Bye Bye Binkie?

my 11yr old had a nini until she went to kindergarden. she only suckedit at home when she was tired. to me the trauma of taking it away is more damaging then letting them give it up on their own. I tried a couple of times to get rid of it but she screamed for it. so i wouldnt worry about it to much

My daughter was a binky baby till the age of almost 4. It is amazing how well "out of sight, out of mind" actually works. I just slowly started taking them away and, magically, she stopped wanting them. It doesn't work right away, or for every child, but it is a thought. And, it worked for me.

My son was just two on the nineth and he uses a binky also i' really not worried about breaking him off till he is about 3 or so...but we have limited when he uses it we try and just let him have it for bed and nap times though if he isnt feeling well, tired or hungry then we will let him have it...it seems like if he is busy he could care less...i do think though if he doesnt give them up by himself by 4 i will use the binky fairy story.

My kids never used a binkie so i personally havent been through this. I did come across an idea from another board i am on. I have suggested it on here for a couple of other mothers.

With your two year old. If all else fails and you are willing you could take him to a Build-a-bear workshop let him pick out a bear and let him watch the person at the store put the binkie in the bear. That way he will always have the binkie with him but only the two of you will know. It will be a "secret" that only you two know. I have had women tell me they tried everything and nothing worked until this. If he asks for his binkie just remind him his bear is holding it safely for him. and its just your secret/ I know my kids love when they think we are sharing a secret that no one else knows.

Don't worry! If my daughter could break the habit, there is hope for anyone. She was truly hooked on the bink. I got lots of advice, but nothing worked for us in the beginning. Cold turkey ended up in hysterics and vomiting. The Binky Fairy was a joke. She couldn't care less if other little babies needed the binky more than she. When I told her that it was broken and had to be thrown out, she told me she would use her money to buy a new one (so much for teaching her about money!).

What finally worked for us was this: we cut a small hole in the tip of the binky so that there was no more suction. She didn't seem to mind this and kept it in her mouth anyway. We left her like this for a while since I felt that it was no longer a threat to her teeth and wasn't hurting anyone (she only used it at bedtime). Then, later on, I cut a bit more off, then some more, and then more gradually until there was just a stump of the nipple left. At this point, she held the plastic part in her hand at night for several weeks. This was also fine with me, and I let her have it. Finally, one day, she told me she didn't want the binky in her crib anymore. I took it away and haven't heard about it since.

We started this process shortly after her second birthday, and it took just a couple months, I think. Meanwhile, her baby sister was using a binky the whole time, and this didn't cause any problems. I worried a lot about this issue, but they really do give it up when they're ready. I've never seen a kid go to college with a binky!

Good luck!

Are you ready to put on some armor? This is a good time to wean off the binkie. This is a very controversial topic and people are extremely opinionated about it. Many kids have used binkies for years and turned out fine, but more often than not, it becomes problematic. I will get to that.

I weaned my son off shortly before he turned 2 and my second son was born. He was ADDICTED to it. My daycare provider took it away at first except for naps, then gradually for naps, then I had to finish taking it away at night. My part took two days and I thought I was going to die, but we did it. I don't suggest going cold turkey. I would take it at first during the day except for naps for a week or so, then only at night for a few days, then no binkie at all. I was told by my pediatrician if you're having a hard time taking the binkie away to cut a slit in the binkie longways, so the sucking satisfaction is no longer there, but you haven't "stolen it away." Your son should get pretty sick of that and toss it aside. Mine did. Your second son should be much easier.

The feeling is similar to helping them adjust to sleeping through the night. You'll feel bad for a couple of days, but if you don't do it or are inconsistent, the torture can stretch out indefinitely. Do both boys at the same time? I would. It won't work with one allowed to have it and the other not.

