7 Month Old Cries for Hours Since Taking Away Pacifier, and I Need Sleep! Help!

Give it back. It's perfectly acceptable for a 7 month old to have a pacifier. The sucking helps sooth her and calm her down. She needs it. Take the pacifier away after you've weened her from the bottle.

I have to agree with the majority, give her back her pacifier. My 2 1/2 year old still uses it at naps and night time. Her doctor said she can use it when she sleeps til she's 5! After 5 it may start to interfere with permanent teeth, and as long as it is only used for sleeping, it is not interfering with language development. Buy a bunch of pacifiers and get some sleep!

This is awfully young to take away the pacifier. There are clips you can use so it's easy for her to find it in the night. You can also use a clip to attach an extra one to the crib railing. I hope this helps.

Hi A.,

Here's a question for you to help determine if perhaps it might be a bit too early to take that pacifier away (in my very humble Mommy Opinion of course):

Does your daughter still get a bottle (or bewb)?

:o)

I'm betting she does! Seven months is too early to wean your baby completely. Even if she's trying out a cup, she should still be getting formula or breast-fed.

I've found that the best time to wean your baby from the pacifier is AFTER you wean from the bottle. "Why?" you ask...well, put quite simply, your baby still has the urge to suck. And until you have FULLY weaned her from the bottle, she won't understand why she can no longer confort herself by fulfilling that urge. It's a truly traumatic event in her very small perspective (which is all about "me, me, me!!!").

I'd give her pacifier back. Both of you will get some comfort and sleep. She's still very little and you have plenty of time to wean her off the pacifier once she is no longer bottle (or bewb)-fed. If you are worried about it becoming a bad habit, restrict pacifier time to sleep-time only...since that is when babies usually look for "sucking comfort" anyhow. During waking hours you can use other comfort methods.

I know it is hard to be a mom these days...we fall prey to all kinds of judgements about how we parent: Keeping that binky too long, letting them have a blankie or stuffed animal that they drag around with them EVERYWHERE, letting them have a bottle when they should have a cup. It seems that every time we are around other parents they try to one-up eachother with stories about their children's progress "My Jimmy was talking at 8 months...sleeping through the night at 3 months...walking...drinking from a cup...potty trained....etc, etc, etc, et al..."

But really, who cares?

Our children are people, not robots. They grow and learn on different time-lines. Their needs vary. So don't listen to those other parents who insist that your child will be a pacifier addict if you allow her to keep it past a certain age. That's just utter nonsense. Do what is right for YOU and YOUR child. You'll know when it's time to let it go...and you'll find an innovative way to make it as easy on you both as possible...because YOU are her mom and you know know her best.

Good luck to you and your girl...and get some sleep!!!

Good Morning A., I haven't looked to see what other Mama's have said but here is my advice. Give her back her paci. It will not hurt her at all to have it. It's like weaning them to soon from a bottle to a cup completely. It needs to be on their own time.
You can pin a short ribbon to her Jammie's with her Binky attached to it so she can find it easier. They sell the binky ribbons at Wal-Mart.
Babies that young still need that sucking sensation to sooth. So if you want a more restful night, Give it Back to her.

God Bless and good luck
K. Nana of 5

Hi. Not sure if my advice will be helpful...we still give my daughter (2.5 years) her binky when she sleeps, plus when she's upset or sick. Her binkies are the only thing she's ever gotten attached to (no blankie or stuffed toy) and since she was a baby she'd go to sleep with one in her mouth and one in each hand...now often two in each hand. I remember the waking up crying for binky stage...not fun, but she's good at finding them now.. We put two on each side of the crib, tucked next to a stuffed animal so they are less likely to fall out. If I had to do it again (the younger stage) I would get one of those mesh crib bumpers to keep them in the crib. Good luck.
--Hi, I responded before but just wanted to add...I would not leave a light on so she can find the binky...you need dark for your body to function properly and produce melatonin...important to health. Also, I know a pediatric dentist. I asked him about binkies since I was a littles worried about my daughters habit. He has two kids...one used a binky for a really long time (like 5 or 6) and the other one sucked his thumb for a really long time. He said some kids just need that comfort, so buy lots! Some kids resort to the thumb or fingers if they don't have a pacifier, and that's a tougher habit to break.

