When the medical profession speak, I listen! But boy, oh boy, is it hard being a good student when you are faced with the sweet face of your toddler begging for his pacifier (or binky) or even worse screaming his head off and you know if you plop in that “dreaded” pacifier the world will once again be a blissfully peaceful and happy place.
Wouldn't this picture have been cuter without the pacifier?
My blatantly obvious “secret” is that my twin boys who are a couple of months older than two still use their pacifier. At our two year check up the Physician’s assistant said, “Get rid of it now. Today. Immediately.” Two months later we are still the proud owners of a handful of binkies, which we often hunt for during the night, to soothe the crying babe.
It wasn’t always like this – in the first two months of the twins’ lives I refused to give into their cries because the lactation consultant said that the young infants might take the pacifier instead of the breast, and it was hard enough keeping my milk supply up for the twins.
I am still torn between taking it away from the boys or letting them get rid of it when they are ready. What do you think?
The most common methods of removal seem to be:
1. Say another kid/binky fairy/ fill in the blank needed it more than they did and they now own it.
OR
2. Cut a little hole in the top so that suction is no longer the same. Apparently they will decide they no longer like it and they throw it away themselves.
Have you tried any of these methods?
Supposedly the best time to get rid of the pacifier is when the child is between 4-6 months old. Let me tell you, I will probably be doing that the next time (if there is a next time) to save myself this agony. Pacifiers might cause the child to need orthodontic services when they are older, and may cause speech delay – two serious concerns.
Shouldn’t that be reason enough for me to toss the offenders? Well, yes AND no. The honest truth is we are working on it. For the last ten days we have only been using the binky for naps and at bedtime. The first day was rough but not unbearable. And now they happily hand over the binky to us when we explain to them it’s only to be used in bed. Not bad right?
"Don't mess with me ma!" Back in the day...
Our problem lies in the sleep issues. We still haven’t perfected the sleeping (story of my life) and right now the binky is the only thing that keeps them in bed. And not even that is a guarantee.
So you see, I am not a prefect mommy (disappointing, I know).
I will try to get rid of them in March… doesn’t that sound like a plan 
Maybe I will surprise us by doing it sooner!
Got our binkys!
Anyway, wish me luck as I work my way through all those disapproving raised eyebrows of my fellow mommies when they see these (very tall for their age) toddlers with their pacifiers.
Any thoughts, tips, or advice?
Here’s hoping for a binky free 2013!!
You’ll probably find this hard to believe, but none of my 6 kids ever took a pacifier. I just never gave them one. So, although I don’t have any advice for you, I do sympathize. I’m pretty sure all 6 were on the bottle far longer than recommended lol! And don’t even ask me about the little guy who I still find in my bed a couple days a week (i.e. don’t ask me for sleeping advice lol). Hang in there momma, you’ll make it through. Don’t worry about judgmental mommies, do what’s right for you and your adorable little guys.
Christina – thanks for this
You are one lucky mama to have avoided this battle SIX times! 
No advice really. I was probably a bad Mum as I let you decide when you were ready to give it up. You threw it out of the car window when you were two and a half! You were so proud of yourself, and that was the end of it!
Mum good story but I think that was my sister
Love you – the best mom I ever had!
Willpower. That’s what I believe in. It’s like wanting to give up smoking. You cant cut down. It does not work. Just give it up. Finished. !
Yes, thanks Oupa – good advice. But making sure we are ready for change is the hardest part!
Sista…..I believe you have to do what is good for both you and the babas. Raising kids is not easy, challenging yet rewarding at times. Everyone raises their kids differently, have different values and beliefs. I believe books can help to a degree, but don’t believe you should follow every baby book to the letter, as each child is different and I’m sure you’ll agree that kids have different personalities, and one thing may work for MDM, but might not necessarily CEM. Well done on going 10 days with binkies only at bed times, that’s a HUGE achievement.
Well said Sista! Books can be invaluable resources, but it’s definitely good to combine it all and do what works for you. Thanks – we are doing strong work of just keeping it for naps and bed time
I feel for you. And I totally understand. Is it a battle WORTH fighting, at least right now?
At least you are only dealing with the pacifiers for now.. I have a child who will be 4 in a couple weeks. He STILL has at least one bottle of milk a day, AND is not potty trained.
While I’ve been telling him the bottle MUST go when he is a big boy (4), potty training is a harder situation. We attempted it, and he freaked and stopped pooping for a few weeks. I felt it wasn’t worth the hassle. Personally peer pressure will help in this case. Most older kids don’t have diapers on.
My grandmother always reassured my mom that my brother would not go to kindergarten in diapers (he didn’t, and he was hard to potty train). I’ve heard girls are easier in this case.
Although, my oldest is a thumb sucker too. lol I tell you he’s got all the late things, while my youngest is already interested in the toilet (he’s 2, doesn’t suck his thumb or take a bottle)
Ahh the joys of parenting. My thoughts on the matter personally? If you feel the need to do it, do it. YOU have to be the one motivated to take on the challenge and not relent once you start (they sense it when you aren’t truly serious about stopping whatever it is). If you are not ready, don’t bother. Your children aren’t going to suffer all that much from it, and they WILL give it up one day.
Thanks so much for sharing Sarah, and being so honest. I can’t imagine my child not pooping for a few weeks – that would freak me out too and definitely stall the process. It just goes to show how individual and sensitive our little ones are and how we need to throw out the books sometimes. I have a friend whose son wore diapers until he started school, came home and was embarrassed and said “Mom, the diaper has to go”. Probably the only time peer pressure can be good
Stay strong mama and I will do the same!
I just went through this and what worked for us was we started by letting go of the daytime pacifier (at 1 year old actually). For the nighttime pacifier, we went on vacation and when we came back I explained to the girls that the paci was still in cousin’s house. They understood but it was hell to pay. One eventually accepted and went to sleep without it, the second is still making a fuss 2 months later.
I agree with PP, you’ll need a healthy dose of willpower (or Jack Daniels or both)
In my opinion, you’re on the right track. The boys recently switched to beds. They’re discovering verbal language, and their physical agility is growing. Why mess with the comforts of sleep?
When my oldest was three (yes, three), we made him give up his paci (he called it bodidi) during the day. He’d put it in a basket on the kitchen counter and get it again at nap time and bedtime. If he needed a “fix” during the day, we allowed it but only if he sat in the quiet chair. One day, he got his paci, went to the quiet chair, and fell sound asleep — took a serious three hour nap curled up in a ball. He never asked for it again.
I think when they’re ready, they’re ready. If you force it, they’ll switch to nail biting or pencil chewing or some other oral fixation.
When Ellie was four, and still firmly attached to her thumb (she sucked so hard it turned white), I bought her an adorable, girlie girl frilly princess nightgown. She loved it! BUT, it hung on the curtain rod until she was a “big girl” who didn’t need her thumb anymore. Every day she asked if she could wear it, and I’d respond with, “Did you suck your thumb today?” She dropped her head, drama queen style, and then put on her footie jammies. After about a month, she ran to our room one morning squealing, “Look at my thumb. It’s not white!!! I can wear my nightgown now.” She never sucked her thumb again. When they’re ready, they’re ready!
XO
Chill girlfriend. They are wonderful boys. A bit of plastic does not matter. I know the orthodontic issues are worrisome, but the pacifiers are easier to give up than thumb-sucking. All in their own good time.
Thanks Mary – You are right
But I have been avoiding the dentist. I do need to make their check up appointment…