Problems that occur when kids are allowed to use the binkie much past age 2: 1. delayed speech and language development - hey they are plugged up - how and why should they talk or talk properly when they are comforted and content? 2. open bite: that is when they close their teeth together and there is still a hole where the binkie would be - that does clear up eventually, but it looks odd in pictures 3. continued picking up of dirt and God knows what else every time they drop it and put it in their mouths with whatever stuck to it 4. they may be ostracized by their peers and it may delay social maturation

I am a speech therapist and have worked with kids that either used a binkie or a sippy cup (with the spout, not the straw) too long and developed articulation problems because of it. It doesn't always happen to every kid, but it does happen. The problem is, as a baby the swallow pattern is backward as compared to an adult. A baby will push the tongue forward instead of backward and hold it there to swallow. That is how babies do it when nursing and bottle feeding, and that is what happens when drinking from a sippy cup with the spout. So, as the child talks, he or she will naturally tend to thrust the tongue forward, producing those oh-so-cute lisps, that need correction so they can go to school and read and write those sounds properly. They don't get the chance to progress to an adult swallow, and thus get correct tongue placement in the mouth. That can eventually lead to an overbite also if it is not treated. Make sense?

You're doing the right thing. You can do it. Now, hang oooooooonnnnnnnnn! By the way, I love the name Aiden.
J.

I went through the same exact thing, although my oldest was almost 4!!! She was addicted to it, I thought I was never going to get rid of it. Thankfully my son, then about 6 months old didn't really take to it and he would actually cry more if I tried to give it to him. I decided one day enough was enough and took them all away. My daughter asked for it, but I just let her know that she was old enough, her baby brother wasn't using one and we were done. She never lost any sleep over it. I actually never had her bring a cup to bed and now she does, but it's just filled with water so as far as I'm concerned that's a good replacement. I think it's a lot more nervewrecking thinking about their reaction than what really happens. Good luck!

I took my girls' binkies just after their first birthdays, so it may have been easier, but my youngest was pretty attatched. I finally cut the tip off and she declared it broken and threw it away. She went back to the garbage to look at it a few times, but didn't seem to care as much as I expected she would. She did find another one later that wasn't broken, but we just threw it away together. My oldest was easy, I just hid them all and told her she was big enough not to have a binky anymore. It took a few rough nights without it - she had a hard time putting herself asleep without it. Her younger sister was born six months after I took it away, and she had no problem with the baby getting it and she didn't.

Good luck!

I was 6 when my parents tricked me out of mine. They acted like they threw it over a hill and couldn't go get it and told me that stores did not sell them any more..or.. I saw on tv where they talked a child into leaving it for the "binky fairy". She/he takes the binkies to little babies that needs them and in return the binky fairy leaves a "Big Kid" toy for the child. The child was really happy to get the "big kid" toy and to help out a baby..the toy was like a stuffed animal or something like that. Hope that helps, by the way my teeth were never messed up and I could talk normal..If all else fails, just give your kid time to get tired of it, he'll lose it when he is ready.

My son was 2 years and 4 months when we took his away. He never asked for it during the day but always wanted it at nap time or bedtime. One day I just put it away (out of sight, out of mind) and put him down for a nap. Yes, he asked for it and I told him that it was gone now, no more ninny because he was such a big boy. Surprisingly, he just said "OK". I thought for sure I was going to have a fight on my hands. He went through spurts of asking for it but after about a week or two, it was a thing of the past. I suggest taking it away at nap time and the car first. You may have a fight but better to tackle that at nap time instead of bedtime. Once he is content without it at naptime and in the car then take it away at night. I have helped my friends rid their kids of them. You just have to be stern yet patient. Stick to your guns. Even though there may be tears and cries, you have to know that he is OK. At two years old, there NEED to suck is GONE. He wants it purely out of habit. You can help him to break the habit. Remember, if you start to take it away and then give in and give it back (just one time) it is like starting all over again. You have to make the decision and stick to it. Good Luck!

