How to Lose the Paci?

i told all 3 of my kids that they had to leave their pacifiers to santa claus instead of milk and cookies, b/c there was a shortage that year! LOL! believe it or not, it worked all 3 times.- and they were all 3 when I had to do it too, so don't feel bad!

I saw an episode of Supper Nanny...and she and the little girl got all the paci's and put them in a basket outside hung them in a tree, and she explained to the girl that a baby was born and the "Paci Fairy" needed paci's for the new baby and the fairy would bring her something special for being such a BIG girl. So low and behold the next morning there was a new baby doll in the basket for the girl with a note, and the little girl was happy. It sounded awesome to me so I thought it might work for you. Good Luck!

Losing the paci is a hard habit to break. One of my friend's told me that they would trim down the nipple on the paci, each day, so that eventually the child had nothing to suck on and got rid of it himself. She said it was successful for her and her sister. I hope that works! Good Luck!!

Hi,

My friend was just talking about this last night as i was asking advice on getting my 21 mo to give up nursing. She said she heard this about getting your child to give up there paci. It obviously won't work for me but maybe you could try it. Take your child to the store and explain before you go that she can pick out any toy but she will have to pay for it with her paci. You should talk to the cashier first so she plays along. Remind her on the way and through out the store that she will have to pay with her paci. When the time comes tell her she needs to hand it over to the cashier (pay). Now you know why it doesn't help me :) Hope it works for you!

My daughter only used them in bed the last month or so. She was about 21-22 months old. We took the pacifiers in a zip lock bag so she could see them to a friends baby. She actually put the bag in the pack n play with the baby (only 3 months old). We said bye-bye to the "pacie's". That nite and for the next two weeks I felt like a broken record. She would ask for them from the box on her dresser and I would remind her that Baby Lilly has them and we repeated bye-bye. No other questions or actions. We kept 2 for plane rides and she only gets them then and no other questions from her. How will I break the plane? I hope she'll quit asking for them or one day we will have to leave them at our destination. My sister cut the tips off little by little until her daughter (3ish) didn't want them. It was pretty easy for both of us. I hope the same for you. T.

First, I will tell you there is much controversy about the paci causing bucked teeth. If you think about the physics involved, a child sucks on a paci, which pulls the teeth in; if the paci was continually being sucked by something outside the mouth then the physics would suggest the paci as a problem. Second, you will see that the placement of the baby teeth greatly differs from that of the adult teeth. You might want to get a second opinion from another dentist if you don't think your daughter is ready to give it up.

I will tell you that when my daughter gave up her paci, we actually bribed her. We allowed her to go to the store and pick out a toy (within reason), and she had to pay for the toy with her paci. I actually, taked to the cashier who agreed to let my daughter hand her the paci, and she in turn gave my daughter the toy. I paid for it with the other stuff I purchased, but it reenforced with my daughter that the new toy replaced the paci. The first night was a little unpleasant for her, but she took her toy to bed instead. Within a few days, she had moved on.

Good luck in whatever decision you make; it's a hard transition for some children, and if they are ready it's a whole lot easier.

First i told him that I couldnt find it. Then I said, O look the garbage man took it!!!!!!!!! Chicken way out? U bet cha, but it worked. If one was seen in the store, he was told it was for babies, not my wonderful lil boy.

There are a couple ways that are pretty good to get rid of the paci. One you make a special box (decorate it) with the address of Paci Land. That's where all paci's go so another baby will be able to have one. OR...worked very well for me... My dad's dog bit one of the paci's and tore off half of the paci, enough that it could not be sucked on. My son, just held it in his hand at night for about 3 days and then we talked and he was doing so well without it, that we threw it away. So with my daughter I just cut it off. Told her the dog got it. She tried to suck it for about a week and then was done with it. The first night was not good for either one, but it got better after that. (I found a good one the other day--my husband had put it in his dresser, just in case--my kids are 2+ years paci free. It's gone now)

Good Luck
K. A
Mother of Dawson 6 and Madylin 4

Have you heard of the "Paci Fairy"??? I don't have this problem (mine is worse... my 3 y.o. is a bedtime thumb-sucker!) but I've known a couple of people that put the pacifiers under their pillow and when they went to bed they woke up to money, a new toy, whatever you're daughter has been wanting. Personally, this is a HUGE step for your little girl so a big gift isn't overboard! Oh and the Paci Fairy takes old pacis and gives them to new babies who need them. If you know of somebody having a baby, I've even knew somebody that had their child give all their pacis to their friends new baby as a present (which got thrown away, of course, but came with a thank you note to the child from "the baby" so she felt extra special that the baby wrote her a note and had all her pacis). I can't see my 3 y.o. willingly giving up something she loved but I could see her believing the fairy thing and getting a new toy! Best wishes :)

We had a "Binki Fairy" come to our house. This was something we prepared our children with by talking about it for a good couple of months before hand. We told them the fairy needed them for the new babies in the world. Part of the prepping was allowing them to choose a gift from the fairy in exchange for the binkis. When you feel the child is ready and YOU are ready make one night the big night. They loved finding their new "big kid" gift. We cut off all the nubs so if they found one they would remember the fairy came and their transition to being a big kid. When we would find an unforgotten one we would quickly cut it. This worked for all three of my children. No matter which way you choose just stick to your plan!!! It will be tougher on you but be strong and it will be short lived. You are doing the best thing for your child. Good luck.

