Taking away pacifier

[Fizzyfefe]

How old was your little one when you took it away? How did you do it? Why did you do it?

Also, just because it could make a difference, is your baby fed by breast, bottle, or cup?

 

[Button#]

My DS only had it at night and for naps from around 6 months. He gave it up himself at 2 years 10 months. A good time to get rid of it is when they have a cold because they tend not to use it anyway as they can't breathe through their noses and so they can't suck it. My DS was breastfed until 21 months.

 

[MindUtopia]

We did it at 2 years (though she only had it at night and sometimes for daytime naps when she was at nursery, never when she was awake). We just took it away completely one night when we were putting her to bed and that was it. It did mean that bedtimes were rough for about 4 days and her sleep was disrupted during the night for maybe a week or two, but I just stayed with her and cuddled as long as she needed to get ready to sleep and we bedshare at night anyway, so she had cuddles during the night whenever she needed them. The reason we did it then was because I felt like her language skills were developed enough that she could understand what was happening. We talked about it and she understood that "dummy was gone". Being able to explain it and have her really understand what was happening I think made it a lot easier and more gentle. If we use a dummy next time, I'd probably wait until around the same age. She was breast and then bottle fed when she was a baby, but by the time we took it away she'd had only cups for a year.

 

[StaceyKor]

Dd1 never had a dummy. Dd2 loves hers but we are just about to try to take it away. She is 13 months. If she sees it, she will ask for it. She doesnt need it when she's sleeping (uses it for maybe 5 mins until she's properly asleep then spits it out). We keep it behind her in the cot and she picks it up in the morning when she wakes. She also has it for naps. We are now hiding them out of sight through the day so she cant see it so doesnt ask. I am going to take it away for naps first (as i dont want her screaming to sleep at night and waking dd1 if she's already asleep). I figure once she is settling for naps without it she will settle at night too soon after. Tbh our main problem is her seeing them lying around and picking them up so hiding them through the day is the best option xx

 

[angelwings7]

My DS used his dummy for naps and night time only. We took it away when he was 6 months old it took 2 days. I replaced it with a lovey (stuffed animal attached to a blanket). We did it because he was waking up constantly for it at night.

 

[bdb84]

I took DS's paci away at 11 months. It was a breeze as he only used it for sleeping. It took a few nights of more cuddles to help him get to a drowsy state, but there was no crying over it. He was formula fed.

DD1 never took one, and DD2 weaned herself off of hers by 3 months of age.

 

[Gym knickers]

We just took my eldest little girls away at 2y7m and she was fab. She's only ever had it for naps and at night but was very attached and would look for it when upset etc. she cried for a few hours but hasn't mentioned it since about day 3- it hasn't affected her sleep at all yet.
Our little one still has hers but I breastfeed her to sleep and only give it to her if she wakes in the night and feeding her doesn't do it. So really just in case of emergency. I'm trying to cut it right down so she can give it up around 1.

 

[k4th]

My DS used his dummy for naps and night time only. We took it away when he was 6 months old it took 2 days. I replaced it with a lovey (stuffed animal attached to a blanket). We did it because he was waking up constantly for it at night.

Exactly this with dd. She literally woke every 30 minutes one night!

Ds currently has a dummy & I'm hoping to get rid of it before 6 months too

 

[Fizzyfefe]

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I was hoping that I was not the only one taking away the pacifier so early. But he was waking all the freaking time for it. I counted twelve times one night, and that was the last straw! We are now on day three without it.

 

[SpringCrane]

Did anyone have trouble with your older child wanting a younger sibling's pacifier? My son is 25 months and an avid paci user. Night and nap, and he asks for it during the day all the time (we hide them). We try to limit his use if he's not sleeping or in the car seat, but I'm dealing with pretty bad morning sickness right now and I don't always have the energy to fight him wanting it for some quiet time during the day.

I was talking to my mom about weaning him from it soon, but she mentioned it might be pointless if the coming baby takes one too. We can lean on the "big boy" and "baby" difference, but I'm a little uncomfortable with it because I don't want him to think he's not my baby still or that being a big brother forces him to grow up in ways he's not ready for...

He's pediatrician says don't mess with it if he's sleeping well, which he is. But, not to compare children, he's the only kid we know his age that uses one and I feel like I'm doing something wrong by allowing it still... Especially when I give in and allow it during wake times.

I was a very avid thumb sucker until about 6, so he comes by his oral fixation honestly...