Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

Help (long)..... last Monday I accidentally forgot to bring my 20 month old's pacifier to day care and after I found out that he ended up napping without a big problem I thought it might be time to lose the paci... he was only getting it for naps and bedtime anyway, so Tueaday night I put him to bed with our normal routine, minus pacifier. He went down ok but 5 minutes later cried out, so I put him back down again and he cried out another 5 minutes later again. After I put him back down, that was it - he slept through the night like a champ!

Each night since has gone the same and daycare naps have been good too. As of Friday, they said he had a hard time going down and didn't nap as long, but he did it. Friday night he gave us a harder time about falling asleep but we've stuck to our guns.

Now today, he put up a good fight napping at home but again, he did eventually nap for an hour and a half so not the worst. Now it's bedtime and it's been awful. Crying incessantly going on 30 minutes now (and this is my baby who you literally out down and say "nite nite" to and he's down for the night). I'm ready to give it back to him. I'm 32 weeks preggo with number two and I'm shot as it is. Please help... do I stuck to my guns or give up? I thought it was gonna be no big deal since the week started off so good but every day has gotten progressively worse

Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

Is he teething? Maybe its hurting so that is why he wants the pacifier. I feel like at this point I would give in and try again when your not pregnant and stressed as it is, but I am not sure if that is the best advice.

Re: Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

I know it's hard, but at this point I probably would not give in. He's almost 2 and it will not be easier once you have the new baby and you are tired and it will be an even bigger adjustment for him with the baby. I think this is the perfect time. That way he still has a few weeks with no paci before the new baby and won't be looking for it when the baby comes home.

Just be prepared, he may want it from the baby (if you are giving the paci), but hopefully enough time will have passed.

Re: Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

I would stick to your course after so many days!

Re: Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

Stay strong!

He's proven he doesn't need it. I would throw them all away so you aren't tempted. Yes it might mean one or two nights of cry it out but it's a band aid you have to rip off at some point and it seems like you are almost there.

Just my opinion but you need the benefit of time before the baby comes and uses a paci. This is what we did with DD. so she understood babies get Pacis but big girls don't need them.

Re: Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

Thank you for the encouragement! I know the right thing to do is stick with it, but of course it's hard in the moment.

Another small victory this morning was that he woke up happy playing in his crib (rather than crying out for mommy or daddy, which he started doing after we took away the paci).

I am hoping enough time will pass before baby #2 comes that he gets into a comfortable groove and he knows pacifiers are for babies and won't feel tempted to take the baby's. Thanks again for the confidence boost

Re: Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

DS is almost 2.5 and we have a hard time putting him to bed recently. He's never had a paci. My point is it may not be related. Stick to it! This too shall pass

Re: Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

Don't give it back!! DD is 2 and it was a nightmare weaning her you should have seen the meltdowns but wet are a month paci free thank god

Re: Getting rid of the pacifier disaster

Don't back down... you made a decision, stick with it. It will only make it worse later on.

Honestly, the fact that he was good the first few days makes me think it is something else and not necessarily the paci. The first couple of day to break any habit would be the hardest.