Dear A.! I really feel for you. I have been there done that! LOL! Actually only my 2 boys took pacis. My daughter didn't want one! Anyway, what we did was cut the tips off all the pacis. My oldest son put it in his mouth and threw it across the room and then cried all night that "Daddy cut his paci". Even woke up the next morning and his first words were "Daddy cut my paci" After that morning, the paci was never mentioned by him again and he is now 9! My second son was a little more difficult, but again, we cut the tip off his paci. He still tried to suck on that thing and we would just keep cutting until there was nothing left. Each day cut a little more off of it. Eventually, he didn't want it anymore. The key would be to cut ALL the pacis at the same time. If your child has a ton of pacis around the house and they are in the toys and in hiding places, you need to find them and do this to all of them. Or get rid of the others and just cut one! Good luck!

Well, we "lost" the pacifier when my son was 13 mos, so I know that your daughter has a different kind of attachment, but what I found was that I was teaching him to sleep again. It did take about 4 days....naps and bedtime...for him to be okay with his new sleeping. We had helped him build attachments with other things (a blanket, a stuffed animal) over about a month, timewise. Then we just told him that he was going to bed and that we love him and are always here when he needs us. Then we let him cry. Some days it was 15 minutes, one naptime was 2 hours of playing in his crib, 2 hours of crying before he fell asleep from exhaustion. Now, he lays down and goes to sleep just like his older sister, who never had a pacifier. I found that naptimes were harder because it is lighter out and he was more distracted from sleep. I hope this helps, and I hope your daughter does well in this transition. You will make it! (Turn down the monitor or you will need some Advil!) Also, we had phased him off his pacifier during the day...he was only taking it to sleep, so that was easier too. Hope this helps!

we had this issue with both our "plug" with one daughter and the bottle with the other. They were both close to three when the plug fairy came and the bottle fairy came. At the time of each appearance, the kids were each asked what was something big that they wanted. Then we kept talking about it for a week. We said that the plugs or bottle were needed for the babies at the hospital. (When we did the plug, the little sister was just born so that helped and there was a baby down the street that used bottles for the other). Then, the big night, and it disappeared and the item desired left the toy. And really, that was that. The first time, the plug child cried a little but just held onto the horse that she got. The second child NEVER once asked for a bottle, but the bottle fairy also left some extra special night time milk cups along with the stuffed bunny... Really, we stressed so much more than what was reality. AND, they are old enough at 3 to know that the item desired is more fun. good luck.

Tell her that the paci fairy is needed more pacifiers for the new babies at the hospital. Have her Put ALL the pacifiers in a bag and put outside. In the morning she will find a new big girl toy to replace her paci's

Our dentist recommended that we trim the paci back. That worked great! My son's response was that the paci was broke and it was yucky. I had him throw it in the trash. I gave him another one that was ok, but the next day it turned up broken too. We continued until they were all gone. The dentist also recommended that should he want to keep sucking the "broke" paci, just trim it back a little each day until he no longer wanted it. Hope it helps!

my son went through the same ordeal...we knew the day would come but hated when it got here. The dentist said we had to cut him off cold turkey because it was ruining his teeth. My son was so obsessive about his paci that we dreaded going through. It wasn't easy but we made it through. Just hang in there and use tough love.

I agree with your dentist - kids arer resiliant.

We did the 'paci fairy' route...gathered them up and left them on the fireplace. In the morning, the paci-fairy had left a train in their place. My son whined a little, but I just reminded him that the paci fairy needed them for new babies and he was a big boy and had a new train to boot. In a week or so, it was a done deal.

Just search the house GOOD for all the ones you've lost!!

Actually, that's kind of what we did. When my son was 18 months old we went on a weeklong trip and totally forgot to bring one. We didn't realize it until falling into bed at 10 p.m. and decided we were not going to go buy one at that hour. He cried that first night and was tired by the next day, but after that he never asked for one again. We hid the ones at home so he never saw them and he seemed to forget all about it.

I don't think it would be that easy with a 3-year-old, just because they remember more, but the method can work if nothing else does. Good luck!

I am having the same struggles with my 3 year old. A friend told me about the paci-fairy. This can be done like the tooth fairy under the pillow or you can mail the paci to the paci-fairy and the child gets any toy they want (of course we hope they pick something resonable). I have started talking to my son about the paci-fairy, and telling him it will happen when he is ready. I am pushing a bit and he keeps bringing up toys he wants from the paci-fairy. I am thinking within the next week we will try it. I am not sure if we will mail it (I think I will just mail it to my sister's house so he can see it go away in the mailbox), or put it under the pillow. WE also go to the dentist in a few weeks so keep your fingers crossed for us!

Hope this helps a bit!