My daughter is 3 and still has one. She namned it a jut. It is like her best friend. It sometimes fells like I had triplets because when I go somewhere I have to take her jut and Kola bear with us. My husband and I are working on taking it away. We tell her she can only have it when she takes a nap. I think you have the right idea when you said take it away from both your children at the same time. Good luck.

Hey H....I am having the same problem with Nyelly & while she is only askinf for it to go to sleep 2 1/2 is WAY older than I thought she'd go with it. I have tried a lot of methods but in the end I just took her to the dentist & had a check up/cleaning done. The dentist told me that she was having no side effects from it & that to keep it put up & if she ask for it offer her something else to confort her if that doesn't work wait 15 mins of listening to crying & then decide if you are going to give it to her. She is now down to using it MATBE twice a week to go to bed....this is a rough one..so if you figure out the magic touch PLEASE tell me what it is....I'd pay to know this one.

My daughter loved her binky and so does my son. My daughter was 31/2 and we told her about the binky fairy. She comes and takes big girls binky's and gives them to babies who don't have any. We told her that the binky fair would leave her a special present if she gave them to the fairy. So I went out and bought a doctors set and when she was down stairs I took her binkys and left the gift. The next time she went upstairs she found the gift with a specail note. It thanked her for giving up the binkys and how it showed what a big girl she was. My son is 19 months and still has his. I'm not plannong on taking it away anytime soon. I guess it all depends on when you think he or she is ready. Good luck and I hope this helps you.

HI H. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN MY FIRST WAS MY BABY SO I LEFT HER KEEP HER NOOKIE LONGER I HAD A HARD TIME BREAKING HER AND SOME LONG NIGHTS ONCE I TOOK IT AND THREW IT AWAY. I WOULD SUGGEST WITH YOUR LITTLE ONE TO TAKE IT NOW. ITS MUCH EASIER WHEN THEY ARE THAT SMALL. I LEARNED AFTER MY FIRST ONE. I TOOK THE OTHER THREE WHEN THEY WERE 6 MONTHS AND I HAD VERY LITTLE PROBLEMS. WITH THE TWO YEAR OLD JUST TAKE IT AND THROW IT AWAY YOU WILL HAVE SOME CRYING TO DEAL WITH FOR ABOUT A WEEK. BUT HE WILL BE OK AND HE WILL STOP CRYING FOR IT. I WISH YOU LUCK. STEPH

At my oldest nephew's first birthday party they had him stick the binky into the remnants of the cake when he was done playing in it. After that, if he'd ask for it, they would say that the cake ate it. For some reason, he was ok with this.

If I were you, I WOULD get rid of both kid's binky's at the same time. Pretty unfair otherwise......

When my daughter was 3 we took the paci away except for nap time. You could do this for both children. Then, before her 3rd birthday, we had her leave it in the tree for a baby squirrel that needed it. It worked and she was proud an animal she loved would have it.

I travel with my work, and sometimes, I have to send my son to my sister-in-laws house for a couple days. He was hooked on his binky, and he had just turned 3, we had tried everything, it was his security blanket. One weekend I had to take him to my sister in laws house, and forgot the binky, nobody mentioned it all weekend to him, and he never notivced it was gone. He was very busy that weekend playing with his cousins, and getting spoiled by his aunt and uncle, but it worked. If you can get him out of the house for a weekend, and keep him busy with other activities, so that he "forgets" that he doesn't have it.

My son, did ask a few later, where his binky was, and we played dumb. It worked!

Good luck....we tried to take Davids away when he was 2, and like I said, it was his only security, he didn't have a blanket, or a stuffed animal that he was hooked on, it was his binky. I think he was ready at age 3 also, he just didn't realize it until it was gone.

cut the nipple ...either in half long-way or right off...no fun if the air whistles thru.

Hi H.! I went through the same thing with my daughter who just turned three the beginning of this month. She was very attached to her pacifier to the point she hid them were we could not find them. Last year at Easter I decided it was time for them to go. I am not sure if you do the Easter Bunny thing but I had her leave them for the Easter bunny. It was a little rough at first but within a few days all was done. I think it was easier because she gave them up herself. We told her that the Easter Bunny gives her pacifiers to the baby bunnies. Good Luck and I hope this might help you out.
J.

