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Pacifiers....to pacify or not...that is the question
Your child is getting ready to go to school, and they want their pacifier. You try to explain that big boys and girls don't take the pacifier to school, but they insist and start to throw a temper tantrum that the neighbors can here. What do you do?? There is a very good reason why a pacifier is called such. Children use them to soothe and calm themselves, especially at bed time. But how do you break that habit? It is important to remember that babies are born with the innate ability to suck and newborns rely on this instinct not only for sustenance, but also for soothing. This is the only mechanism young infants possess for controlling their distress. Introducing a pacifier at a stage after your infant has mastered the art of breastfeeding is relatively harmless. Relatively, means that it is not entirely harmless. Some things to think about when introducing a pacifier:
So, how do you help your child break the pacifier habit? There are several ways, and I will give them all to you, and then you can decide which will work best for your child.Pacifiers, Blankets, Bottles, and Thumbs : What Every Parent Should Know About Starting and Stopping Day 1: In the morning and at bedtime, tell your child that you can see he/she wants to do lots of thing that make her older. Tell her that's a good idea, and that in three days it will be time for her to say good bye to her pacifiers. Tell her you know she can do it and that you will work together on it. Day 2: Repeat day 1. Make sure you are matter of fact about it, not asking for permission. Day 3: Remind your child that is is day three and time to gather up the pacifiers. Make it fun, like a scavenger hunt and ask your child to help. Place all the pacifiers in a plastic bag and put them on the front step for pick up. Explain that the pacifiers will go to make other things, or that another baby will use them. I used this method with my son, and because I prepped him, he was ready, and never asked for the pacifier again. The gradual approach is when you remove the pacifier during non stress situations. Eliminate the need for it outside of the house, then eliminate the need for it outside of bedtime, then eventually no need for it at all. Whichever method you use, you need to be prepared for some crying, but don't give in. Some children will handle it with no problems, like my son, while others may carry on for 5 or more nights about it. Remember...no one receives a diploma with a pacifier in their mouth, and this too shall pass!
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by Mark L. Brenner says that your child can be pacie free in just three days. I will present an overview, but for more details, I suggest you buy the book, which is excellent.