Is there anybody around who's having a baby? You could try telling her that pacies are for babies and she is a big girl, but little baby so-and-so will need pacies so we gave ours to her.

ok my daughter was three and I had the same problem... she would not give it up...and my mom didn't help matters by giving it to her everytime she cried for it...so...I went and found every paci I could and I cut the nipples off of them and put them back where my daughter had them...the next time she went and got it and tried to put it into her mouth there was nothing there...it was kinda funny looking back at it now...but she started screaming and threw the paci across the room and went to look for another one....when she found the other ones and they were all like the first one she threw a fit for about 10-20 min and when I ignored her she dropped it and there was no longer a paci to worry about...becuase of this I refused to give my next two children a paci...lol

i was just in this spot with my 4 year old. what we did was as we saw pacis laying around my hunny and i would pick them up and put them where she couldnt find them. then as she lost them we wouldnt buy anymore that acutally went alot better than we thought it would. however she is not a thumb sucker....so i hope yours doesnt figure that out :P

Honestly it WAS that easy with my daugghter. At nap time I actually did loose them (not planned, but I went with it anyway) after looking for them I told her she would just have to take a nap without them and I'd bring it to her if I found it. She fussed for a bit, but then settled in. I did find it, but she was alseep so I told her at bed time I still hadn't found them to see if she did as well at night time. she fussed a little less, but went to sleep. the next day she asked about it, but didn't fuss when I told her I still couldn't find it. on the 3 day when nap and bed time were going smoothly without the paci I told her I found it, but she had done so well without it that I wanted to throw it away and get her a reward of her choice instead for being such a big girl. We made a big deal about it and video taped her throwing it away and she picked out a box of sticker. she was so pround of herself at 2 years old that she didn't really seem to miss it. with my son, it was one of those things that his big sister convinced him (although I don't know how) that he didn't need them and to throw it away. he was 3 at the time and just followed her lead.
other friends have had their children box them up and bring them to the post office to send to the "paci fairy". They picked a day on the calendar with their child to do this so it wasn't a suprise. then they slipped a note to the clerk at the post office so they would make a big deal about it and then toss the package in the trash after the child was out the building. this seemed to work as well.
if you haven't already done so, try limiting the use of the paci first. such as you can only have it while your in bed. then get a special box to leave near the bed that it can go in when it is not sleepy time. it's easier to get rid of if it is only used for comfort at sleep time and can be replaced later with a cuddly toy or blanket.
you know your child best, so go with your gut. good luck.

We told our daughter that there were babies in heaven that couldn't be with their mommies right now and they really wanted pacifiers. We tied them to helium balloons (a few, the rest went into the trash) and watched them float away to "heaven." When she cried about them, we reminded her about the lonely babies who were very happy right now because she loved them so much to send pacies, then we'd hug her and DISTRACT.

Good luck, it's a hard love affair to break.

.

As hard as it sounds, the dentist is right. You can't explain it to a three year old - she may understand to some extent but won't care! Just loose it and let her cry - she will get over it. Bedtime will be the hardest time, probably, and it may take a couple of days. But it will pass!
Be thankful it is her paci she's attached to, our son sucked his thumb and it did the same thing to his teeth - but he wouldn't quit until he was five! Good luck

Well, with my 1st, as soon as he cut his first tooth, I threw them away. But with my 2nd kid, I liked the quiet it gave me. So I waited longer. To get rid of hers, I cut a little off of the tip of all of the pacifires. I waited a week, then clipped a little more. (I didnt do all the pacis at once. I could never find them all at the same time) I kept weekly clipping more and more. Finaly she could not hold it in her mouth. She pulled it out of her mouth, looked at it, and threw it in the trash. She ended up throwing all of them away on her own, and has not looked back.

My daughter never used a paci, but I've heard several good ways to "help" kids give them up. (Let's face it, it will be her decision to give them up in the end!) Here you go -

If you know anyone who is about to have a baby, have your daughter wrap them up and give them as her gift to the new baby. She can even include her picture in the box. (Make sure you let the new mom know beforehand what she's opening!

Leave them for Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, etc.

If you are planning any trips, maybe she can leave them for someone (i.e. Mickey Mouse, Elmo, the new baby lion at the zoo, etc)

Get some books from the library (or buy them) about getting rid of paci's. I'm sure there are plenty out there. Perhaps reading about this will help.

Good luck!!

I have to agree with the doctor. You have to let them go cold turkey or they will never let it go. My oldest, now 14, was hooked on the pacifier. He had to have it all the time, but I was determined to get him off by the time he turned 1. One night, the main pacifier was lost, the back up was lost, and I was determined not to go and get another one. He cried and cried, but eventually fell asleep. He hasn't had it since then. I did not get much sleep that night, but it was worth it.

Hello A., my son used a paci until he was about three too - but just at bed time by then. Unfortunately, he had an accident and hit one of his front teeth on the tub. When we went to the dentist he mentioend the flare too. My son couldn't suck on a paci for a few days after the accident anyway. But, he did ask for it ... we told him that the dentist said it would make his teeth crooked. He asked a couple more times and we told him the same thing. He understood this and stopped asking for it. It worked for us.

Hi A.,
I'm a dentist and also a mother to 4 y.o. who used to LOVE her paci. I was aware of the dental implications and saw some of them in my daughter - although the thought of taking the paci away was more scary than any dental problem I could foresee. A pediatrician recommended that I snip the end of ALL the pacifiers off - that way it collapses when they suck and feels funny. Each week you snip just a bit more off. Soon they give it up. Now, having said all that, what happened in actuality was that we snipped the end off and gave it to her - she threw it down and wanted another one. (This is why you have to find ALL of them and snip them ALL.) She threw a fit and we had a rough 3 or 4 nights. She soon became very attached to a blanket and would suck on it at night. She still has the blanket (does not suck on it anymore) and will turn 4 next week. I'm fine with the blanket and it makes her feel good. Her dental problems worked themselves out in about 2 months!
Good luck - and don't cave in - after about a week it will be fine! :)

M. Day

My daughter was a thumb sucker but here are a few ideas I have heard.

