/ her teeth. Every time she asked for it we gave it to her, telling her it was broken. She wouldn't even take it, push it away saying "back". The first night she grumbled a little about it, but went to sleep fine. She asked for it a few times the next day and on occasion over the next week.

We're saving the "broken" one for when # 2 arrives just in case we go through regression. It was recommended cutting a couple of them so if DD really put up a battle we could switch back & forth showing her they were all broken. We didn't have too.

A girlfriend recommended this to me, and it worked like a charm for them also. She cut the tips off of several and let him throw them away each time, until there were just no more left.

I am so grateful for this technique. It was SO MUCH BETTER than the 'cold turkey' approach that I just knew was going to be miserable for all of us for days.

Good Luck!!

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just be sure his binky is the orthdonic one so that his teeth are not effected. My son had the old type and also chewed on his blanket, which he drug around until it was in threads.......it made his teeth protrude and he later had to have braces. So it can have some effects. I don't think there is a best way......he will let it go when he is ready to.

Just go cold turkey... it will be a long 3 days... but you will never have to turn back again. Tell you little one that the new born babies need them and that the fairy need to take them (or some cute little story). Stick to it and through them out. It works. :)

Hope this helped.

J.

My son is 3 and is also a 'binky' fan. It's the only thing he is so attached to. Don't be so hard on yourself. It sounds like he's a big boy already knowing when he can't have it. He'll grow out of it.
Good Luck

He's only two, he's still a baby. If the only time he needs it is at night, let him have it. He will eventually get rid of it on his own, or lose it, and when it gets lost, it's lost, don't replace it. I would, however, try to get him to make a choice between the binky and the blanky...getting rid of the blanket.

My daughter used to be totally additced to her binks. She had to have three at night, one in each hand and one in the mouth. I started talking to her about a month before her 2nd b-day saying that when you turn 2 you have to give up your binkies so that the new babies can use them. this helped because she was also in daycare and there were some new babies there. So we gathered up all her binkies the day of her birthday and put them in a shoe box and "shipped them off" to the new babies. At day care they had HER throw it away ceremony transition into "big girl" days. It worked wonders, I was quite amazed since her addiction was so strong, I was really worried that she'd have it until she was 18! :) So, since he's already two, just pick a day about a week away - like on saturday or what ever and talk to him each night about what's coming up and what to expect and then let him do the deed by throwing them away or putting them in the bax, and he will feel it his decision and not just you taking them from him.

Hope this helps you!

Good luck!

My friend did this with her 2 yr old and it worked. She took him to Build A Bear and they made a bear explaining that big boys don't use paci's anymore, but that his paci would be safe and the new animal would be using it... along with the heart that is put inside the build a bear, they put the paci. The new build a bear was his "paci." Hope this helps! :)

J.,

I have 3 beautiful children myself which are now 9 years old, 6 years old, & 4 years old. Each one of my children took there binky's until they were 2 years old. The day of their 2nd birthday, I would get a pair of sissors, and cut the tip of the nipple off, and then once it was time to go to bed, I would give them their blankets and binky's and every last one of them stuck it in their mouthes, took it out, and said "Binky Yucky", and that was the end of that problem. Try it. You might be suprised.

A. H.
Midland, TX

I know some moms will want to throw tomatoes at me but as a mom of four, three out of college and one at home, I think you should not fret about it. Your baby will eventually outgrow this stage. I know it can affect their teeth. My little grandson sucked his two fingers and had a little “blank” until he was almost five and they finally made it a point to get them away. Good luck!

cut the part that he sucks on...it will not give him the suctioning feeling that he is used to....or make him a dentist appt. and tell him that he needs to give it to the the dentist...she's the binky fairy and will give him a toy. good luck!

We just went through the same situation with my 2 1/2 year old. She goes to daycare also and for months had been putting the paci in her cubby upon arrival and not using in again until we picked her up. What I finally did was cut the nipple of the pacifier in half.She thought that it was broken and I told her I that couldn't fix it. She still tried to use it that nightand the next day but then decided on her own that didn't like the "broken" paci and stopped using altogether. I was amazed at how easy it was! Good Luck!

Let him have the pacifier. He's soothing with it and it's not doing any damage at this point. Be sure you're using an "orthodontic" bink - one that won't cause him to change the normal growth, and work on losing it later.