I was completely anti-pacifier until we delivered our daughter and one night in the hospital she was inconsolable for a couple of hours. Out of desperation, I gave in to just try it, and she was happy as a lark. I know the "experts" say they don't need to suck after 6 months, but every child is different. I would give it back to her. She's too young to be manipulative at this point - giving in to her won't spoil her yet and she won't even remember it. Picking her up, rubbing her back, etc. will all turn into sleep crutches, too, so you're safer sticking with the pacifier which she'll eventually be able to find on her own in her sleep. Throw a couple of extra ones in the crib at night to help. We waited until our daughter was a year old and at that time took away her bottle. After a few weeks, we took away her binkie. It only took a weekend, and she was fine without it.

Aww give it back! I havent read your responses yet, so sorry if Im repeating. She is still a little baby, I wouldnt take it away from her yet. I mean if she was a toddler I would try then. But I think having her binky is better than sleeping with stuffed animals she could suffocate herself with (sorry I know thats horrible) but I wouldnt put ANYTHING besides a pacifier in with my baby until we get to the age where SIDS is not an issue. I think you should wait, personally, your making her sad! My son cannot fall asleep without his binky no matter what. He does wake up sometimes but I dont think its just because he is looking for his binky, but it sure helps him fall back asleep. My opinion, give it back! I would rather my child have a pacifier than suck his thumb.

WOW, that was agressive. I think that was a little quick for her. I'd not only give her the pacifier back, but I'd either put MORE in the crib with her (so that she can find them), leave a little light on so she could find the one you've left her, or make a little bink leash and attach it to her nightgown so she can't lose it.

Babies rely on the suckling for soothing. Yes, she could be teething too but what you've taken away is the eqivalant of cutting of her arm...she's never sucked her thumb outside the womb so she's probably forgotten how too. I wouldn't worry about the bad habit unless it's persisting past 2 1/2...Heck my daughter just turned 4 and we JUST got the pacifier away from her before her birthday!!! My son gave it up at 2 when his sister was born. We all have our vices...don't teach her how cold and cruel the world can be at only 6 1/2 months...there is no harm to the binkie now...give her the comfort she's seeking.

On the flip side, yeah, you can let her cry it out and eventually it will get better but you've taught your daughter a lesson that you may not have wanted to...that what you give her can just as easily be taken away and at anytime. It is a breach of her infallible trust in you to be her champion and let no harm come to her...after all, if you hadn't taken it away, she wouldn't be crying, right? Give her the ability to solve her problem herself and give her the pacifier back...it's a cold cruel world out there and there is no reason for her to learn that lesson at 6 1/2 months.

This may be the Grandma in me but I think 7 months is too young to take off the pacifier. I slowly took my children off pacifiers when they could walk and way before I took away the bottle. Babies like to suck which is why a pacifier is a good thing. When I took them off I told them theycould have at nap and bedtimes and then just at bedtime and then not at all over a couple of months. I did the same thing with the bottle. Of course, when mine were bottle fed in the late 60's early 70's no one nursed.

Give back the binky! She's crying for HOURS?? For gods sake, give it back!! Get a bunch and sprinkle her crib with them. Try to teach her to find it on her own. This is a problem many of us deal with. This will pass, but there will always be something new to take it's place.

You can't always solve every problem with brut force. You usually have to suffer through this stuff because, like I said, there will always be SOMETHING.

Parenthood is filled with periods of frustration like this. You might as well get used to it. Sorry! :-)

Give her back the pacifier and keep some close to her bed so that when she wakes you have them handy. She will outgrow the pacifier (you never see anyone walking down the aisle with one)at about one year. Until then the sucking instinct if really strong and there is no reason to make yourself or her crazy.

My 2 y/o still takes his pacifier at night (so we all can sleep)! He has a really strong sucking instinct and it's a security thing for him. I have heard they won't mess up teeth as long as they don't have it forever, plus it is much better than sucking their thumbs, so as much as we'd like him to not use it, he still needs it right now. One thing you might try is to put several pacifiers in her crib so if she loses one, she can easily find another. Good luck!

I have known moms to put several pacifiers in the crib, so the baby will find one in the middle of the night. It sounds like your daughter needs some kind of comfort... whether it be a paci or nursing. She seems young to quit everything cold turkey. Good luck trying to find a solution!