1. Have the Paci Fairy come get them and leave a small toy under her pillow.

2. Wrap them up to give to a baby who needs them (supposedly).

3. Have a Big Girl party and let her throw them all away and then give her a small gift in return.

Good luck.

Hi A.. My husband and I tried something we'd heard about from another parent: we poked a small hole in my son's pacifier to decrease the suction. The theory was that decreasing the suction made sucking it less pleasurable and the child would throw the paci away on his own.

Well, at first, my husband poked too large a hole in the paci and my son (who was a little over 2 years old at the time) noticed right away and demanded a different paci. So, my husband tried making a smaller hole in a different paci and we threw all the other pacis away so there were no alternates.

After about a week of my son not noticing, my husband made the hole a little larger. This time, my son noticed so I explained that once the hole appears, that means he's becoming a big boy and he'll outgrow the paci soon. For a few days, he would cry and demand a new paci and I would explain that there were no new ones, that was the last one and he'd almost outgrown it, and when he was ready to throw it away, we could.

After about a week, I noticed that my son had been chewing the paci and it was pretty much shredded. I showed it to him and asked him if he was ready to throw it away (since it was now a choking hazard if pieces fell off), and he said "yes." He gave it to me, I put it in a Ziploc bag (in case I'd have to fish it out of the trash later), and he put it in the trash can himself. Tbankfully, garbage was collected in our neighborhood that day so soon thereafter, the paci was gone forever.

My husband and I made a big deal about our son being a big boy and proudly told other people (in front of our son) that he'd given up his paci. He occasionally asked about the paci for about a week after that but I would just remind him he'd outgrown it and thrown it away, and he calmly accepted that. We're now 2 months paci-free and counting! I hope you find a technique that works for you and your daughter.

A.- this advice is in two steps. One, talk up and have a "bo-bo" party. Invite all special people, family friends to this time that you set aside and buy a big bunch of helium balloons. Tell your child that now that it is time for her to give hers up, it's okay because there are little babies up in heaven that need her old bo-bo's. Take her to the store to pick out a replacement item that she can hug at the party and have to help her fall alseep. A baby, a soft blankie, etc. Keep the party short-10 minutes, make it a celebration, tie ALL of her Bo Bo's to this balloon bunch and let it go up! Keep telling her how proud you are of her and how nice it is of her to help the babies in heaven. The night time rituals may be rough for a week or so, stay strong, make a new ritual of maybe snuggling with her in your bed or hers and reading some books, and always having this new baby or item to hold, she may even want to hold it some during the day, go with the flow, this is a big adjustment for some kids-but she will sense your attitude on this one, keep it light, positive and loving. It will help that you will have everyone (the people that were included in the Bo-Bo party)reinforcing this great idea to her. Whatever you do, DO NOT break down and buy her another one. Good Luck!

i had the same problem with my son. he turned 3 june 22, and he had to have his ninny (paci) to sleep with. No way around it, and he is hard headed and stubborn. well, i cannot believe it but he gave it up on his own. the ped. said that most kids give it up on their own around 3. he got sick witha fever and bellyache, woke up and said his mouth hurt, and i immediatiely said it was b/c of his ninny. then he handed it to me, and has asked for it once in the car. i reminded him how it hurt his mouth. i also saw a newborn baby crying at mcdonalds the day after, and told him thats where his ninnys were. that little baby was sad and needed a ninny. he said okay mommy im a big boy, i dont need it, and not a word since. im floored. i hope your little one does this, b/c in my experience the more you try to say no and take something, the more they want it. mention the little baby needing a paci, or do the paci fairy approach. tell it the paci fairy is coming to get her paci to bring it to a sad baby and she doesnt need it anymore. put it where she cant reach it, and tell her she will have a prize in the morning. maybe that will work. dont fret though if my son gives it up on his own, any child will. that boy LOVED his ninny! good luck

I thought the same thing with my son. We did it when he was 2 & 3/4. He had actually been chewing it so the last one we had, had a small whole. I just didn't feel comfortable giving it to him and I told him it had a whole in it. We had gone threw 5 this way already and I was determined not to buy any more. he cried a little, but that was it. He never really asked for it again. Good luck.

Google "binkie fairy" for several ideas. I was skeptical it would work with my 2 1/2 year old, and we had a few rocky days, but it worked!

M.S.

Hi,

When my oldest was three she got rid of her paci's by going to the store and using them as money... she picked out something very special to buy and we took them to the cash register (it was a target and I picked out a grandmother aged women to help with this). We explained what a big girl she was now being three and that she didn't need her paci's anymore and would like to pay with them. It worked like a charm. The lady took them and my daughter got a new cuddly toy to sleep with! :) Bedtime was a little difficult the first couple nights but nothing too terrible. We built this up ahead of time of course.
I also knew a friend who had a farewell to the paci's celebration by taking them and attaching them to balloons and then letting them go bye-bye...
Good luck!
Cris
www.handcraftedheartandsoul.com

We started cutting the nipples off the paci's. Our daughter was a upset some but soon learned to live without her paci!

