My daughter grew frustrated with her parents and had boiled over into a major fuss event.
It was time to request the end-all-fuss instrument:
"Binky! Binky!"
Since turning 17 months old, my daughter had developed quite a vocabulary, which sadly included the name of the pacifier that we were desperately trying to limit to only sleep times.
It had grown to be a crutch for both parents and toddler in our household, used to quiet church fussing, speed up nighttime soothing and, yes, end tantrums.
Parents.com reports that the American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends pacifier use during a child's first year, as it decreased the likelihood of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
We also found them extremely important on flights to minimize ear pain during takeoff and landing.
While I was trying to convince my husband that we could do a gradual transition to no-pacifier, our daughter decided to have a full-blown tantrum.
She only stopped screaming to utter "Binky" desperately.
That settled it. Every household pacifier was suddenly out of our daughter's reach/view.
We were only about a year behind: Parents.com's article says pediatricians recommend beginning the weaning process at ages 8-12 months.
Weaning tips:
Request cutting back use at daycare: Our daughter is more active and therefore more ready to nap at daycare, so it is easier for her to get to sleep without assistance.
Only when necessary: Do not leave pacifiers where your little explorer can find and use them on her own.
Limiting use to nap and bedtime is a good start.
Divert her attention: "Binky" sounds a lot like "blanket," so we acted like she was saying a different word. We would also try to keep her as active as possible during the day, so that she would be ready to sleep quickly by bedtime.
Cold turkey for babies: Parents.com recommends replacing a pacifier with a blanket or stuffed animal. By age 2, a more gradual weaning will be necessary.
Some nights, she sleeps well and wakes up on time, happy and rested.
Other nights, she wakes up early, crying and frustrated.
However, she no longer yells "Binky" at us the moment she starts crying.
It's a start.
Althea Peterson 918-581-8361
althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com