I would suggest that you allow her to have it back. She is clearly needing something to sooth her during the night. At around 7 1/2 months, kids are able to find pacifiers in bed and place them appropriately in their mouths. Our daughter needed her binky to sleep and it was the only thing that kept her sleeping soundly. My sister is a Speech Language Pathologist and she assured us then that using a binky to sooth was age appropriate until 12 months. So, choose your battles, but if it involves your baby sleeping soundly, give her back the binky.

She's just a little baby - give her her pacifier back and stick another in her crib. Perhaps even in her hand. My grandson sleeps with 2 or 3 - and usually goes to sleep holding at least one of them.

Babies under a year, or even 2yo need to suckle. That is like breathing for us. This is a comfort to them, and your choices are really to either nurse her on demand at night (which is really good for both of you in the long run), or let her have the pacifier. She will learn how to put it back in soon enough. The research shows that babies that either nurse on demand at night or have pacifiers are at less risk for SIDS under a year old.

Oh poor things you two A.....
I think she is too little yet, and she needs something to comfort her, and feels secure. I would give her pacifier back. My kid is 2year old and 10 mo, and he is still has one, but I this point, just for bedtime and nap time. My oldest had his pacifier until he was ready to giving up, about 2 and half. Over three years, I think is not good for their teeth, but in your case, she needs it badly! I don't think there is anything wrong in giving her the pacifier back, you will get more sleep, and she will be more happy and calm.
I used to put a couple of pacifiers in my crib's baby, close to his hands, so he could be able to reach any of them, and I got those that "blow in the dark" that you can find them at Target, Wall-Mart or any baby store. Also, you may want to put the pacifiers under her blanket or burp cloth next to her little hand, so she is able to grab it..she will learn to do it, believe me!
You need to sleep and rest to be there for your baby girl....Sleeping will give yourself more patience and happiness, and your little one will feel so much better and rested. (Please NEVER use those straps or cords to secure the pacifier to any part of her little body..never!)
Good luck!
Alejandra

Oh Dear One,
Wow!
Okay , I have three girls . First one I nursed and never wanted to do the paci because I was afraid she would NOT nurse and prefer that for comfort instead of nursing. Nursing was the most important thing for me with all of them, but then I decided THAT was the route "I" wanted to go...Plus I was big into "cosleeping/ nursing"...everyone slept that way and "I" was the paci I guess then...
However....when number two came around and was a biter...we SOON found the BINKY! It was apparent SHE needed something to chew on and itwasn't going to be ME! LOL, Anyways,.... she would not give it up until like, "ouch" 4 ...and then we went and visited another realative and she was sucking her thumb, so then we found THAT habit,..... Sooo we let it ride and that took care of itself as well. She did NOT go to Kgtn with the thumb, so we felt that was cool...
Her teeth are fine and the dentist said his kids were both binky kids, sooo do what you have to do to
GET SLEEP Brave one!
Either nurse that poor child or give her back the binky! SLEEP is HUGE!!! and it will keep both of you
MUCH CALMER ...
IF this is not the option either way for you...
I think sometimes a "an old time happy face" ticking clock or soft music can help. She's pretty young, and has most likely just started setting up recently, so she is just still trying to figure out her surroundings and needs something quickly familiar to soothe her still.
I am a vocalist, so I made a CD of Mommy music so that my girls could sleep better. My middle daughter still likes to hear me to this day ...after school sometimes I catch her with it in her CD player...lol.
So tape / record your voice and have a CD playing you singing lullabys and put it in a CD player that plays repeated throughout the night...or a book on tape with a reader who is soothing. George Winston piano music rocks too! ...

HTH!
S.

If the only reason you took it away was because she kept waking up an looking for it, then I would say give it back. My kids were finding their own at her age when they woke up. I don't know if they still make pacifier pals that pins them to their shirt with a ribbon that's short enough that it won't get wrapped aroung the neck or any other part of their body. If you really can't take the crying anymore & you really don't care if she takes it, but it had just become an inconvenience, try to take her hand & teach her to feel for the pacifier, so she learns to find it on her own. You're smart not to trade one habit for another. If you're adamant that you don't want her to have it, then give it another week & things should get better. If not, then she REALLY does need it & you'll have to make your decision then. Good luck, it's never easy ...