We had the Chewy (what we called it) Fairy come. The girls (at 2 1/2) packed up their chewies, put them in a box, decorated them, and put them on the front steps. During the night, the Chewy Fairy came and brought them a "big girl" gift. (Something they had been eyeing at the store) That was it. I explained that the Chewy Fairy needs them to take to new babies being born at the hospitals around the world. That worked for both kids.

Hi A.,

When my son was 3 or 3 1/2, I started talking to him about the paci messing up his teeth and that he was going to have to stop using it when he turned 4. At that point he was only using it at night, so I didn't have to worry about the daytime.

A few months before his 4th birthday, I started taking it out of his mouth after he fell asleep and I would put it in the bed near his pillow. If he woke up during the night, he could find it. I also let his paci get old and when he wanted a new one, I told him that pretty soon we wouldn't have any paci's and I wasn't buying any new ones. If he wanted one, this was it.

A week or so before his 4th birthday, once he fell asleep, we took it out and put it where he couldn't find it. If it was really bad during the night, we would give it to him for a few minutes (with a reminder that when he was 4, no more paci's) then we'd have him give it to us. (And he would!)

On his 4th birthday, no more paci. We told him that since he was a big kid now, big kids don't have paci's. About a week later, he hit his head pretty hard and said he needed his paci. We let him have it for a few minutes and he felt better and gave it back to us.

He's 6 1/2 now and his teeth have been back to normal for a couple of years. It only took a few months for them to straighten up. Now, he thinks it's funny that he ever wanted it!

Good luck!

We lost ours when our son was over 3 years old.Be carefull that she does not start sucking thumb. Ours did in the begining and I just told him to get it out every time and it never stuck.Out youngest never took paci........so much easier:)

Good luck, cause this is a hard thing to do. But what I did was right around Easter (you could use any holiday or special occasion), I talked with my 3yr old daughter about the Easter bunny. I told her that if we gave all the paci's to the Easter bunny for other little babies, then he would leave her a brand new baby doll. So we talked like this for about 2wks and when the time came around, she was ready to give them to the Easter bunny and get her new baby.
Maybe you could try something like this and hopefully it'll work for you too.
Good luck!

My older sister tied her son's pacifier to the foot of his toddler bed with a 6 inch string. He could suck it anytime he wanted to, but he had to lie on the floor at the foot of his bed. He quickly decided that he did not like sleeping on the floor or miss out on playing just to suck his pacifier. He gave it up after 2 days without a fuss.

Ok, this day is coming soon for me too so I feel your pain. What I have heard a lot of people do, and they say it works, is to start telling her a few days before you get rid of it that she will be giving it to little babies who don't have pacis, or maybe giving them to the paci fairy, or something like that. Mention it a few times and make sure she knows that they will be gone. Then maybe have her put them in a "package" to send away and let her decorate it and then "send" it. I don't know if it will work but good luck. And just remember that meltdowns don't last forever!

Offer a trade. A lot of times these are security items...it is something she relates to because she has had it her whole life. It would be about the same as some one telling you that you could no longer where a shirt...EVER.

Explain these are for the babies and she is more "grown up" now. Take her shopping and have her pick something that she is willing to trade for the "paci". Once you purchase it, take the paci and give her the new found friend...whether it be a "special" doll or blanket or whatever would comfort her.

Yes, there will still be times that you will have to remind her that she has this new object and is too "grown" for the pacifier but I think it should work well.

with both of my children "cold turkey" was the best way. With my son we actually threw it in the garbage together. that was at 18 months. He cried the first time we put him to sleep without it but that was the end of it. It really is the best way ... my hardest part was my husband he wasnt ready for it to go ....

I strongly believe that a parent should never lie to a child, even in the smallest of issues. We lead by example. So telling her they are lost is prob not the best idea. We made a big deal when it was time to get rid of the paci. Our children each took part in the passing over from baby to toddler and giving up the paci. It made them feel a bit more in control of their growing up. I began preparing them for the "big day." I talked it up. That way they didn't feel like I was being mean and taking their security away. It was just something all kids do when they start getting big. Then when the big day comes and they throw their paci away we rewarded them. So that is how we did it. Sure made it easier than listening to them scream for it. Good luck.

Our daughter agreed to give it up on her fourth birthday. I know that is about three and a half years later than she should have, but there you go. It was the only way to get her to sleep! Otherwise, we didn't let her have it. So, her fourth birthday came a few weeks ago. She woke up, took it to the trash, and threw it away without any prompting from us. She knew the day was coming so she was prepared and she gave it up on her terms. She hasn't asked for one since then. My advice would be to try to make it her idea. Discuss what the dentist said and come up with a plan to get rid of it. I wouldn't lie to her and say it is lost. You wouldn't want her to lie to you and she knows you can buy a new one in the store anyway. Just my opinion. Good luck.

The "paci princess" came and got our daughters one night. We placed them in a pretty little bag and put stickers on it. Then, we put them in the mailbox. I suggest the princess come ASAP because it was meltdown time about 30 minutes later. It was a rough week but then things were fine. Be sure to plan it before anything significant is coming...before school, vacation, etc. Good luck.