He's having a hard time - maybe dealing with mom being gone during the day - and this is a part of "home stability" for him - part of his "routine".

Work on getting rid of it when he's a little older. When you can "negotiate" (not something I would normally recommend EVER doing with a child) the behavior and maybe talk him into being a "big boy" when he really is more of a big boy. He's still a baby for now.

You'll want to be sure he's done with any "mouth habits" by the time the permanent teeth start coming in (age 5-6 usually). Kids can really do a lot of EXPENSIVE and ultimately painful damage to their dentition with their finger, thumb and pacifier sucking when the jaws and teeth are growing - even causing the jaws to be malformed.

Just let him be a baby a little longer. The 3rd birthday is a good time to "grow up", and I've heard that 3 year olds aren't "allowed" to have pacifiers (and blankets must stay in beds) anyway ;0) Besides... age 3 is such hell already - what's one more battle???

Good luck!,

S. K - dental hygienist and homeschooling mom to 3 manifestations of my mother's curse for "one just like me" - Zachary 10, Jacob 8, & Michaela 5

A few months ago I had to get rid of my 2 year olds binky too. I cut a tiny bit off the end of the binky so it was "broken". He was very surprized andthought he did it by biting it too hard. A week later I cut a little more off, etc. Eventually he chewed it and ripped it up and he realized it was too broken (and stubby!) and we put in in the trash! He was fine with that. It was to the point where he would have to hold it to keep it in his mouth. Good luck!

I would not worry about this I had a blanket well lets just say for a long time . It was comforting...... My daughter who is 4 has one too..... let the child have it....

Just do it!!!

I never had a kid that was attatched to the binky but i worked in childcare for many years and when you are ready you just have to do it. Its harder on you than it is on him in actuality!!

Have a great day!

D. Mattern Muck
The MOM Team
Raise your income and your rugrats at the same time!
www.formyrugrats.com

I am curious also as to the responses you will receive. My 2 yr old is a binky boy. I haven't really pushed it-I'm just glad he isn't a thumb sucker! I'm thinking along the lines that he'll give it up when he's ready. But I am an older mom and quite mellow. It bothers the daycare staff more than it bothers me.

Hi, J.. My son kept his "my" as he called it until he was three. Other people pressured me, but he seemed happy to keep it for nap times and during stressful times. He also began to talk and was potty trained at three. He is now a bright, active, amazing 12 year old!!
Remember that every child is on his/her own timetable. Listen to your heart-and your son.
Best of luck!
D.

I fully understand where you are - my son was extremely attached to his binky at two. It wasn't until I took him to the dentist for a first visit that I saw how much his teeth had already moved (inward, plus a gap between his two front) that I had to get serious about getting him off. That said - the dentist told me there are two types of binky users: the kids who just keep it in their mouths and hang on to it, and the kids (like mine) who actively work it/suck on it. Those kids need to get off before they move their teeth, but the first group isn't in danger of doing that. You might determine how he's "using" it to decide how extreme you need to be about weaning him from it. What I did that worked with my son (on the advice of the dentist) was to cut the tip off. When he'd ask for it, I willingly gave it to him. He'd put it in his mouth, take it out and look at it and tell me, "It broken!" I played very concerned, "Oh no!" and would say I was sorry it was broken. When he'd cry, I'd always offer it to him, even if he didn't ask, and tell him the broken one is all we have. It possibly went on for three days, but certainly by the time he was headed back to daycare from the weekend it was over and done. I do miss his sweet "binky face" but know it's for the best so I wish you luck however you do it!

The best way to go is cold turkey. Make sure all the binkys are 'put up' and simple tell him that they are gone. BE RESOLVED and don't give in. It is not something he needs so his crying or being upset will pass.

I recently did this with my 27 month old who was totally attached. Her teeth were becoming effected so I knew it was time. We have been binky free for a month and her teeth have already straightened out:) (She too had heart surgery at 4 months to correct a VSD) I have been slow to take it away with all that she has been through, but it was time.

Be consistent and GOOD LUCK!

Take care,
B.