H. tell Aiden he is a big boy and that there is other babies who need the binkie. And that the binkie fairy will come 7 give it to another baby. then leave it in a special place for the binkie fairy. the binkie fairy will come & take it & then leave him a gift.

Hi H.,
My son Aidan was really addicted to his as well. We were really worried about how we were going to get him to give it up. He went from having to have 3 of them, one for mouth and one in each hand! We went to two and then to one fairly quickly and then we went to only naps and bedtime. All that was easy. But try to talk to him about giving it up completely was awful. But one evening I was talking to him about a friend that was going to have new baby sister and that maybe he could give the new baby his "fooler". I reminded him that he didn't need his fooler to fall asleep in the car. So he gave it to me and I said we could give it to the new baby. It actually work! I was shocked, so was my husband. I mean, not even one tear the first night or anything. I wished I had tried it earlier! I don't know if it will work for you or not, but it is worth a try. I like the binky fairy. That might be more fun for him. Anyway, you might check past mamasource requests if you don't get some more ideas. That is were I got the giving it to a new baby idea. Good luck!

well this is what we did... my daughter loved her "ga-ga" and it was the only thing that she was attached to... we had gotten her to the point that she only had it at night.. but we started to tell her about the "ga-ga" fairy and how she came to get the ga-ga's from the boys and girls when they got older, so she can give them to the babies... we had been preparing her for weeks... finally a baby had visited that day and that night we took it and she couldnt find it and she asked if the ga-ga fairy came and we said yes, but she left you a present, and we gave her a small present.. she cried for 5 minutes. had i known she was only going to cry for 5 minutes, i would have done it alot sooner.. but then again, she was 3 when we did this so i think she was ready... plus it was messing up her teeth... but i do think preparing her was the best way to do it with her, all kids are differant.. good luck!

well my sonwill be 2 on friday and he still uses the binky too i only give it to him at naptime or bedtime tho because he refuses to sleep without it i would suggest first taking it away during the day and explain that big kids don't use binkies but if he is so attached he won't deal without it all day than just take it away entirely make sure you give alot of praise saying how much of a big kid he is cause he's not using the binky anymore and taking it away from the younger child will prevent him from just stealing his brothers binky as a replacement

At our house the Binkie Fairy came when our son turned 2&1/2 and left a little red scooter (A BIG BOY TOY). There was a lot of discussion leading up to it in order to prepare him. I know it is a little silly, but it worked for us. So far our other little man is binky free.

What my husband and I are doing with our 14 month old son is to slowly take it from him. We have started letting him have his binkie only in his crib and in the car. He has to leave it in his bed or in the pocket of his car seat when we leave those areas. He has done pretty well with this. Maybe this will help you...sorry we haven't figured out our next step yet or I would share that too.

When my oldest was young, I found myself in the same situation. I tried many things in vain....but here is what finally did the trick. I took is favorite binkie & cut the tip off of it. I don't know why this worked, but he wouldn't touch it after that. I am about to go through the same with my youngest as it will soon be time to get rid of hers. I will try the same method & hope that it works as well the second time around. I hope this helps!!

L.

About two months before my son's second birthday we had a trip to the beach planned. We kept telling him before the trip that when we got to the beach he could be a big boy by giving the baby dolphins his binkie. We could not believe it work but he threw it in the ocean and never asked for it again. The whole trip he told everyone that he was a big boy now beucase he gave his binkie to a baby dolphin that needed one.

i have a daughter who is now 6. she was REALLY hooked on her's too. we tired evyerthing to get rid of it. but she was just NOT ready so when she turned about 2 i told her that her "pas" was now only for bedtime and naps. and she HAD to keep in her crib. and she was ok with that because she ALWAYS knew where it was and when she could have it. she was 4 when she decited that it was time for it to go, i let her do it all on her own. she did much better when i let HER make that decition. someone once told me "Don't worry, it's not like they are going to take it with them on their first date!" i thought that was kinda funny and kinda true.