We took my daughters when she was four. Our dentist said as long as it is taken before her permanent teeth were in it would not damage her teeth. She is going to have a natural gap between her two front teeth anyway but by the time we took her paci away it looked like she was missing a tooth the gap was so big. It took maybe two months for the gap to go back together like it normally would have been without the paci. I chose to wait with my daughter because I took my sons away at two and a half and it was the worst week of my life. I wish I had of waited with him too. I know it didn't traumatize him but it definitely did me.LOL

We were in the same situation with our 3yr.old daughter. Her paci was called "Ish". Back in the spring when we were planning what to plant in our garden, we started talking about planting ish and what would happen. She decided that it would grow an ish tree. She like the idea of that. So when it came time to plant our tomatoes for our summer garden, she planted her ish with her very own tomatoe plant. The only time she would bring it up was when she was going to sleep. After a night or two without it, we made a big deal of what a big girl she was for not needing ish. It has been about 2 months and now she doesn't even bring it up, except when she goes with her daddy to check the tomatoes. Good Luck! I know it is scary to think of sleepless nights again. Maybe try it over a long weekend. Best of Luck!!!

I disagree with your dentist.

I think it depends on your daughter. My daughter would lose her mind if it "just disappeared". She is 3 this week.

I am setting limitations. (No paci at the table/ playdates/ store/ etc)I plan to have the big girl talk with her & decide WITH her when it goes. I know that has worked for my friends. The paci faerie has worked too for them.

It is my daughters only comfort item, I am trying to find another attachment item like a blankie so she can bring it instead of her "num-num".

I think Compassion is the key in my opinion. That's not to say you can't be firm. You will find the right path for you & your Daughter.

P

Hi! We just had the exact thing happen to us at the end of April except my son is 2 and the damage to his top teeth was more obvious. He was as attached to his paci as any child could be - we had tried to take it away before, cold turkey and it was a disaster. So what we did: first we weaned him off it in the car and tried other ways to distract him (favorite music, tons of books, etc.) After a couple of weeks the ride in the car went much smoother, although sometimes we still miss the paci. :(

Next we stopped giving it to him at naptime - which resulted in a week of moans and groans (and shorter naps) and then he accepted it. He'd point to the location where we kept it and we'd nonchalantly say, "No paci. Big boys don't use pacis at nap." We finally advanced to the much dreaded final stage - night time. It took more soothing, spending more time by his bedside, and a couple of nights of whimpering, but he understood paci was gone. He missed his paci for about a month and didn't go off to sleep as quickly. He even tried sucking on other things. (He sucked the nose off his Care Bear!) We kept reminding him not to put anything in his mouth and encouraging him to "go to sleep like a big boy. You can do it! You are such a big boy!" We did give him a special bedtime pal which kinda took the place of the paci. After a month it became second nature.

Just this month we put him in a big boy bed and he goes to sleep with very little difficulty. We are so thankful we suffered through a couple of difficult weeks because now his teeth will return to their normal curve. Not to mention we aren't always frantically searching for THE PACI! One other thing: if you notice I said WE - very important. My husband did alot of this because he was more objective and my son knew Daddy wouldn't give in as easily. Make it a family project. Good luck! :)

I broke my daughter from the paci when she was 9 months old. it was around Christmas time so her being around other people really helped a lot. when she would cry, we would just talk to her and ask her what was wrong, not like we could understand her, but it calmed her down. i don't know if that will help you, but that's what i did. I hope you find something.

Good luck!!
J.

it's not easy to give up the paci, but it needs to happen and soon. My son needs braces now because he had one for so long, and you wouldn't believe what all they do to prepare the mouth for braces!
He has perfect teeth except that the front two push out. Because of this the dentist wants to pull two perfectly healthy teeth further back in the mouth to prepare for the braces to come. He said the braces will be on for about two years and there will be routine tightenings to keep the tension on them. After braces come off he will have a retainer to wear at night - for life - to make sure his teeth don't go back to their natural position. All of this because he wouldn't give up his paci. We took it away from him at two, but he had a baby brother by then and kept stealing his. We'd find him asleep with the baby's paci in his mouth. It was cute back then, but not so much now. Baby brother never really got hooked on the paci since big brother kept taking it. Now the younger one has perfect teeth - he even gets compliments about them... weird but true- and the older is preparing for braces.
It's not going to be easy taking it away, but it definitely needs to be done. Braces are very expensive. About $3500 - $4000 plus time missed from work to get to all the routine visits.
Good luck! Keep a bottle of vitamin B complex handy for yourself. It helps keep you calm when the tantrums come!
You can do it!
L.

we told my daughter that the babies of the world needed pacies, and that she was a big girl now, so she had to give hers to the babies. we boxed them, and wrapped them in pretty paper, and left them out for Santa to take. if it is not Christmas time, the paci fairy can take them. then in the morning, the pacis were gone and my daughter had a big girl present in there place. she asked for her pacie for about three days, and i would just tell her that they were gone, remember? and she was okay.

My sister had in my opinion a brilliant solution to this problem. She had the "Pacifier Fairy" come. Kind of like the tooth fairy. She made it this big special thing that her son was old enough to have the Pacifier Fairy come. Together they left it under his pillow and then in the morning PF had left a fun toy in it's place. The new truck and feeling like a "big boy," took the sting out of losing it. I'm pregnant with my first and I have this trick stashed away in my mind for when the time comes! :)

I was very concerned about taking my 2 1/2 year old daughter's "mimi" away, but I knew it had to be done. I cut the tip of them off and told her that they were broken. She tried to suck on it that way, but of course she didn't like it. She actually threw them away herself. Occasionally she'll still whine for one if she's REALLY tired, but we just remind her that they're broken. She did have a meltdown a time or two, but overall it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be - nap time and night time were the worst times. You just have to stick to your guns, and once you decide to take it away you can't EVER go back. lol Good luck!