I had the same problem with my son. He had his "paci" with him 24/7. When we enrolled him in a daycare program, we sent him with the pacifier but when he walked in his classroom it was immediately taken away by the teacher. He never made a fuss or got upset. When I would pick him up after work, we would get in the car and he would ask for his paci. And it went on like that for months. I tried everything, cutting off the nipple, having him throw it away...you name it...I tried it. I noticed that the pacifier would calm him for naps and bedtime. I tried my best not to give him the paci during the day but would allow him to have it at night. Once he fell asleep, I would remove it from his mouth and throw it away. Mind you he had it in every color/design...glow in the dark even, so it was a process. When he woke in the morning asking for paci, I told him that it was lost and I would need to look for it. We both would go around the house calling "paaaciii where are you?" The search would end with a shrug of my shoulders saying,"I don't know where he is." And it went on like this until all of his pacifiers were "lost" (trashed). Eventually he stopped asking for it.

I took my daughters away and it took about 3 to 4 days for her to stop crying at night. Start on a weekend the third and forth day gets better. You must get rid of them all. (they tend to find them) I told her the babies at daycare needed them more than she did.

Kim F.

Why does he have to give it up?

My daughter was 2 1/2 when we endeavored getting rid of her "nini". She had hers w/ her 24/7 most days. I had lots of advice but what worked for us was getting down to one, then she started to get holes in it and I explained how dangerous it was and how she could choke (she understood this concept by this age). On the advice of my pediatrician, we took the lone nini to WalMart one day and we picked out several new "special" toys. One of these was a white, light-up teddy bear whose lights change colors (good companion for bedtime, since no nini now!). She "paid" the cashier with her nini in return for the new items. We got as far as the exit and she yelled "I miss my nini!" It only took about 3 nights until she was going to sleep with just a bedtime book and her new teddy bear. There were a few tears, and many "I sure do miss my nini" remarks, but I simply empathized w/ her, telling her I know it's hard and you miss it, but look what a big girl you are now! It was remarkably easier than I had prepared myself for! Good luck with Justin and his binky! (pediatrician's nurse also recommended hanging ALL remaining binky's from the tree for the binky fairy to come take one night and deliver to all the "new" babies...maybe in your case you could tell him that the binky fairy needs donations for the Baby Angels (like Bailey, God bless her AND you all) in heaven?)

To be honest, we found that "out of sight, out of mind" worked best. When ours would cry for the binky or bottle, we'd just tell them, "Sorry! It's gone gone."

We did go through a few nights of crying for periods of time, then it faded away. Good luck!

Hi J.,
First, I'm very sorry about your loss of your daughter, Bailey. I also lost a baby, and it's a tough thing to come through. As for the pacifier issue ... I have a different take on that than most people, I'm sure. I say that the carefree years of childhood are way too short, and we all find different ways to comfort ourselves. Justin is only 2, which is still young. If he is comforting himself with his pacifier and finding a way to make it through the night, I wouldn't mess with it. When he doesn't need that comfort anymore, it will be given up. Personally, I wouldn't force him into something he's not ready for yet. My oldest daughter (8 years old now), was an AVID thumb sucker ... and you can't take a thumb away. When she was about 4 1/2 or 5 she stopped cold turkey. My younger daughter (now 6) has had a love affair with her precious paci forever. She still "plays baby" with it from time to time -- but it's really just daytime role playing now, not for comfort and not an everyday pastime -- and I just let it go. They grow up way too fast as it is. And, yes, I've heard all the info about dental issues ... but let's face it, orthodontics come into most every child's life regardless of whether or not they ever sucked on anything. Bottom line: you're his mom, don't sweat what "everyone else" says is the right thing to do. Figure out what Justin needs and go from there.
J.
PS If you are feeling like you really, really, really need to wean him from his pacifier, you could always tie balloons to it and have him send it up to Bailey, your forever baby.

I agree that he is still young, but if you really want to get rid of the binky let him keep the blanket, but only for bed, that is after all, where blankets belong right?

Anyway, my friend took all of the binkys and put them in a plastic bag and took her son to Walmart. He got to pick out a toy but he had to use the binky to "pay" for the toy. I don't know when his birthday is, but you can use that or any other day to celebrate him being a "big boy." Tell him when he becomes a big boy, he needs to give the binky to another baby who needs one. Then let him pay and give the binky to the cashier. There may be some tears at first, but then remind him that a tiny baby is using his binky. Good luck, God Bless.

Take all of his binkies and cut the end of them off. This will make him VERY angry, he will not like you for a few days but in the end you'll be done with the "binky" !!!!!
Hope this helps

J.

