How 2 Take Pacifier

Updated on October 10, 2010
J.Z. asks from Schenectady, NY
22 answers

i have a daughter who will be 3 next week & a daughter who will be 2 next month...both are completely dependent on thier pacifiers. it has been a nightmare tryin 2 take these binkies away...but the stress of looking 4 binkies throughout the day & wakin up 2 to 3 times a night 2 find binkies is becomin a real headache...noone is gettin sleep. any suggestions on how 2 take these pacifiers from both of them?

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So What Happened?

thank u every1 4 ur help! well i decided the very next day i would start taking the pacifiers when they both woke up & would not allow them 2 have them thtoughout the day & let them have them at bed time. i did this 4 a week & at the end of that week i took them away 4 good! no more pacifiers!!! it has been difficult, alot of crying & meltdowns but iam sticking 2 it! its been a week now that the pacifiers have been completely gone...and it hasnt been as bad as i imagined! thank u mamapedia 4 giving me that extra support & push i needed!

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M.S.

answers from Phoenix on

J.-

My daughter is about 9 and a half months now, and we already kicked the "pluggie" habit! She was super-dependant on it and I thought it was gonna be horrible, but the whole process only took about a month. I started by getting her used to only having it with naps/bedtime. Then I started to keep her up a little past her naptimes and she started to just pass out without it! There were no horrible tantrums or crocodile tears...she never even made me feel bad for "taking" it from her. Good luck and best wishes!!!

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M.T.

answers from New York on

Why do you need to find a 3 year old's pacifier? That's her being too dependent on you mom. If they ask you to find their binky, refuse. They should not be waking you up at night at 2 and 3 years old to give them a binky. If you allow them to have one, they are old enough to keep track of it. How to take their pacifiers? Get rid of them!!! It's as simple as that. They aren't going to throw themselves away. Honestly, at this point, I would throw them away, every single one of them, in front of the kids. It may be hell for a little while, but it sounds like it's hell already and you'll just be rid of them

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M.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Do it tomorrow night-cold turkey. You will have the weekend to deal with it. In my experience it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.

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L.S.

answers from Spokane on

You could gather all the binkies and put them in a bag that you tie to a tree outside. When your girls wake up in the morning, let them find a bag of 'big girl' treats (maybe some hair stuff, lip gloss, nail polish - whatever you think) and tell them that the binkie fairy took their baby binkies and left big girl presents.

Or just chuck 'em all in the garbage and prepare for a hellish few days. The only way this will work though is if you stick through it. DO NOT cave and give them their binkies. I'd also do it over a weekend so no one has to be up for school or work - cuz the nights might really suck!

We weaned my daughter off her pacifier slowly over about a month. First it was only for bedtime. Then only if she asked for it. We'd put it out of sight for the most part, and often she'd only want it if she woke in the middle of the night. Once she'd gone 2 or 3 nights without it at all I threw it away and that was that. She was 2 years and about 2 months when we did this.

Good luck :)

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J.M.

answers from Phoenix on

My husband got my two year old daughter off the binky by taking her to give them to the ducks. She loved ducks so much my husband came up with this bright idea to give them to the ducks. He told her that everytime she heard the ducks quack that meant they were crying for a binky and they needed them. She then told daddy she would give them to the ducks because she did not want them to cry. So daddy had her throw them on the dirt and leave them for the ducks. Then mommy came after them and picked up the binkies and put them at the park trash. After that she asked a couple of times and we reminded her of that story and she never had a fit or anything. I tried cold turkey before this and it was a nightmare, I tried snipping the binky every day and that didnt work. But the ducks did and thank goodness to my husband. Good luck and hang in there. But remember its always better to deal with a binky than thumbsucker. I now have a 3 year old thumb sucker and i wish she would have taken the binky as a newborn. Now on the third baby due in Jan I am hoping she will be a binky girl.

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T.C.

answers from Johnson City on

i have heard about cutting a little bit off the ends a little at a time, what i did was substitute a fuzzy blankie, slowly i would "forget" the passsi but have the blanket and my daughter got to where as long as i had the blankie she was ok and he and my both my sons sleep with fuzzy blankets, i also limited them to sleep time only

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C.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Both of my daughters used their pacifiers practically 24-7 until they were 3. At 3 we went to Disneyland and gave them to MickeyMouse ( one gave hers to Minnie). We made a big deal about it and talked about it for months in advance. So they were both prepared and knew the magic age was 3 and they would give it up. To my shock and amazement it was very easy with both of them but then they also gave up their naps. Oh well. Good luck. Oh yes and my sister-in-law took her Daughter to Build a Bear and put it in the bear.