The last time we went to the dentist, my daughter saw the "paci jar" on the reception desk and dropped hers in after a small conversation about new babies needing them. Of course, we had more at home and in the car. After a week or so of discussing it with her, she had dropped one on the floor and i told her to throw it away because it was dirty. Well, then we ran around the house throwing them all away. I let her actually put them in the trash can. The next 2-3 days she went without naps and i kept her very occupied so she would be tired at night. Of course she asked about her paci and even cried some, but i was very consoling and each day got easier. It was definitely not the tragic experience i had imagined it being. Good luck.

I'm sure you're getting lots of advice, but what the dentist told you will work -- IF you'll do it! It's one of those things that's 'simple, but not easy' (but it WILL be worth it!). I promise it'll be harder on you than on her (you will ALWAYS remember it, she probably won't).

Blessings!

Same issue here a few years ago. The good news is that her teeth will probably miraculously straighten up quickly once the paci goes. I prefer to not do cold turkey losing it, but use a story.... we told my daughter that at age 3, all children turn over their paci's to the new babies in the hospital. I had a long elaborate story to make her feel compassion for the new incoming babies. We pretended to mail it, but you could always stop by the front door of the hospital and pretend to run it in. You'll still get grief for about a week or two, but at least there's a reason that she'll eventually feel good about. Good luck!

My son was just over 3 yrs old when we took his pie (paci). We were down to just 2 paci's and we explained to him that when those 2 were broken there wouldn't be anymore. In a matter of 3 days both "pies" had holes in them and we threw them away. He asked about them a few times after that and we haven't had any trouble since. He was really attached to his pie and I thought this would be difficult, but it really wasn't as bad as I thought. Good luck.

We haven't been there but I LOVE how they do it on Super Nanny!

She tells the kids about the paci fairy (or in your case the bo bo fairy) that comes to take the kids pacis away so she can bring them to babies that need them. Then she lets them put the into an envelope in the mail box or into a bag and hang them in a tree outside. Then during the night the fairy comes to get them and leaves a gift for the child that gave up their beloved paci.

It makes the kids feel like they have control over the situation and you aren't just yanking them away.

I'll add a little to clipping the tip of the paci. We started with just the tip clipped. We clipped all the paci's in the house (of course, without him seeing). When he tried the paci he said it broke. Hmmmm. We checked another - it's broken too. And another. And another. We encouraged him to throw them away after each broken one was found. When we got to the last one - I told him he better hang on to that one because it's the last one we have. I asked, "You cant suck that even if it's broken?" "No, it doesn't work." "Sorry honey. I guess they all got broken." Of course, he was a little stressed by this time but not hysterical. He tried to suck it a few times and just kept bringing it to me to fix it. We tried but couldn't find anything that worked. Then the unexpected question: Let's go get one from the store. Off we went. He wanted to get it out of the package right then but I told him we have to take it home and boil it first to get all the germs off from the machines that made it. So, I did and clipped the end off while he was not watching. (I kind of broke my heart to do it because he was getting quite upset at this point.) Stuck it back in the water and told him that it should be clean now - let's go check. He watched me get it out and we blew on it to cool it down. It's broken too! I guess there are only broken pacis now. We did have to go to the store and try one more just in case. Same thing. We saved the broken pacis in case he found a way to use them. Well, he did, so I had to clip off a little more of the tip so they were unsuckable.

My sister tried this and her kiddos sucked on the broken ones no problem. So she ended up cutting the nipple all the way off. Finally problem solved.

My feeling is if they have a part in the deciding process they will handle it better. I think they need to see that you are on their side. Not against them. You'll do everything you can to help. 3 years is old enough to understand you are trying to help her. I also feel honesty is important so they grow up trusting you.

Both of my boys were/are paci users. My oldest son was pretty easy to break. Soon after he turned 3, he wanted a small fish tank. After a few days of asking for one, I told him he could have one if he quit using a paci. He immediately handed them over and never asked for them again. My youngest son will be 3 in December and I'm dreading taking them from him. He is much more attached to them so I have at least made him keep them in his bed and he only uses them when he sleeps. I have decided to start taking some away and tell him they are lost so he'll end up having only one. I'm not sure where I'll go from there. I'm hoping to break him from them soon though, but if I have to wait until he's 3, I'm going to try leaving them for Santa.

My baby called her bottle and her paci her Bo Bo too. He is right just throw them away!!! It will suck for about 3-10 days depending on how stubborn your child is. Mine showed me I threw them away at two she is four and still sucks her thumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just read the rest of these post and I would like to add that although these things really seem significant now just imagine her first period, dating, highschool. When I hit a milestone like this I try to remeber how truly insignificat these little things will be to my child a couple of years from now. Your child will thanyou for not sending her to first grade in a pull up sucking on a pacifier. I always think I am causing my child mental harm but chances are you will be the only one who remebers taking away her Bo BO. What I am trying to say is that this is probably more important to you then her.