My daughter used a binky until she was almost 3 years old cause she lived with her father at the time (and he thinks as long as it makes her happy then why change it)

I got a knife and stuck it through the tip of the passy and that way there wasnt a bubble of air anymore and its not the same as it used to be and doesnt provide the same comfort it used to, she stopped using a binky right then and there and never wanted it back. I recommended that to my sisters for their kids and they had the same results.

Good Luck!!
K.

J.,
Our oldest had "pass" until he was 3. He got to the point where he only used it to sleep at night, but then regressed and wanted it all the time. My husband got tired of the thing, and tok it from him. Just like that. We thought it would be much more horrible than it was. The first night he was sad and asked for it, the second night, he asked, but didn't fuss about it, and then he forgot all about it.

I wouldn't make him give it up. he only has it at night, and it won't last forever. It's not like he's going to be walking the aisle at graduation with a binky hanging out of the side of his mouth!haha although it may seem like it now..
My nearly 4 yr old gave it up a little after he was 3(only used it at night) and it was MUCH easier than if we had made him do it before he was ready.

You just have to be strong and do it.

Put it(them - I always had more than one) in the trash (maybe keep one hidden somewhere just in case you can not handle it:)just at first:). But try it and tell him that binky has gone bye bye he may cry for a bit just give him alittle extra comfort and reassurance that everything is ok. But like I said you will have to be strong and stick to it. I did it with both my children and they got use to binky went bye bye. I did the same thing with the bottle. Good luck I hope it goes well.

When we were around the same age our dad bought ours from us for a dollar. Apparently at bed time I bought mine back a couple of times, but after a few days I kept the dollar so that I could spend it on something else.

Well, here's what we did a few months ago. Our son (18 months at the time) had chewed right through the nipple of his paci. I took him to daycare and showed them so they gave him a new one. I decided that this was a sign since we had lost many of his favorite pacis. When we got home and he wasn't watching I took the one they gave him and cut the nipple off. When he asked for it I gave it to him like nothing had happened. He tried and tried to suck on it but didn't get any satisfaction. There were no tears, no nothing. I asked him if he wanted to take his paci to bed with him and he said NO! Since then, he has never looked back. Not a single tear was shed that night or the following days. He grew up a little since then. We were so glad!! Try it, it just might work for you too!!

When a child gives up a binky is a touchy subject. I am a 37 yr. old mom of 2 who had her binky until I was 5. and I turned out pretty good.
My son used his all the time. When he turned 1,.the binky was only@ bed time and occasionally in the car.
When he was almost 3 he saw a board game he wanted and I told him he could trade his binky for it.It worked.
I personally feel that it is not a big deal for a child to have a binky(esp. it it makes life easier )and you baby is just 2.
Good luck with the binky!

Both of my kids were HUGE binky fans and would literally have one in their mouth and carry one in a hand for back up so I stuggled for along time to get rid of it w/ both. I tried several different things, but what worked for both of mine was cutting a tiny hole in the tip of the pacifier so it lets air in and collapses the tip so it's not as fun (I guess) or soothing so they would take it out and throw it down. I also just decided once and for all that I had to stick to it and not give in when they were crying for it at night. I ended up sitting in their rooms at night rubbing their backs or singing w/ them, reading to them or something calming so they would be distracted and not think about it. Worked for me, hope you find something that works out well for you. Good luck and be patient! God Bless
S.

My daughter was surrounded with bebes in bed so that no matter what position she was in she could find a bebe. We started taking them away, one at a time every week. Eventually she had two - one for the car and one for bed. We were driving in the car to Katy Mills one day when she was about 2 1/2 and told her that the bebe was tired and wanted to find a new home so she should throw it out the window. She did. WHenever she asked for it, we just reminded her that she had thrown it out the window. For the bed one, we told her that when she moved into her big bed, she couldn't have a bebe because bebe would fall out of the bed. We started this about two weeks before we moved her into the big bed. She fussed a little the first few nights but we just kept reminding her. We replaced the bebe with a favorite stuffed animal and she is great. Whe is now 10 and is surrounded in her bed by stuffed animals. We now have to limit the number of those in her bed!!!

My son went through the same thing. I didn't worry about it since I knew he could function without it all day at school. He used it for security and I didn't want to take that away from him. He gave it up himself when he was ready at nearly 3.

