CIO and the paci

[Anonymous]

For those of you who had success with CIO, how did you handle the paci? Would you every re-insert it and if so, did that create more problems? If not, does it make CIO more traumatic?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

The best thing we did was to eliminate the pacifier. We went two days without it during the daytime, and then we dropped it from the night. That took a few days also to work out. But once it was done, we didn't have to worry about it. And DS slept better, because he was not waking up because of losing the pacifier. I am comfortable with pacifier use, but I think it's helpful to eliminate later in the first year. We cut it out at 8 mos without too much drama. If it goes past 1 year, eliminating it gets much tougher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best thing we did was to eliminate the pacifier. We went two days without it during the daytime, and then we dropped it from the night. That took a few days also to work out. But once it was done, we didn't have to worry about it. And DS slept better, because he was not waking up because of losing the pacifier. I am comfortable with pacifier use, but I think it's helpful to eliminate later in the first year. We cut it out at 8 mos without too much drama. If it goes past 1 year, eliminating it gets much tougher.

exactly. Good point.

[Anonymous]

So - with a 6 month old would you let her learn to put herself to sleep first and worry about the paci later, or do it all at one time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So - with a 6 month old would you let her learn to put herself to sleep first and worry about the paci later, or do it all at one time?

They will naturally fall asleep, no matter what. You don't need the paci at all. Do it at the same time or before.

[Anonymous]

I was the poster at 15:36. I think you have to take a look at your child and decide does she need it during the day? If she could really make do without it, then try eliminating it at naps. If that experiment works in a few days, you are ready to go. But if she can't settle down for naps, and is agitated during the day, without the pacifier, then it's a bit too early.

I have found that babies and their pacifier needs are really individual, just like some children are strongly attached to a blankie and others don't need one at all. The parent does not completely control the situation. By that I mean you could prevent her from having a pacifier or blankie, but for some children that would be detrimental and others would be fine either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster at 15:36. I think you have to take a look at your child and decide does she need it during the day? If she could really make do without it, then try eliminating it at naps. If that experiment works in a few days, you are ready to go. But if she can't settle down for naps, and is agitated during the day, without the pacifier, then it's a bit too early.

I have found that babies and their pacifier needs are really individual, just like some children are strongly attached to a blankie and others don't need one at all. The parent does not completely control the situation. By that I mean you could prevent her from having a pacifier or blankie, but for some children that would be detrimental and others would be fine either way.

But being agitated during the day doesn't necessarily equate to giving them a pacifier. Babies cry, it is what they do. Sometimes it's their way of communicating, as the get older they start pronouncing words and conversing. They don't need them just because their crying. It's a temporary solution, but as PP said might as well take them away early than later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster at 15:36. I think you have to take a look at your child and decide does she need it during the day? If she could really make do without it, then try eliminating it at naps. If that experiment works in a few days, you are ready to go. But if she can't settle down for naps, and is agitated during the day, without the pacifier, then it's a bit too early.

I have found that babies and their pacifier needs are really individual, just like some children are strongly attached to a blankie and others don't need one at all. The parent does not completely control the situation. By that I mean you could prevent her from having a pacifier or blankie, but for some children that would be detrimental and others would be fine either way.

But being agitated during the day doesn't necessarily equate to giving them a pacifier. Babies cry, it is what they do. Sometimes it's their way of communicating, as the get older they start pronouncing words and conversing. They don't need them just because their crying. It's a temporary solution, but as PP said might as well take them away early than later.

Yes, I agree. But I meant that if she eliminates the pacifier and the baby can't settle down, because she can't cope without the pacifier, then she might not be ready to give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was the poster at 15:36. I think you have to take a look at your child and decide does she need it during the day? If she could really make do without it, then try eliminating it at naps. If that experiment works in a few days, you are ready to go. But if she can't settle down for naps, and is agitated during the day, without the pacifier, then it's a bit too early.

I have found that babies and their pacifier needs are really individual, just like some children are strongly attached to a blankie and others don't need one at all. The parent does not completely control the situation. By that I mean you could prevent her from having a pacifier or blankie, but for some children that would be detrimental and others would be fine either way.

But being agitated during the day doesn't necessarily equate to giving them a pacifier. Babies cry, it is what they do. Sometimes it's their way of communicating, as the get older they start pronouncing words and conversing. They don't need them just because their crying. It's a temporary solution, but as PP said might as well take them away early than later.

Yes, I agree. But I meant that if she eliminates the pacifier and the baby can't settle down, because she can't cope without the pacifier, then she might not be ready to give it up.

She, of course will act like she is not ready to give it up, because it is all she has ever known. You give it up for her, and naturally she picks up other sleeping ways. She will cry, but babies and kids will get used to change very quickly, just have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Anonymous]

We've just gone through this with our 5 month old. He really just used the paci for naps and nighttime, but it was getting out of control. Waking at 2:00 am, then 2:15, 2:25 when the paci fell out. So we went cold turkey. The first night he cried for an hour when we put him down, but then it was 30 minutes (naps included) and by day three it was 15 minutes or less. It also stopped the incessant night wakings. This lets us know that anything over 15 minutes is a red flag (there is something else going on). I would recommend reading Ferber as he does have a strategy for the paci, however it is not a long term solution. For us, it was easier to cut it out cold turkey and I am so happy to be done with it! My daughter spat it out at 3 months and never looked back.