18 Month Appt

Cody went to the Dr & she was a little concerned that he still had a paci. He only has it in the car & bed, but I had it at the appt because I knew he was going to be getting a shot. Cody was in the hospital for 2 days Cristmas week & I knew he would associate the Dr with that. She said it could really hurt his talking & while I don't agree with that I guess it is about time to get rid of it. The twins got rid of theirs at 13 months, but I always felt that Cody was in his room all byhiself & he needed that extra comfort.

Well I took it away after he fell asleep last night. We went to the store this morning & he was looking around in his car seat for it & I gave him a sippy of milk. Seemed to work. We played outside alot this morning & ate a big lunch & then I put him down for his nap. I gave him a new blankie & a Scooby Doo toy instead of his usual burp rag & paci. He stared at me for a minute & I left the room. He is in there doing his usual talking & rolling around. What are some other things I can do to help him adjust? I really think he is still young enough to forget about it in a couple of days, right?

 

we never used pacis but I do have a chronic finger sucker!

I truly think 18 months is not that old to have one for nap times, car rides etc. But that's just me! You are hte momma so you do what you think is right. I dont' think it's harming him at all with his talking if it's just at certain times!

 

I think its great that you are thinking of alternatives to the paci so he doesnt notice it as much. Giving him the sippy, and the new lovey, and toy was a great idea. If he isnt crying for it, I would not give it back to him. It is definitely one of those things that the longer they have it, the harder it is to get rid of! My 2nd DD had hers the longest...until almost 2 yrs, but it was only in the car and at bed/nap time, like you...My mother was a big help in getting rid of it. .My DD would ask for it sometimes but we would just tell her shes a big girl now, and its all gone.
Keep doing what you're doing. I dont think you should have to introduce something new each time he would normally get the paci. Just give him the same blankey and toy, and in the car keep a sippy handy, in case...but he should realize those things are replacing the paci.

 

I havn't tackled this one yet... but my sister has 3 kids who all took the paci. She got each of them off by cutting off the tip of the paci little by little. Each day or two she would cut a lil bit more off. It wouldn't keep suction, and they said it was "broke". By day 4 or 5 they didn't even want it.

 

I've been scared to death thinking about life w/o a binkie! My boys are 1 but only use the binkie in their cribs( naps & nighttime). The problem I have is my son David wakes up 2-4 times a night crying & the binkie is a lifesaver. I dread the day when we have to take it away! My son Nicholas loves his too. Any ideas on how to break this habit? I'm sorry I couldn't help with your question but I'm in the same boat~ you're not alone! Best of luck to you getting rid of the paci. It sounds like he's going to do just fine w/o it!

 

I think its ur choice if u want to get rid of it. But wanted to add about the speech I think its only a problem if u have it all the time, if its just for nap or comfort then I don't think it will affect the speech.

 

My DD just got rid of hers at 2.5 y.o. She kept losing it during the day and it would be a big deal about that fact that she lost it and we needed to find it...... so one day when I found it laying around I put it up. I told her that she lost it again and that she needed to look for it. Of course, she never found it again and is doing fine. When she would ask for it I would just tell her that she lost it.

 

Thanks guys! He took a wonderful nap today without it. He did wake up after about an hour & I knew he was looking for it, but did manage to back to sleep for another 2 hours without it. Now I just have to hope my mil who watches him on thursday doesn't give him the one she has.

 

I can honestly say that doing it now is going to be better int he long run. Especially if he seems okay right now. The longer you wait to take something away, the harder it will be for them. I did away with bottles at night at 2. I thought it was appropriate for us (Since it was only 1 at night). I told them santa took them to other babies. They were fine with it. Now that they are almost 4, they can be rather difficult with regards to anything. Its a hard, hard age, so my advice is to do it when you can. He will never remember being "traumatized" about you taking the binky away. Just tell MIL to throw hers away, or maybe take it when you see her so she's not tempted.

Your doing a good job!

 

My dd was first to really talk and she was the one iwth the plug in her crib only. THey were both delayed in speech though.

 

I took my DD's away right at 18 mos also - she got a cold and couldn't breathe with it in her mouth and I just never gave it back - she was a heavy user though so it took her about a week to adjust but she's fine - every once in a while she'll find an old one and just give it to me or stick it in her mouth and laugh!

 

mine still have thiers in thier cribs, so for sleep only, and trust me it does NOT affect speech for them!!!!

 

I took my older DS's pacifier away when he turned 2 1/2.....I just felt like he was to old for one. He used it all day long, so we had two rough nights, but I kept telling him his binky was all gone and he handled it alot better then I thought. If your DS seems fine without it then I wouldn't give it back. Just take them all away (make sure no one gives him one), and in a few days he will forget all about them. My DS found one the other day, put it in his mouth, and laughed and gave it back to me. I think half the reason my DS had it so long was because I was scared to take it away from him (b/c of the crying) and part of me didn't want to see him without one.

 

Pacifiers are soooo much better than thumbs, so I've never stressed about it. And my worst paci baby spoke in sentences at a year and complete paragraphs at 2. He's now 6, hasn't used a pacifier in 4 years or so, and has lovely teeth... and is still my biggest talker.

If he's coping with it, keep the course! I've had 4 that used paci's and it's been harder with a couple to get rid of them (read: more stressful on both mom and kids). But sometimes, it just takes some redirection, to help them focus on something else. Keep that up for a few days and pretty soon they won't think of it as much. Bedtimes have always been the hardest part of the transition for us, but even then some redirection helps. I would get them a snuggly, rub their back a little longer than normal, etc.

Good luck, and don't stress!

 

My grandsons didn't like paci's so giving them up was not an issue. I see much older children with pacis. I think different pediatricians have different ideas so I would go with what you are comfortable with. I typically took the boys for their appointments or went with their mom to help and their pediatrician wanted them off the bottle around 9 months and using sippies. He said by a year they should be able to drink from a regular glass. I looked at him like he had grown two heads. Every appointment we would go he would ask me and my daughter if we had begun weaning them from the bottle yet. I finally told him - we'll discuss it when they reach a year old and not before. I just think some doctors are in too much of a rush to make them grow up too fast. They have plenty of time.

 

I saw on an episode of SuperNanny one time where the Mom and child mailed his pacifiers to Pacifier Fairy to give to other babies that needed them more than he did (3 years old, I think). It went over VERY well. I think the package actually went to Grandma but was addressed to the Pacifier Fairy and when ever he mentioned wanting his paci, Mom would remind him that they sent all of them to other babies. The next day (after mailing the package) there was a note from the Fairy thanking him and a small prize.

He may be a bit young for that, but I always thought that was a great solution for children with a lingering paci

 

My pedi told me to get rid of the paci to improve speech at 18 months as well. Ironically, when I took it away, he spoke to ask for it. I couldn't NOT give it to him if he's asking, KWIM? He gets it when he asks for it. I just don't think the paci is that big of a deal. It's just a pacifier. My attitude: We have to spend the rest of our lives limiting indulgences, let him have a pacifier.