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J.G.

answers from New York on

Good morning
When it was time to take my kids binkies away I didn't want them to disappear all at once. So I cut a "v" in the top of it so when they sucked on them they couldn't get suction. My daughter carried it around for a while but after while she just gave it up.
Good luck

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C.E.

answers from Atlanta on

i have 2 daughters. Both loved their pacis. So--- I suggest talking up ' the babies that need the pacifiers. Tell them that Santa's elves will take the paci to Santa or that you can mail it to Santa. I drew a pic of Santa on a manila envelope. We put the pacis in there-- after talking about it for a week. You want to prepare them. But be prepared yourself. Anyway- then I said that Santa would send a special gift early. Have your child put them in the envelope. Either do both at once or give them each their day. Wait for the 2 yr old...I think this will be harder for her. Anyway-- we put it in our mailbox for the mailman. I praised praised praised. Then I had a gift for them ( I did this 2 different times- my girls are 4 and 3. I think they were 2ish. So maybe both can go). Anyway-- naps that day did not happen. Sleeping was terrible. For my first daughter- she did cry. The 2nd one-- she had the HARDEST time falling asleep. It will not relieve your sleeplessness. This I will tell you. But hang in there. Before I gave in to getting rid of them- I bought like 8 pacis for each of them. I did not want to search either. And the washing and everything.
I remember now-- if you can do this gradual-- first have the paci only stay in the bed or crib. For naps. and night. If this is the case. good. Get here. Don't take them out for anything else. Get them used to this rule. Then they learn about separating. Anyway-- eventually do the santa thing and it works. I bought them something they really wanted.
A friend of mine had her daughter take it to toysrus and buy her bicycle with them. She gave them to the cashier. Seriously. Another friend gave them to the dentist.
I am happy with my method. Good luck. I did hide them and keep them to give to them one day -- in their teens.

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K.M.

answers from New York on

My son was 3 yrs 1 month when we got rid of it. We kept putting it off because we thought it would be a nightmare but it wasn't. He also was a constant paci user. I used to tell him that we were going to have to get rid of it soon because it was bad for his teeth. Then one day we lost it at the park so I decided then and there was the time. I had another one in the house but he didn't know about it. I told him it was lost. He cried but I know my son. He would have said let's go to the store and get a new one but I think he just knew it was time. I also thought it was a good time because he had had a very busy day and I knew he would sleep with or without it. Sure enough he cried a little bit for it the rest of the day and at bedtime but didn't wake up at all! He asked for it a little bit the next day but then stopped asking completely. It did take him a little bit longer to settle down at first and I can tell he misses it when he is tired because he puts his fingers in his mouth but as time goes by he does this less and less. I took him to the dentist a couple of weeks ago and they said he had an "open bite" which is where there is a space between the front teeth which can cause a speech impediment. Hopefully he will outgrow this. Also, his front bottom teeth are slightly wiggly. Let this motivate you to take it away. Also think about how you don't have to constantly look for it and get up during the night. I would say maybe just keep telling them they have to get rid of it soon and then go cold turkey. Its so worth it! Do they have blankies? My son loves his blankie. Hope this helps. Good luck!

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F.W.

answers from Miami on

1st of all I stopped letting my daughter take it out of the house, then it was only for sleeping so she was not allowed to walk around the house or be playing with it in her mouth. Then 1 day we lost them (we had 2 or 3 and I just put them in the trash on garbage day, so I wouldn't be tempted to give in and give them back). That night I made a big show of "Where Are They" and we looked everywhere, under the couch, behind the t.v, in all the toy boxes and surprise surprise we couldn't find them. Well she cried the 1st night for a little while and that was it!! She never asked for them again. :-) The 1st part of the process lasted a week where I reduced the time she had them, so really it took just over a week. Now some people might think I was mean but the whole giving it to santa never worked for me and I was starting to worry about her teeth.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

My son... was about 3 when we took his away.
He was a CONSTANT binky user... all day and night.
We told him, that Santa needed it to help the other kids.... and he's a big boy. Then, with him, we collected ALL the binkies in the house, put it in a bag.... and sent it away. (we actually stuffed it in a closet). And that was that. We EXPLAINED to him in a loving way... that Santa needs it... and he is helping Santa. My son understood...
It took him 2 days to adjust without it. He also had a lovey, though, that he slept with.
My son, after about 2 days, slept fine, he didn't tantrum about it... and that was that. I was astonished that he adjusted so well... being that he was a CONSTANT binky user.

