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Breaking the habit: Getting rid of the Binky!

NUK Genius Silicone BPA Free Pacifier, Size 1, 1 Pack, Colors May VaryI’m not too sure how I felt about giving my daughter a pacifier when she was born. One part of me thought that since sucking provides comfort for babies, maybe it’s not such a  bad thing. Another part of me felt that it’s a habit – we will have to break it at some point and I didn’t want her to be dependent on anything.
I brought a few pacifiers to the hospital with me. I knew I was going to try to breastfeed and they might interfere with that, but it didn’t hurt to have them with me. Lactation nurses suggested not to use them, especially because we were having latch problems. This went on for two days (I was in the hospital for five) and I finally gave in to my crying, unsatisfied baby and gave her a pacifier. To my own surprise (and no nurse believed me) giving her a pacifier helped her latch on! I would give her the pacifier and then take it out and replace it with the boob – and it worked!
NUK Genius Silicone BPA Free Pacifier, Size 2, 6+ Months, 1 Pack, Colors May VaryI stopped giving her a pacifier when we came home because she didn’t seem to want it and I was ok with that. a week later she became very colicky and we were all miserable for weeks. I didn’t know how to console my baby and she didn’t know that mommy needed a break. I tried a different pacifier based on a recommendation and she loved it. The night that I introduced it, she slept the entire night and continued to sleep through the night until she was about 4 months old.
Fast forward a year later and she weaned herself (or so I thought) from the nasty bink habit. She didn’t ask for it – I didn’t give it to her. This worked for about 3 days and one evening she decided she wanted it again. At 2am hubby and I couldn’t deal anymore and gave in. She fell asleep immediately and her habit became worse. She would cry for her binky all day and couldn’t sleep without it at night. I never allowed her to have it during the day and always kept it out of site.
NUK Genius Silicone BPA Free Pacifier, 18 Months , 1 Pack, Colors May VaryA few fays ago she came into my room without her pacifier (she’s in a toddler bed so she can climb out and walk into my room in the morning. I decided this was a great opportunity since she did not ask for it at all. When it came time for a nap in the afternoon she asked me for it – I told her that Daddy had it and would bring it for her later. She rolled over and fell asleep without asking for it again. That evening she asked for it again, and this time I told her that her grandmother had it and we would get it from her in the morning. Again, she didn’t fuss or cry and fell asleep. I notice that it takes her a lot longer to fall asleep without the pacifier – but I’m hoping that will change as soon as she get’s used to not having it. I have heard a lot of advice about pacifiers, but every baby is different. I couldn’t get rid of it sooner without tears – because the level of understanding was not there. What are your breaking the habit stories?

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  3. When I had kids I heard all of this horror stories. I was very blessed in that my kids didn't have a hard time. My youngest lost his one day when he was about 11 months and never seemed to care. My daughter was a little tougher. We took it away at 6 months during the day. She could have it at nap time and night time. Then I started cutting the tip back. When she was 18 months she broke her shoulder at the growth plate so we gave her a new one. Once she was healed, she threw her own bink away and never looked back.

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  6. That brings back so many memories. My kids (teens now) are 20 months apart. When I was trying to ween my son (the oldest) from his binky, he would always end up with a pink binky in his mouth. His baby sister's, of course! Those were the days!
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  8. My Son never took a pacifier however my daughter did when she slept. At 18 months or so we would call the pacifier her "yucky" by the age of 2 she decided she didn't need that yucky thing anymore. Girls are extremely easy!!

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  9. Hi, It's Angela from Mommy Time Out. Thanks for your comment:) I actually bought her dress from Costco. Not sure if they're still carrying them though:S Good luck finding Minnie decorations. We had to use Mickey plates and tablecloth b/c we couldn't find Minnie anywhere in Toronto:( It all worked out though. She loves Mickey too:)

  10. We got rid of our pacifiers on the first dental appointment. I explained that we had to give them to the dentist because his first appointment meant he was a big guy now. I made him hand the bag over to the dentist. That was it. He only asked for it once and then we were done!

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  12. When my kids were born I asked my brother-in-law and he is a dentist and he said to give them a soother so they don't suck their thumb – it can do more damage. My first daughter had just turned 2 and then we suggested that she 'mail' them to her baby cousin. We made a big deal of decorating the envelope and daddy pretended to mail them. She never looked back. My second daughter gave hers up all by herself shortly after her first birthday. My son is only 8 months so he still has his but I am starting to limit it to nap and bedtime. Hopefully he is as easy!

  13. My son used one until he was 2. So many of his early pictures feature a pacifier front and center. I knew that I wanted him done by 2. But, we were flying to FL right around that time, so I extended a little maybe. Knew it would make things easier on the plane. All of his binkys started getting really gross, so I think I just took them away cold turkey at night and naps. We had weaned him during the day. I have heard that some people cut a little bit off the end until they just won't take it again. My daughter never took one. There were lots and lots of time I wished she would have. BTW, thanks for stopping by the "Sit & Relax" hop last weekend. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back!! See you next weekend!

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