Taking away the paci?

I took DS to the ped yesterday for his 5 month checkup (he's 5 1/2 months). She said I should think about taking away the pacifier next month because it's a lot easier to do it now rather then waiting until later. I can't imagine doing it so soon, but I do know it is really hard to do it later. He just started taking a lovie so I'm thinking maybe he will use tha to soothe himself. Has anyone successfully taken it away this early?? I feel so mean even thinking about it

Message edited 3/10/2009 12:54:53 PM.

Re: Taking away the paci?

Doctor's opinions seem to vary on this one.

Everything I have read says it is easier to give it up earlier rather that later.

However, my Doctor said he wouldn't be worried about it that early, that she still needed soothing and that he didn't see the harm in letting her have it until she is 15-18 months.

At our last well visit he said it was probably a good idea to think about phasing it out. DD is now 19 months and we are going to get rid of it at the end of the month-she just changed daycares and I want her to have the extra soothing until she is more comfortable there.

Re: Taking away the paci?

I took it away at 7 months--it went smoother than I thought and if I would have waited until he was older I know it would have been a nightmare

Re: Taking away the paci?

I personally would never do it that early. Both my girls were off it at 12 months.

My oldest was fine giving it up at 12 months. My youngest was a little harder. All I did for her was slowly cut the nipple shorter and shorter(on all her paci's) until she no longer wanted them. It worked great and only took about 1 week .

Re: Taking away the paci?

That sounds really early & teething is just kicking in at that point too. My ped said to do it b4 18 months b/c after that it gets very hard. We stopped it at just about 18 months & it was 3 rough days but has been fine ever since.

I think this time around I'd stop around 12 months.

Re: Taking away the paci?

My DD used it until she was almost 3. We had no issues taking it away.

Re: Taking away the paci?

it's up to you if you want to take it away that early. I personally waited until a little past the year. Not too far after we weened her off of the bottle did we take away the paci. We just kept threw them all out except for one and told her this was the only one left. She kept it for a while until she lost it and hasn't looked back since.

Re: Taking away the paci?

The thought of taking the paci away gives me palpitations and DD is 13 months old.. 14 next week. I know I need to get started on it, but I never would have considered it that young.

My DD will spit one paci out just to put a different one in her mouth. She LOVES it!

Re: Taking away the paci?

Re: Taking away the paci?

Only 1 of my children ever used a pacifier, and he gave it up all on his own when he was almost 4. I never thought to take it away, and my ped never said that we should. He only used it at night.

Re: Taking away the paci?

My DS jsut stopped using his about two weeks ago. He will be 27 months next week. We tried a couple of times and the PED said to take it away but, he wasn't ready and either were we. He was teething really bad with molars and I figured I would start taking it away after that but,he did it first.
I think it is really up to you but, 6 months is way too early in my opinion.

Re: Taking away the paci?

My son had it until he was 2. We gave it to DORA at his 2nd b-day party cold turkey and it worked!