ByeByeBinky

The title of this post is actually in tribute to a website I found with detailed instructions on how to 'help' baby give up the 'binky'.

When Meera first entered our lives I did not plan to give her a pacifier. I was not exactly against the idea but neither did I consider it something I would offer to her. But after a few weeks I began to realise than Meera was one of those babies than needed to suck (ALOT!). And since I was breastfeeding I essentially was being used as a pacifier! Initially it wasn't too bad but after sitting thru many nursing session that lasted 45 minutes I decided enough was enough! And so we introduced the pacifier. Over time I made sure that she only had it for sleeping times. A part of me worried about the day I would have to stop using the pacifier but at the time it was a god send!

After she turned 1, I figured it was time to let the pacifier go. However I knew it was going to be tough. I started search for suggestions on how to go about it (the internet was filled with ideas). There were basically 3 ways:

1. Cold turkey
2. Cutting the pacifier
3. Cooking up a story for your child (pacifier fairy, giving it to another baby, exchanging it for a toy...the options were endless!)

Option 3 was not really feasible. Meera is only 1 so I highly doubt a 'story' would be understood let alone work. This left me with option 1 and 2. As I was doing my 'research' I found a site detailing the exact steps to take for option 2. As I read it I admit I was a bit skeptical since they made it sound so easy. But I figured I had nothing to loose. If it didn't work I was going to have to take the cold turkey approach so it wouldn't matter if the pacis got mutilated in the process.

I decided to start this 'project' last Friday. So on Thursday night I took 2 pacis (Meera has 6 of 'em) and made a few holes in them. The next morning I put them in her crib for her nap. She took it and didn't seem to notice. Hmmm... I wondered if maybe it felt the same to her?

According to the site you are suppose to let the baby use these pacis for 2 days and on the 3rd day you are suppose to snip of a bit of the end of the paci. Well after Meera adjusted so well to the paci without holes, I decided to snip of the end the following day. So on Saturday I started the day with 2 other pacis with the ends cut off. I gave it to her after her bath just to see what she would do with it. She definitely noticed the difference. It kept falling out of her mouth...guess it was harder to suck? She'd pick it up and put it into her mouth but after a while she didn't bother anymore.

So when it was time for her nap I just put her to bed as usual. After a few minutes she started to cry. I guess this time the paci was too different. So I went in to her room, picked her up and sang a bit. Then put her down and left. She grumbled a bit but within minutes it was quiet. And she slept! Hurrah!

We went out in the afternoon so she missed her 2nd nap. I didn't bring any pacis along with us (she sometimes uses it for the car ride). We got home pretty late and Jing put her to bed. Had to rock her for a while but she managed to fall asleep by herself. I left the 'broken' paci in her crib but she made no move to get it. I expected her to wake up in the middle of the night searching for her paci but surprisingly she slept thru the whole night.

The next day was Sunday. She made it without the paci. I guess she has been weaned...

I must say it went a lot smoother than I expected. I'm not sure if the site helped? Maybe the holes made enough of a difference to her. Or maybe she was just ready to give it up...

Whatever it is, I will definitely be recommending it people. After all...it can't hurt.