I let my boys both decide when they were ready to get rid of their pacifiers. One was almost 4 and the other was 3. But from the age of 2 1/2 on they were only allowed to have it in their beds. It was a source of comfort as some kids have stuffed animals and I didn't want to take that away from them. Eventually they got tired of going to their room for a suck and forgot about it during the day. Then they decided they didn't really need them at all. No tears, no bribes, no problem. Another way to rid them of the pacifier is to tie it to a stuffed animal or lovey so they can transfer their comfort source. Eventually they begin to want the animal and not the pacy.

Hi A.,
When it was time to lose the paci at our house, I told my gaughter that it was time to send them home to the Paci Fairy. They had come to help for awhile but that it was time for them to go home. We put them in an package and mailed them (to Nana & Poppy's actually). There were a few instances where she cried for one but only for a few days. I told her she was getting to be a big girl and she didn't want to take it to preschool. All in all, it went pretty smoothly. Good Luck!

Everyone I know whose kid has taken a paci has thought it would be such a terrible ordeal, and it really hasn't been for anyone I know. My daughter took one until 10 months, and I decided that was plenty. There was no meltdown, but of course, she was only 10 months old. However, I know plenty of other people that waited until 2 or 3 years old, and some have gotten very creative with how they've transitioned, but truly after one or two days I've never heard of a single kid caring about it one way or the other. Just get it over with and see how she does; maybe you're underestimating her.

Hey A., I read a story on the website mam.com. It's not there any more from what I heard. This story worked for my daughter. I can sum up on what to do for you. You tell your daughter that the paci has brother's and sister's on the moon with their mambi, yes that's right their mambi (mama in other words). So, tell her that the paci wants to be with his brother's and sisters and his mambi. Tell her in order for him to be on the moon with his family he has to be put in her window sill. Then his mambi will come down and take him to the moon so he will be happy and he won't miss his family any more. My daughter was 3 when we got rid of it. She cried of course the first night but, the 2nd night she didn't but one very short time. She understood what it meant for the paci to be with his family. I hope this works. It worked for my daughter like a charm. After your daughter falls asleep, just take the paci out of the window sill and throw it away. I had the story but when we moved recently, I must have thrown it away but that's the jist of the story. They understand more than you think. Just talk to her about it over and over during the day and then at night before you put him in the window sill and then let her put him in the window sill and tell her to say bye bye to him if she wants too that is, she will cry, it is heart breaking, I cried when my daughter cried but I knew she had to let it go. She will be fine, stand strong and don't give in. She will let it go. This to me is the funnest way and the easiest way to let the paci go. This is the way I asked my daughter, I said don't you want your paci to be with his family so he won't be sad, she said yes. I said you wouldn't like to be away from your family would you, you'd miss them too much hu? She said yes. The more you talk about the more she'll understand. Let me know what happens. J. A.

This is something I dreaded with my oldest, as well. He was still taking his paci for naps and bedtime when he had turned 3, and used an orthodontic paci ... and was very attached to having it when he slept. We thought it was going to be awful! ;)

He actually "forgot" it one day at nap, and I didn't remind him. I figured that was a good time. We never gave it to him after that. He would ask for it sometimes, but never did cry and scream about it like we thought he would. I think taking his paci was more of a habit than anything.

I've heard of people cutting the tips off of them, then their kids didn't want them. I've heard of a "paci fairy" coming to take them to babies that need them. I've heard of people telling their kids the cat, squirrels, dog, etc. took it. I've heard of people doing it as a "big kid" ceremony ... maybe replacing it by getting them a special toy they pick out. Whatever you choose, know that it might not be quite as bad as you think ... we were pleasantly surprised at how well it went for us! ;) Good luck!

Find something that she really wants (something for a big girl). Tell her that big girls also don't use paci's and that she can buy the item she wants with the paci's. Gather up all the pacifiers she has and take them to the store. Have her give the bag of pacifiers to the clerk as payment for the big girl item she is buying. Make sure she understands that she will not get the pacifiers back, and play up the new big girl toy that she just bought with them. Make sure before you do this that you get the clerk to play along. Good luck!!

It's time for the "binky" fairy. Or, paci..whatever you call it. You gather all paci's and put 'em in a decorative small bag and then she and the family hang it on a tree limb. The next morning there is glitter on the ground, first indicator that YES she arrived! Inside the bag is a grand token of whatever it is she likes. When we did it for our boys, it was match box cars, a couple of them, as they were really loving those at the time. Yep, they were a little older than 3 years old. It works, it's fun! These fairies seem to be everywhere now! When we did it with our oldest grandson, he had just gotten a tiny little infant brother who was using them. He didn't sneak the baby's paci for himself. So, have fun with the glitter on the ground she's left behind, and get her whatever it is she really seems to enjoy right now. The excitement of them seeing the glitter from that fairy and the excitement about what the "fairy" left inside the bag is delightful. Have fun and let us know how it went.

There are a lot of good suggestions here. We did it gradually. We took advantage of situations ... like losing them or not replacing them when they broke. When we got down to two, I told him that he could only use it in bed and in the car. Then I noticed he didn't always use his car one, so when he dropped it on the ground one day, it became conveniently lost. He hasn't had to cry about it at all. I just tell him mater-of-factly that it's lost or whatever.

Lose it or you will have many Dr visits ahead. Just from experience. M.

I agree with the dentist. You can't reason with a three year old. She'll get over it faster than you think. It should have been long gone anyway.