She seems pretty young still to be weaning her off the paci. I've come to learn (and I know I have much more to learn :) that they will "wean" themselves off of things in due time...try not to push it and do everything "by the book" so much...my son will be 2 at the end of April and he's doing very well with getting off the bottle...he gets the sippy throughout the day and most of the time at home...he just gets it at night...if she screams that much I would give it to her...whatever gives them comfort...good luck with your sweet, little angel...I'm sure everything will be just fine!

Why can she not have a binkie? Did you take it away per your doctor or your friends/family saying she shouldn't have it? I posted this question about my daughter who is two. My sister was giving me a hard time, her 4 year old daughter was taking the binkie away from her and saying "Sucky-Ucky". She even gave her abook about not having "passies". I expected a "take it away!" response but most said let her keep it, she's only two. I realized most of my concern was what others thought. My doctors said binkies are considered a good thing right now. They never can decide. First they were good, then bad, now good. But children are born with the sucking reflex to help them learn to eat, like rooting. These instincs disapear as we get older and every child is different and loose these instincts at different ages. When you take the binkie away, they still have that sucking instinct and will insert finger. Binkies are better then fingers because fingers. I think the only reason you would take her binkie at this age would be concern for her teeth. Otherwise, driving yourself nuts with this is not worth it. I asked my doctor and he said they don't attribute teeth problems with binkies but with genetics or fingers but ask your own doctor or ask a dentist.You can just call up a pedeatric dentist and asd. This is something we are struggling with and I have not done but I think I will now.

She still wakes up occasionally tooking for her binkie and I get up and give it to her. I get more sleep then her not having it. I give her extras and show her them. She doesn't need them but for some reason just knowing they are there makes her not care about loosing the one during her sleep. She will soon be able to find them on her own

This happened to me and I gave in and now he is 2 1/2 and I still can't get it away from him (only at night). I would say keep it up and she will eventually forget about it and start sleeping. Trust me I know that's easier said than done, I gave in, but if you can stay strong I would just keep doing what you are doing.

Hi A.,

I admit I did not read all the responses, just kinda skimmed through them. But I have to agree with Lynda, that in my opinion that's too young. I'm not a grandma yet, (thank goodness!) because my kids are just 18 and 14. The 18 year old just never liked the pacifier and it wasn't an issue. But the 14 year old had one in every color to match her outfits! :) And she kept them long until she was walking. We did go cold turkey one weekend when she was old enough to understand "no more p." It didn't hurt her in anyway. As a matter of fact, she is the most secure and independent, mature 14 year old I know!
I say give it back so you both can get some sleep!

Lori K

I guess that depends on how badly you want to keep the pacis gone. At that age, the sucking is still a huge comfort for them. While they say it might be easier now than later to take it away, at least later, around 2, you can somewhat talk to them about it. Mine is 26 months and still have pacis at bedtime, but the Dr said that was fine.
Just don't let her have it outside of the crib. That was our motto from the beginning.

Hi A.!
I have two boys, a 3 year old and a 1 year old. With my oldest I too decided to take away the pacifier at 6 months old. I (very) soon realized it was just too early for him. I gave it back to him and all seemed right with the world again. Everyone got sleep! I then waited until the day after his first birthday to take it away. Those last 6 months I only let him have it for naps and night time sleeping. It seemed to do the trick. With my second I didn't even attempt to take it away. I waited until the day after his first birthday again. There was a little restlessness at first but within a couple days they were both fine. The idea of putting a few in the crib so they are easily found never occurred to me. It's worth a try. Just remember different things work for different people! Don't get discouraged! Good luck!!!

A.,
I don't understand why you felt the need to take her pacifier away from her, especially cold turkey. She is only 7 months old and just probably needs the soothing. You don't say if she wants the pacifier all day long, but if so, that's where I would start. I'm the Mother of 5 and I've found that some babies just really need that soothing a bit longer, everyone is different, and there are no certain rules to follow. Try to just give her the pacifier at night. I know that it is a disruption for you to get up and give her the pacifier, but it sure beats no sleep at all. I just think she is still too young to take it away altogether. It won't hurt her to have it longer and slowly take it away.

Every mother has to decide for herself, but I would let her have the binky. I have read several books that indicate babies have that sucking reflex for about the first year of their life. It is a sense of comfort for her right now when you cannot be present. She is just realizing that the two of you are separate people and if that sucking sensation provides with a little security, it's okay. We first time moms tend to beat ourselves if things aren't perfect or our babies aren't doing what society says they should be. Find comfort where you can find it. She won't be five walking around with it. I let my daughter have her's at night and in her car seat and truly don't see anything wrong with it. Ease up on yourself and her.

