Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Holy Smokes


Cooper never really took a pacifier. It was my fault. I was afraid to have him take one because I knew someday I'd have to take it away and didn't want to fight that battle. Beckham doesn't take one either, he simply can't keep it in, not that I give him much opportunity to develop the skill. Seneca, however, had one in her mouth the moment I met her... it worked for her, so I didn't object. Well, I did, but not strongly. I like to think my children have the ability to comfort themselves and not be dependent on it. There were rough moments I wish I had a plug, but overall it's been fine with the boys. The dreaded moment has arrived with Seneca. She's completely old enough not to need a pacifier and yet we've still been giving in. It's just so easy! I have kept postponing the paci-snatch citing excuses such as, "it will make the drive so much easier, she'll sleep so much better..."
I've got a thing. Once they're walking and attempting to be talking, I don't think they need it. I don't want it hindering speech and I think it looks lame to see a big kid walking around with a plug in his mouth. Don't worry, I'm not judging anyone imparticular, I just don't want that kid to be mine. I haven't given Seneca hers since we got home sunday night. She has awaken early and not gone back to sleep and she's had some grumpy moments, but the full force of the snatch did not hit until this afternoon. Look out everyone... this girl has lungs!! And she'll use them to protest. Seriously. She's loud. She's learning slowly that her mother can be as stubborn as she is. This, too, will pass. Right??

13 comments:

McKelle said...

You are much braver that I am. I have one of those kids. You saw her. Gwen has her "bink" all of the time, and I hate it! I'm a big sissy, and don't dare to take it away. I know it's stupid. I know she doesn't need it. But I do. I need it. I'll get rid of it... someday. Hopefully before she's three and sees a new baby sucking on what she thinks is HER bink. Good job, and good luck!

KA said...

I like the phase-out method. Start by only letting her have it in bed. Occasionally she may put herself in "paci time" by sitting on her bed when she needs a little fix. But at least she will learn to identify when she needs to remove herself, find comfort, and pull it together before rejoining the world. A valuable skill that I wish I had learned much earlier. Good Luck!

Emily said...

HA! Henry's pacifier or "be-e" as he fondly calls it is really just an extension of his mouth. It's really amazing the things he can do with it in his mouth, he shoves it to the side and gets out full sentences. It probably is time to get rid of it, but, he loves it so and I love the comfort it gives him and the quiet it gives me.

Then there's Emma, whose comfort is attached to her body in the form of her thumb. We've tried to stop that but I think that kid will have to want to do that in her own time before it happens. That or we'll have to chop her thumb off, and I'm not really willing to go there.

Good luck!

Annie said...

I agree. Rid yourself of those bad boys asap. I've done it both ways. Griffin had his until he was almost 3, but we've recently banished Ivies (she's 18 months). The sooner the better. You've got it right. Snaps to you for standing your ground.

annalisa said...

Oh the dreaded pacifier. I too dislike seeing 3-year-olds carting around with one. But it's easier than getting rid of thumbs. Alexis was 18 months when I finally could not take one more day of her pacifier. I had her buy a purse with hers and that worked. Good luck with the cold turkey!

Scrap Happy said...

I'm sure you've heard the cutting off the tip trick - then she can focus her energy on being mad at the binky and not at you.

The Silly Witch said...

I have no credible advice in this area because all of my kids have been pacifier deniers from quite early on so I never bothered with it. But I say, stick with it. If you really want to get rid of it, don't hesitate, don't hold back. She's gonna get over it, but you have to realize that you probably will not sit through sacrament meeting, a movie, or anything, for a very very long time. And she might need extra hugs.

The Hunt's said...

I obviously have no valid advice on this topic, but I think for the sake of not being mean, you're supposed to "wean", don't just cut the poor thing off cold turkey! Meanie! Send her to me, I will help her.

Karen said...

I kept waiting to take Payton's pacifier away, because I did not want her to start sucking her thumb, but as soon as she turned two she lost it in the car and she really did okay without it. The first few days are hard, but after that it gets better. hang in there.

Kristi said...

From experience, cold turkey is rough, but it finally worked. I think with Ely I will try to start taking it away unless he is sleepy. Quite often he just holds it as a comfort anyway. Good luck!!!

Annika said...

When I took Ivory's away it was so sad, she cried and cried. But after a few suicidal moments during naps and a week of long drawn out crying before she finally fell asleep at night it was really quite easy. The hardest part is church, the plug used to keep her quiet, ever since I took hers away a year ago, church is quite the circus! Good Luck!

Stephens Family said...

Ah, I love all of this advice because we too are going to have to rid Dylan of that darn bink! He really is an addict! I am one of those losers that asks my peditrician about everything. I wanted to get him off the bink and then the accident happened. It was the only thing other than his blanket that was familiar to him. Our doctor said no rush with it. So, we are going to give him a bit more time, but when the time comes, I'll be looking for help! : ) Good luck and GO Seneca! You are a big girl!

Sandi said...

You are right, it will pass. I had to break a blankee and a thumb. The blankee was okay because we could reason and say you can have it in the car, but you can't take it to Church,etc. The thumb was harder because when sleep came the thumb went in. We bribed with a pair of boots and it worked at the age of 7. A confession later about one sneak and a guilty conscience still makes me smile.