At two years old, my son (who will be three in August) was very much addicted to his binky. At his daycare, though, there were no other twos in his class with binkies, so he didn't need it during the day. As soon as I brought him to school with his binky in his mouth, he'd take it out, hand it to his teacher, who would then put it in his backpack, and he never needed it throughout the day.

This went on for a couple weeks...NO binky at school...gotta have the binky at home. But then (when I was really ready to de-binky him...I realized that I was kind of holding on to my binky baby, too), I put him to bed one night without his binky. He said, "Night, night mommy." I thought, "Wait, no crying for the binky?" Well, that night I slept with the binky on my nightstand for WHEN he woke up in the middle of the night crying for it. He didn't. Then one night became two...two became three...until there was no more binky.

Yes, there were those times he gave me that longing look (with tear-filled eyes) and asked for the binky, but it had to be done.

I will say this though...once your babe is weaned, be sure to keep those binkies out of sight. Sometimes, it only takes one little slip up (a binky lying on the kitchen counter) for them to regress.

My son had his binky at night until he was 3 1/2. He has had absolutely no problems with his teeth or mouth in any way, so I am not sure your son really needs to give up his binky. I have seen lots of my friends really struggle with this issue because their kids still need the soothing at night time. However, if you feel he is ready, try using the "Binky Fairy". She comes to a kid's house who has put their binky under their pillow and gives them a toy or book in exchange for the binky. Then, the binky fairy takes the binky to another little boy or girl who needs it. We did this with our son and it worked great. We have also suggested it to others who have also said it worked for them too.

I have a friend who's grandmother swears by the farmers almanac. She told us (my friend and myself - we have girls just 18 days apart) when to take the "binky" away. Get the farmers almanac and look for when to separate the calf from the cow. There are only certain days but not even every month. My daughter only asked for hers 3 times. I would never have believed it but it works!!! It was such a great transition that I also used it for my son.

Good Luck!

I've heard cutting the tip of it works.
But I saw something precious on SuperNanny. This family got their child to go around and collect all the binkies, put them in a mailer and mail them to the binky fairy. They actually put it in the mailbox and the next morning there was fairy dust (glitter)and feathers like the fairy had been there. The fairy wrote the child a note and left that child a small present in the mailbox. It worked!

Have you tried weaning him off?

Once he's asleep, take it away from him. After a day or two, as he is going to sleep, take it away. And keep weaning him off until he is going to bed and he is putting his binky away for "someone" or "something" else.

For one of my children, I bought a baby doll and the baby needed a "binky" and my DD gave it away. My son gave his binky to his cousin who needed his when he lost it.

Are there any games you could play? Children are more likely to give it up when the CHILD gives it away rather than you taking and hiding it.

Good Luck!

I read about the Binky Fairy in a Chicken Soup for the Soul. Your older child may still be loosing teeth and may be having the tooth fairy make visits. Try putting the binky under your son's pillow and have the Binky Fairy come leave a treat, or money.

Dear J..

I have 2 girls 4 & 8. The older one sucked her thumb and the younger one sucked on her lip from inside. I have a 20 year background in dentistry as an assistant from general practice to surgery to children's dentistry. Your child will not go to kindergarten with a binky in their mouth-promise! It is purely a soothing mechanism. He "has" to go without it at school but does it really hurt anything to indulge him and let him have his "regular" routine of binky & blankie at home?
Let him wean himself off of it. It will eventually happen on it's own and you two won't get into it over something that was ok for so long. They grow up so fast! My 8 y/o when stressed at night will slip her thumb in but it falls out as soon as she is asleep. She never does it in public-peer pressure.
Hope it helps.
S. C.

Just get rid of it. We stopped both bottles and binkies cold turkey, (not at the same time). There were a few restless nights, but she got over it. My daughter was like 15 months at the time we took it away. Good luck!

I saw on an episode of nanny 911 where some kids were attached to something it was binky or bottles and the nanny suggested that the kids give the items to other children/infants who needed them they either mailed them or something to the children and the kids were fine with it, but if your child is just a creature of habit I would replace the binky with something big boy like so that the void is filled, maybe something like a spiderman cup that is only to be used during dinnertime and make sure that is clear so he won't try to go to bed with it. or even a special toy he can sleep with at night? Talk to your child about this in great detail using positive words that will reassure him that this is normal and something that is ok. he will understand and go along with things hopefully!