I think that is really to young, since you introduced it to her a few months ago and she enjoyed the soothing of it I do not see the harm. It will make life easy all around but mostly to help sooth her. If it falls out during the night and she roots for it and cries that is normal, It is for a short few more months and she will be able to find it on her own.

That's a little young to take the pacifier away. They need the soothing until they are at least a year old, maybe two. I think you're making it unnecessarily hard on yourself and the baby. Maybe try again in a few months?

My kids never used paci's so this is just a guess. If you don't mind her having the paci and its just the waking up because she can't find it that is bothersome, I have seen animals that the paci is attached to.

http://shop.theanimalrescuesite.com/store/item.do?itemId=... or
http://www.pacimals.com/

Then she wouldn't lose it. But if you just don't want her to have it. Maybe keep trying different objects, like one of those animal/blankets that are attached. Personally I would let her have it til she is one. Babies need to suck, that is how they soothe themselves. Good luck.

You took away your daughter's method to comfort herself. She is only 6 1/2 month's old...too young in my opinion to takeaway the binkie. Now if your daughter was 3 or 4 years old, i can understand that. Do yourself and your a daughter a favor and give her back the binkie.

If you continue on this path now you may be trying to wean your child from the thumb or fingers later. There is no earthly reason to take it from her until she's old enough to start taking it out of the mouth.

What I do with daycare babies is pick up the pacifier when I see it fall to the floor. I wash it and save it. I don't offer it back unless or until they are fit to be tied. If they never become overly cranky, I don't offer it back. Much of the time they will give it up on their own anywhere from less than a year to after a year.

What makes me crazy are the 2 extremes that parents go through. I had a dad decide his son had to stop the pacifier too early. The child decided to suck his lip instead. He is 10 years old and still does it when nervous or stressed. He walked around with chapped lips forever!

I switched my daughter from a bottle to cup at one year. It didn't seem to be a problem. Later she took up the thumb.

But then on the other end of the spectrum, I see parents come in at night to pick up their kids. I hand them a perfectly happy child and they root around in the bag for the pacifier. They will plug that hole when nothings coming out of it! So as time goes on the child ends up needing it excessively with their parents when they don't even use it at all at my house. There has to be a middle of the road.

At 6.5 months old your child is probably teething. So the pacifier is more than likely allowing your child to get some of those frustrations worked out. You could try oragel and teething tablets before you offer it back. But I'd also leave some in the bed like the other poster offered. This way you will give it as an option. But make the baby find it at night. There's no reason for you to get up over and over. If it's really important to baby, baby will find it. I do believe the baby should have a small night-lite near the bed.

Suzi

Why did you take her pacifier away? She is still so little...my son is a thumb sucker...should I have cut his thumb off? I realize he is not waking me up because he lost his thumb, but lots of babies your daughters age are not sleeping thru the night as it is...get up and give her the paci back! I am sorry to come across as mean, but it just seems cruel to me to take it away from her cold turkey when you have Taught her to be soothed by it.
I can honestly say she will give it up in her own time voluntarily, I let my son go off the bottle voluntarily and no problems what so ever! Now I may be posting in a few months over the thumb sucking ( He will be two in June...)
It isn't easy being a first time mommy...no real instruction manual...but if something doesn't feel right sometimes your instincts are all you have...lots of luck!
B.

Not sure my advice will help but as the mother of 8 grown kids I have had to look for many pacifiers in the night. Some of my kids sucked thumbs and wouldn't take a pacifier and others did use it. I think you will know when to take it and when it becomes a real problem but for now I'd let a little one keep it. What I did for some of mine was tie a strip of a thin blanket, almost like a like cloth diaper, through the pacifier so it was in a large knot. It was light weight and didn't fall through the crib. Most of the pacifiers now don't have a big ring to do that but there are the clips now so that if short and safe are the same effect. Clip if so it can't get around the neck at all and then no more looking for it in the night.
When it was time to take it away I had my last one, who was the one the hardest to break, actually throw it away herself and then when night came and she wanted it I reminded her that she threw it away. I wasn't the one to whine or cry to and it worked very well.

