[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Originally Posted by Linny

I was surprised to read previously that someone's ped stated pacifiers could encourage ear infections?????

Our pediatrician stated that sucking action actually HELPED ear infections---and we found that to be true for two of our children.



Linny

Ours too. There are also studies that suggest babies who take a pacifier to sleep are at less risk for SIDS....so they have their pluses. And I agree that we make them grow up WAY too fast.

[KIC1975]

I cut off the end of the paci. My son's dentist said the main problem is the suction and if you cut the end then the suction is gone. Then I gradually cut more and more every few days until all that was left was the handle.
At first he handed it back and told me it was broken. But I said that's just the way it is and that was that. Worked well.
Good luck.

[Adopted-B-4]

I have twins. One was weaned way before the other. Our pediatrician and dentist gone by age 2, but that didn't happen. One was willing to give it up and only used it to fall asleep at night and then we took it out and he never cried for it, he never used it any other time. The other was completely addicted. I had to wean when he could have it to only in bed but he would sneak and get it so I put it in a childproof drawer. So, they worked together, one braced his feet on the bottom cabinet and pulled the drawer open while the other stuck his hand in and got the pacifier out. Anyway, point is, I was scared to take it away cold turkey since he was so crazy about it. I felt like it should be more of his decision and he wasn't easy to reason with. Finally, 4 days before his 3rd birthday, he said he was too big and never asked for it again (except a couple of times when he woke up during the night and had a bad dream but he didn't get it).

[arubagirl]

my DD started getting the "arch" look to her top teeth from usinfgthe pacifire to much. I finally just cut all the nipples off of them and she had no choice... it was hard for a day or so but she was ol enough to understand they no longer "worked" ( she was just over 2 years old)

[chrisandaaron]

We just went through this with my boys (both 2 1/2). First we made them for sleeping only. After 6-8 weeks DH asked them to gather up all the paci's and put them in a bag. He then told them they were big boys and it was time to throw them away. And they did! I was shocked. (Of course he dug the bag out of the trash and put them in a cupboard just in case). I thought for sure it would be a nightmare come bedtime. Turns out they both asked a couple times, I reminded them that they threw them away, and they went to sleep. They asked about them for a few days, but never fussed much when I told them they were gone. It was much easier than I expected. I must admit.. I thought DH was crazy for using the "let's throw them away" method.. but it actually worked very well.

[Saya]

I just wanted to bump this up and give an update - so far so good! We finally agreed it was time to wean, but felt that she just wasn't old enough to understand the "Paci Fairy" thing. But she DOES get the idea of something being "broken" and that if something is too broken you can't use it anymore. So, we cut off the tip a few days ago - she noticed it was broken, and we said that sometimes when you had things like the pacifier for a long time they started to break, and if it got REALLY broken it wouldn't work any more. We did that a couple of times, until yesterday there really wasn't anything left. She saw it, said "new one!" - we went out to a (previously vetted) drug store, showed her they didn't have the pacis she uses, and said "oh well, we'll look for a new one tomorrow." She had a few pensive moments throughout the evening about it, but mostly took it in stride.

Then came the scary part - would she sleep? Well it took her longer to fall asleep, and she woke up a little earlier in the morning than usual, but in general, last night was SO much less problematic then I had been afraid of!

This morning at one point she fell and bumped her foot (walking around in my knee-high boots!), and her eyes teared up and I saw her lips start to ask for her pacifier - and then suddenly she remembered and closed her mouth and looked a little sad and a little thoughtful as I gave her a big hug. It made me sad, and yet so proud of her resiliency.

My husband is checking out a couple more stores today to see if they have her brand (they've been discontinued, so I think we're off the hook), and if she asks we'll go on another "search" for them this afternoon.

So we'll see what happens over the next week or so, but so far she's doing amazingly well. I wanted to thank you all for your great advice and support!

[finallyamom0310]

Glad it is working. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that it continues to work.

[chrisandaaron]

Glad it is going well!

My kids have a dentist appt. tomorrow and I am so excited to tell them we have weaned the pacifiers! When they suggested it 8 months ago, I thought "Yeah right, are you nuts?". I may have even said that to the lady.