Forum Index
»
Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Pacifier Addict at age 2
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
pacimom
Member Offline
Member Offline
| Hi all, my DD is 2 yo and loves the paci. Don't know how to get rid of it. Any ideas? |
Anonymous
|
Cut the tip off so it's not enjoyable anymore. Won't be able to suck on it as well.
Start introducing a new lovey/security object if she doesn't have one. Maybe take her to help pick out a bear/blanket/etc. Start limiting it to bed only- She can have it as long as she's in bed. good luck. |
Anonymous
Just take it away. Say no more. It's not as big of a deal as people make it out to be. They won't miss what's not right in front of them. Cold turkey. They will cry and that's ok. They won't miss it after it's no longer a choice. |
Anonymous
| And FYI, the correct terminology is "paddict" |
Anonymous
| I have a child who is, ahem, even older and completely addicted. He is going to give his pacis to santa in a few weeks in exchange for an extra little present. He seems to get what is going to happen so fingers crossed! |
Anonymous
|
I'm sorry, I have two friends who 3 year olds STILL walk around with their paci in their mouth. I think it is easier on the mothers to put it in their mouth to quiet them down than to address the situation. One of the 3 year olds seems to talk with a lisp, and I wouldn't doubt that was what caused it.
Maybe someone can explain to my why 3 year olds need one? I thought they were to sooth babies.... |
Anonymous
If you are really interested and not just rhetorically venting  , there was a long thread on this topic not too long ago; you could search the archives.
|
Anonymous
How does this post answer the OPs question? |
Anonymous
I so much agree with you. Your right on. Parents that say their kids are addicted, come on. Take it away and stop crossing your fingers. They will be ok. |
Anonymous
Do you really think that you are helping the OP at all by telling her to just TAKE IT AWAY? Give me a freaking break. By her just taking it away is going to cause the child a lot of anxiety over it. OP, I would gradually phase out the pacifier use. I know with my son (who will be 2 in a few months) when I see him take it out for some reason, drinking or eating, I will put it up high on a counter or in a cabinet, kind of like out of sight out of mind. He will eventually ask for it a couple hours later but hey....it's a start. I use to let him carry it around with him or keep it in his pocket incase he wanted it, but now I let him "remember" it. Eventually your child will get rid of it on his own. I am going to wait until he is a little older and can reason with me about it rather than scar him and snatch it away. How awful would that be? |
Anonymous
If your worried about that scarring him then you are going to worry yourself sick about other things. This is not a huge deal. Most parents that have tried cold turkey will tell you it's the only way to go. I completely agree that moms that use it or trying to avoid the situation or crying on hand. The 4 or 5 year olds still using pacis is because moms thought they would give it up on their own. They won't for a while. Op wants to get rid of it. Just do it. It's ok to let kids cry. Their communicating. We don't necessarily have to put a plug in them everytime they cry. |
Anonymous
|
I agree with PP. At 2 you can start to take it away, put it out of reach, etc. But there needs to be a point in time that it is "lost" or you tell them they won't have it anymore. OP, take heart, if you start to do something else like reading, playing with toys, running around, playing peek a boo or something their minds are distracted and they will forget about it.
I also agree with the other posting stating that a 3 year old walking around with one is just silly. Why? It sounds like its being used to keep the kids quiet. What is this teaching the child, when you talk too much or drive mom crazy put one in your mouth to stay quiet. How about we teach our kids to "please wait, mommy is talking", or addressing the behavior? |
Anonymous
Absolutely. This is true. Learn to teach kids not to interrupt or be patient. Pacifiers can be temporary solutions for permanent behavior that needs to be addressed. Their fine for babies, but will never understand why a 3 year old is still using one. Stop being afraid to just say no. Kids are stronger than some PP's are giving them credit for. |
Anonymous
I am one of the PPs who has an older child who is a "paddict" (great term) and who said that I'm keeping my fingers crossed when we give them up to santa in a few weeks. To the 10.56 poster: Do you REALLY want an explanation? Or do you really want to stand on a soapbox and chastise the mothers who are too lazy to "address the situation"? It really seems like the latter, but I'll take the bait. In consultation with our dentist, we decided that at this point there was no point in taking away a comfort item from our DS when there was no harm being done. We agreed on the approaching timeline for giving it up. I think it is probably as simple as that for most parents with paddict toddlers. To the 13.00 poster, let's all repeat together: What works for some parents doesn't work for others. I think I'll go with my own parental instincts and the advice of my dentist. Oh, and it's "you're", not "your"...I'm normally not a stickler for grammar, but since you seem so all-knowing, just thought I'd let you know. |
Anonymous
"scar him"?!! "How awful would that be?"??!!! Certainly not as awful as being a weak mother surrendering to their every whim lest their little angel be upset. Pacifiers are for babies. You should just go cold turkey when they get beyond that point. Children need boundaries, not pandering. As with everything in parenting, taking the "easy" path in the short term = long-term pain. |