With my kids, we put a bunch (8-10) of pacifiers in their cribs so they could always find one while they were asleep. It sounds like your daughter doesn't know any other way to get to sleep except for sucking on the pacifier. I would just give her the pacifier back and get some sleep. Put a lot of pacifiers in her bed--she'll find them and everyone will be much happier with their sleep. You can worry about breaking the binky habit down the road.

Give the binkie back! As long as she is not 3 years old walking all around with it stuck in her face, it is no big deal
Tks T.

Give her back the pacifier... Why did you take it away so early? My daughter is 21 months and she still has hers, according to most doctors, its a security issue, so I am not taking it away until she is 2.

I have learned that everything is a stage with babies/kiddos. Nothing lasts forever. You have to do what works for you and not worry about long term habits. There will soon be another stage your family will go through. You may want to walk,tip-toe or run through of it so my suggestion is to choose what gets you the most rest and peace of mind right now at this moment deal with the rest as it comes.

S.

I say give it back as well.We successfully gave up the bink at 13 and 15 months here with minimal side effects. I think 7 months is still so young! Put a couple extra in her bed so she has better luck finding them.

Hi, A.. I recommend giving the pacifier back. At that age, she needs that sucking to calm her. It is safer than putting any extra things in her crib at nap and night time. My doctor told me that it is not bad for them until later in age(2), so you have lots of time to wean her of it. It is definitely a better decision than going back to nursing. My daughter gave her pacifier up at 2 years without any problems, so yes it gets better. She is just telling you she still needs it for now. Good luck and God bless!

She may be teething. go with your intuition though.
I just reread what you wrote. If it's been three days don't give it back - then she wins... Don't. It will get better.

L. B

Hi, A..
First, let me say that I agree with most of the others who posted--give it back. Some babies need to suckle more often than others for comfort and security. Obviously, this is the case with your daughter, because you mentioned that she is also soothed by nursing.
But more importantly, PLEASE get that plush toy OUT of her crib at night! It's not safe to have stuffed toys in the crib with a baby while she's sleeping.
Good luck!
--A. H.

maybe she is teething? put some teething gel on her gums when she wakes up screaming and see what happens. I doubt the pacifier caused this as they usually get over it after a few nights as long as you don't give in and give it back and usually easier to get rid of it around 6 months. mine were 3 months, 5 months and the colicy one had hers until 9 months. The 3 month old wouldn't take any other pacifier and the one he loved ended up being unsafe and recalled so we just did away with it and he got over it within 3 nights. The 5 month old was very easy and didn't really get upset losing his. My daughter liked hers a lot and had colic for 5 months so we waited until she was 9 months and she fussed for 2 nights and was fine. I think most babies can give it up easily around 6 months when they aren't sucking on their fists anymore like newborn-3 month old babies like to suck a lot but they outgrow that and then really don't need the pacifier anymore. Then it becomes an addicted habit as they get older and is a lot harder to get rid of especially when they get close to a year old. It is easier to get them off the bottle too if they aren't on a pacifier.

She's six months old! -- Trust your instincts and get her six more binkies so she can find one when she needs it. (I am opposed to the cry-it-out method and would recommend the No-Cry Sleep Solution as well).

Oh boy...just give her the stupid pacifier back and quit trying to do what you think other mothers out there are doing. She's only 7 months old, let her be a baby!! I mean doesn't common sense tell you that she's crying for a reason?! I know I'm sounding harsh, but I am SO sick of parents doing stuff like this and then being dumb founded that their kid is upset. Your baby will tell you what she wants, so just listen to her and it will be so much easier for both of you than if you are trying to do what other mothers are doing.

One of my twins gave up his paci at 3 months. The other could not live without it. I put about 5 paci in his bed at night so he could find one if he needed it. They always went in the same corner of the bed at night so he would know where to look. At age 1 he started taking it out some during the day to play and I would put it away. If he asked about it he could have it back but the times he needed it got less and less often. At age 1 1/2 the paci had to stay in the bed and was only for naps and bedtime. right before he turned 2 I started talking about how he was getting to big for a paci and it would have to go away soon. At age 2 I told him he was too old for paci and we needed to throw it away. He took it to the trash and that was the end of paci. He asked for it a few times at bedtime but I just reminded him that paci was gone and he was fine with it. I did the same thing with my youngest son and it worked just as good. I think a gradual approach is much less traumatic.