Christmas is coming up... maybe try that with your kids? Tell them, Santa needs it... etc.

We had to take away our son's Binky, because his mouth structure was being affected... and his mouth/teeth, was malforming. It took about 6 months to 1 year... for his mouth to go back to a normal formation.
This can happen with constant binky use, to some kids.

all the best,
Susan

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S.F.

answers from New York on

When my daughter was 3 and a half, we told her about the binky fairy (just like the tooth fairy). Leave them under the pillow, or if that is too tempting for them, anywhere in your home. We told her the binky fairy needed to bring them to all the new babies being born and that she was a big girl and didn't need them as the babies do. The next morning she woke to two toys, and was thrilled! She slept with a stuffed animal or two after that, and asked for her binky a few nights after, until she remembered and laughed. We also started only giving it to her at bedtime for a few weeks prior. We read her a book called Pacifiers are not forever(forget the author) Good Luck! Might go smoother than you think.

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C.T.

answers from Detroit on

i found weaning to be the best way! it took awhile but eventually it paid off! start by not leaving the house with it, no watching tv with it, no playing with it then work on the no naps and bedtime with it. good luck

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C.D.

answers from New York on

you can cut a hole in them or make them taste bad or go to zoo and do as we did left all of them for the baby ??? to have also could go cold turkey

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N.D.

answers from New York on

When they loose the pacifier, say OH WELL.mommy doesnt have time to find it. Tell them they lost it, so they have to find it. Dont give in, make it their responsibility. They will either keep them close by (doubtful) or get sick of looking for them.

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N.H.

answers from Dallas on

My grandaughter was also very attached to her binkie. When she was between 2 and 3, we started limiting her binkie to only naps and bedtime. Next we eliminated naps, so she only got it at bedtime. The next step was a visit from the binkie fairy. The binkie fairy took her binkie for a baby that needed one and left a gift in its place.

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M.V.

answers from New York on

hi J....
i'm so sorry to tell you, but the best thing to do is throw them in the garbage and wait for the chaos to end....=[
that's what we had to do with our daughter when she was 2. it was a very exhausting week...sleep was bad. but that's all it took, was ONE WEEK...
i hope you hang in there and remember, don't keep any because you'll tend to soothe them periodically. also distraction with a blanket or new toy could help, or just tickle them or play with them to have some peace during the day.

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E.C.

answers from New York on

When I was younger and friends with a family, I just threw out the pacifiers - they were simply all gone. That would be the cold turkey way.

Or you could have a ceremony that you get them excited about for a week from now. "You girls are too old for pacifiers. In 7 days, Mommy and Daddy are giving you (something they've been wanting that they can cuddle with only at night) and you are giving up the pacifiers." Be calm, sure of it, excited, unwavering. Don't back down - it will make it worse.

You'll have a few hard days, but if you are firm and resolved, they'll catch on quickly that fussing doesn't work. They are not going to be permanently damaged - they will learn from your attitude and approach how to deal with stressful situations. This is just the first of many in their life.

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H.P.

answers from New York on

I thought it would be really hard to take my daughter's pacifier away. She used it every night (but not during the day). One day I took them all away and said "the paci fairy came and took your pacies away to give them to other babies" and I mentioned some of our friends with younger babies specifcally. She totally bought it and was fine!! Did the same with my twins and they were fine too. But I know it's not always that easy. (By the way, I used the fairy story for diapers too... said "oh, the diaper fairy took away your diapers!" ) My kids are very gullible!!

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J.P.

answers from New York on

Buy lots on binkies--it's worth the investment. Tie one to the paw of a stuffed animal that won't get pushed through the slats of a crib.

My son was a MAJOR pacifier sleeper and he would not let me take it away from him. When he turned three, he got a big boy bed. I transferred his animals to the bed--but not the pacifiers. He was so preoccupied with being in a big boy bed, he didn't notice the pacifiers were gone. On the third night in his new bed, he realized this and asked. So I told him pacifiers were only for cribs and he said, "okay" and that was the end of that.

Good luck

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P.K.

answers from New York on

As each gets lost, remind them that you will not replace. When the last one
gets lost, that is it. Non negotiable. End of story. They understand a lot
more. Worked like a charm for me with bottles ( three kids in a little over
two years). Youngest was two when I did it. I kept warning them all so they
were not surprised. Good luck.

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