TMC Confessions & Answers with Uncle Brett: 5 Ways to get rid of your toddler's pacifier

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  Posted by Libby T Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:43am PDT

  My almost 3 year old loved Dora. We had ended up getting tickets to Dora Live. So a couple of weeks before I started telling him Dora wants him to collect his binkies so she can give them to the new babies. So we rounded them up.

  At the show we gave them to a lady selling blow up chairs and I secretly asked her to toss them. The lady played along and said she would give the binkies to Dora for him.

  So we had a few fussy days and I would remind him he gave the binkies to Dora and eventually he forgot about them.

  Is there a character he likes? Maybe a special toy and she could "pay for it" with her binkies.

  Good luck!

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  Posted by pwsgirl Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:51am PDT

  I remember these days! My youngest was addicted to his pacifier as well, and finally, at 16 months, we said no more. It was actually Grandma who took it away. She simply told him that he was a "big boy" and that binkies were for little babies, so he didn't need it anymore. She also made a big deal about how "icky" it was and why would he want to suck something icky?

  Try telling your daughter that, as a "big girl" she needs to give up this habit. Then simply take it away from her. Let her scream, cry and throw her fit. I know it sounds cruel and it will be hard on you for a day or two, but be strong. She only does that because she knows you will cave in and return the binky so that she will be quiet. DON'T cave!!! While she throws her tantrum, go about your normal business and, well, basically ignore her. Once she sees that she isn't winning the battle, she'll settle down. Hang in there. We all go through these rites of passage. This too shall pass!

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  Posted by keep it real Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:15am PDT

  my friend's little girl had a pacifier in her mouth EVERY time i saw her. i think she was came out of the womb wanting that pacifier. she stopped using it when she turned two. she did just fine afterwards.

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  Posted by GossipGirl Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:56am PDT

  If it's Christmastime, leave the binkies in the childs stocking for Santa to take and give to kids w/o binkies. Or, leave the binkies on the plate of cookies for Santa. Or, at Easter, leave them out for the Easter Bunny to take. In return, the bunny will leave goodies. This worked in my family!!! =) Good luck

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  Posted by MAS Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:15am PDT

  My sister-in-law did this and it made sense. She would little by little cut the end off the pacifier and when it was gone she would not by a new one. But she let her son throw it in the garbage.

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  Posted by geminime Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:21am PDT

  I cut the tip off of them all and then she did not like them anymore. No tears!

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  Posted by lena_abf Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:14am PDT

  My son was in my country visiting when he stopped using it. I have given my grandmother a few of the pacifier, she lost them one by one, so then she bought new ones for him. He didn't like the new ones. After that he didn't need them anymore.

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  Posted by HotCrossBuns Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:22pm PDT

  We took our kids' binkies away by the ages of 2 and 3. Kid1 we bribed at age 2 with a "big girl bed" and new sheets of her choice, but she had to leave the baby binky in the baby crib. She was all for it.

  Kid2 we told her she had to lose the binky if she wanted to go to 3yr old preschool (which she wanted desperately!)...she got rid of it with no argument, and then quickly replaced it with her thumb! She's now 7 and we are at our wits' end trying to get that thumb out of her mouth!

  Kid3 lost his binky at age 2.5 when we packed up and moved to a new house, and with all the excitement of new surroundings totally forgot he even had one. (At that point, he could have it only when he was in his room) He did keep his "Gwanky" (his security blanket) with him for security, though. That can still be found under his pillow (he's 6)

  Moral of my story: Don't take away their security object until they show they are ready for it to go away. Otherwise it just may get replaced by something else, like their thumb, which you can't take away!

  Again: Brett needs to do his homework. Pediatricians, Dentists, and Orthodontists alike will tell you that sucking a pacifier up to the age of 3-4 does not do any long-term damage to the formation of the jaw or teeth.

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  Posted by DeAnn Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:52pm PDT

  Yup I'm with both the author and HotCrossBuns on this one. Children use suckling as a comfort mechanism during the oral stage that lasts until roughly the age of 3.

  So for my son, we made it the goal to be rid of the "Sucky" by his 3rd birthday. He was all psyched to be a big boy. He had finished potty training, got his new "big boy" bed, and could go throughout the day at daycare without the Sucky already.

  So approaching the date, I continued to tell him exactly how it would happen. He was going to throw it away. The morning of his 3rd birthday, he excitedly got up, ran to the trash can in the kitchen, and tossed it in, and said "Bye bye Sucky!"

  And that was it. He didn't even cry. He was ready.

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  Posted by Sarah Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:24pm PDT

  I have to admit that I am not a parent, but have six younger siblings. However, I heard this idea and think it is BRILLIANT. A lady I work with told me that with their young child they went to build a bear workshop, and when they put the "heart" in...they put in the binky too. This way the child had the bear to know the binky was in there. Although if you have strong willed kids the stuffing might be everywhere after awhile : )

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