need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

We took my sons pacifier away at 26 months old. He only used it at nap and night but very attached. Im due in a month and dont want him to have it. We took it away on friday night. Had him give his pacifiers to his cousin and that was it. Had a hard time gwtting him to sleep after that and its been the same since. He wont lay down in bed and now wants me to sleep with him. Could really use some help. He refuses to nap and find that he will fall aslerp in the car but its late in the afternoon and makrs it hard for him to go down at night. He used to grab his blanket and pacifier and be to bed in 10 minutes. Now its 1- 1 1/2 hpurs and we need to lay with him. Please provide suggestions other than giving the pacifier back. Thanks.

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

The good news is you are through worst of it. The first few days were the hardest. You only have a few more before it will be a distant memory & you'll gasp when you see him see someone else with a pacifier & cross your fingers he doesn't ask again.

We took Joseph's pacifier away about 2 years old. He thrashed around trying to put himself to sleep, he was cranky like a newly reformed smoker for about a week.

Other than patting him to sleep, I didn't do anything. Then I needed to wean him from the patting, which was easier than I expected. I told him I needed to go potty or check on Daddy & would be back to check on him. The first few nights I did come back to check on him, would lay down & make another excuse & then when I checked on him again, he was usually sleeping.

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

We did DD's right around 28 months. The night we moved her into her new bedroom and into a toddler bed from the crib, we took away the paci.

She asked for it once but it seemed like she 'got' the whole big girl thing - new bed, new room, no paci anymore.

Is there any way you could play up the "big boy" aspect?

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

We took my son's paci away right after he turned 3....so even later. My son took it hard. He stopped napping completely (although he was pretty much done at that point only here or there but once the paci was gone - he'd try for like 3 seconds and say he can't). Nights were terrible for a couple weeks and little by little it got easier. We had let him keep a broken paci - had no nipple and he started using that to rub his cheek and fall asleep. We wouldn't lay with him. Kin dof kept our usual routine while our hearts broke listening to him cry and say he'd never sleep again. He'd scream for a long time and he was very exhausted for a long time (took some long car rides for a bit to help him catch up). Every night it got better and better. We'd try not to draw focus to it and just let it be. I'd try the big boy angle that another poster mentioned. I know a few people's who's kids responded to that well (although all I knew were girl's who had success with that). My son could care less that he was a big boy - he just wanted his paci back and said he liked being a baby! ANother idea is to work with a reward....still young so many not totally get it - but maybe a fish for his room?? I know a couple people who did that.

Message edited 6/1/2010 10:34:44 AM.

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

Well we lasted 5 days. Dh made me give back a pacifier. He did not nap today and we were going on 1 hour of him getting out of bed non stop. I wanted to stick it out. Tried the big boy angle but it didnt matter. Now i have to go buy pacifiers tonight because we only have one. When i gave him it back he was confused and said baby david took it. Now what the heck do i do? The baby is due in 1 month and im going to have to worry about him trying to use her pacifiers.

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

No advice as DS had his till just before his 4th birthday. I never had the heart to take it away, he (and I) NEEDED to sleep and that was the only thing that got him to sleep. At this point, its his comfort item, and if he only uses it for naps and at bedtime, then who is he harming? I would give it back to him and let him self-wean when he is ready.

Just my opinion though.

Edited because I just read what you wrote the 2nd time:

Make sure that you buy COMPLETELY different pacifiers for the new baby, that way there is no confusion. There is always the chance that your new LO will not take the paci anyway.

Good luck!

Message edited 6/1/2010 7:32:54 PM.

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

we're doing this this month when jacen turns 2. Happy birthday to him- no more pacifiers!

I plan on using a needle and poking holes in them first. Going to see how that goes and maybe he'll want to throw them out himself. I'm hoping he'll surprise me and do better than i expect.

But i'm starting with the holes and then going cold turkey if that doesn't work.

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

No advice but I hope it doesn't last long for you!!

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

I am grappling with the same issue. DD is almost 18 months, has a baby brother on the way in 3 weeks, and we were REALLY hoping to have her off the paci by the time DS gets here.

I think for my sanity, I'm going to wait a little longer to try to take it away. She also only uses it to sleep/nap.

As one of the OP said, I went out and bought completely different pacis for the new baby. I've seen DD try to steal other childrens' Soothies right outta their mouths so it seemed like a good idea to get ones that look different--she seems to leave those alone.

I don't know HOW we're going to get DD off the paci, she is really addicted

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

I wouldn't buy anymore - if he loses that one then they are all gone.

We got the 2nd baby a different color soothie and Colin never takes it at all - only to put it in the baby's bed :)

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

Baby david is his cousin. I know the elmo book talks about baby david. Too funny.

As for pacifiers i bought 2 pk of latex and on silicone. Hes content with them again and when i gave it back to him he was so cute saying baby david took it. Totally confused. Going to wait a could months after the baby arrives and start with popping a hole then cutting the tip. Seems like he needs a slow transition. Dd on the other hand was over it at 16 months after 2 days. Since hes older he has formed such an attachment. Based upon the moms ive spoken to boys are harder to take pacifiers away from for some reason.

Re: need help from btdt moms who took pacifier away at 2 yrs old

Baby david is his cousin. I know the elmo book talks about baby david. Too funny.

As for pacifiers i bought 2 pk of latex and on silicone. Hes content with them again and when i gave it back to him he was so cute saying baby david took it. Totally confused. Going to wait a could months after the baby arrives and start with popping a hole then cutting the tip. Seems like he needs a slow transition. Dd on the other hand was over it at 16 months after 2 days. Since hes older he has formed such an attachment. Based upon the moms ive spoken to boys are harder to take pacifiers away from for some reason.