I had a similar problem with my now three year old. She just recently gave the binky up. We tried many things. What worked for us is we took her to a type of build a bear workshop. We let her pick out an animal and we had her put the binky inside of it. She likes that we didn't throw it away and she gets to always have it near her incase she needs its friendship, without ever using it again. I hope this helps you it helped us.

I think we all go through this, for those of us who let their kids use pacifers. Two years old is definitely old enough to be without one.
The trick I used with my twin boys when they turned 2 was amazing. I thought it would cause a big fight but it went very smoothly and was never an issue. My boy's birthday is two days before Christmas. A few weeks before Christmas I wrote a story with their names in it about how they were going to be big boys when they became 2 years old and that when Santa came he was going to take thier "num nums" and give them to the little babies that didn't have any. To thank them Santa would give them a train set. They loved the story and asked for me to read it all the time. That prepared them for when I was going to take them away. They only used them when they were sleeping, so it was not like they used them all day, but when it was time to go to bed, it was the first thing they asked for. Christmas eve night we talked about how Santa was going to come for the num nums and give them a train set. They went to sleep and I let them sleep with them all night. At about 5AM I woke up and took the pacifiers away and put the train cars in their crib so that when they woke up they would instantly see that Santa had done the trade. When they woke up, I did not hear a word about the pacifiers and they were fine. Occasionally over the next few days they would ask for them, but when I reminded them that the babies had them now, they said, "OK" and went on with their day. Not one tear shed! It was a miricle! I saved the pacifiers and this year we put them on the Christmas tree because the babies were bigger now and didn't need them anymore.
I know Christmas is past, but you could use the same strategy with the Easter Bunny if you celebrate Easter. I've also heard of people using the pacifier fairy, similar to the tooth fairy. The important thing is to prepare them for it and to make it fun. I think it was important for my boys to feel like they were doing something important, like giving them to the babies that didn't have them. Also, replace it with a big boy toy. It's good to talk about it and be open, but not to dwell on it. Distraction works great with kids! To make it easier for your oldest, I'd take both kids away at the same time. Easier to do it when they're small, before he gets too attached.
I hope this helps!

My son is 2 1/2 and used to have 6 pacifiers in his bed. At Christmas, we had him leave one for Santa in exchange for a special toy that he really wanted. I had to throw out two others because they had holes in them. My son has adjusted well each time. We plan on leaving another pacifier for the Easter Bunny.

I should mention though that I have asked our dentist if we should be worried about his pacifier use affecting his teeth and he said we shouldn't worry about getting rid of the pacifier until he's closer to being 3.

Does the 2 year old use it all day?? If so just try cutting it down at first. Tell him he can only use it in bed. If it comes out of the bed/room then he gets a warning, 2nd time it gets taken away for the rest of the day, 3rd time he throws it out. And make him throw it out!

Would it effect your 6 month old to take them ALL away right now? If not you could do that too. Just make them all disappear!

If it would effect your 6m/o, don't take them away from him. 2 years old is old enough to mostly get that binkie is now only for babies. Tell him he can pass them onto his brother. Make a big deal out of everytime the baby uses one. "See how happy baby is, what a nice BIG brother to make baby so happy!" And all of that jazz....

It really depends on the personality of your child. But remember no matter how you do he's not going to like it and you're gonna have to stick to your guns!! You CAN do it!! Also, expect some fall backs on some other things that you know he can do and won't. If he just started talking more clearly or more often. Expect that fall back a little, potty training (If you're actually doing this one already I would suggest leaving the binkie alone for now!), and/or any other new skills that have been accomplished!

You have to remember a 2 y/o doesn't see this as socially unacceptable. All he sees is a source of comfort and when you take that away he's going to angry!!