WWYD? Another pacifier post - UPDATE

I feel like I am torturing my DD.

She is 2.5 and we decided to get rid of the pacifiers this weekend. She is a very sensitive kid. She is finally no longer asking for them but she just can't fall asleep without them. She doesnt know how to wind herself down and self soothe without it. I feel so awful. She wants to sleep and was always a good sleeper. She was telling us last night "I just cant sleep". Crying, temper tantrums bc she is so exhausted. She has been a completely different kid this weekend and I feel like its all my fault, bc we took something away from her. When she tries to lay down, she won't let us leave the room, she needs us there for security, like we took that away when we took her pacifier away.

I had a breakdown last night and was hysterical crying bc I feel bad for her. This poor kid wants to sleep. Part of me wants to give it back. She only had it for naps and bed. But the other part of me knows I will just have to go through this again if I give it back. But maybe it will be easier bc she will be older??

I don't know. I need words of encouragement or something. Should I give it back and try in a year or so?

Most of the old threads I have looked up - it seems most kids at 2.5 didnt have a problem giving it up.

UPATE -

I decided to give her back her mimi's.

The final straw was this morning. I put together a reward chart to reward her for everytime she fell asleep without her mimis and didnt need me/DH to rub her back, rock her or be in the room with her. We also went and picked out a toy that she could be cozy with and love in the crib. Both of those didn't work and she was an absolute nightmare fr her nap. There were 0 improvements in 3 days.

I just didnt want to torture her anymore. Its just not right. She was a completely diff kid. Sleep deprived, major tantrums, being mean to me. Wasn't worth it. Its night like shes 8, she is only 2.5.

I gave it to her and she fell asleep within 2 minutes and took a 3.5 hour nap. I have a happy kid again.

I will try again in a couple of months.

Thank for the advice everyone.

Message edited 1/31/2011 10:26:53 PM.

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post

It has only been a few days. Give it a week. She will eventually fall asleep.

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post

I am having the same problem. DS is almost 26 months old. However I am OK with letting him cry it out until he falls asleep. DH is the one who feels the same way you do. He hates to see DS so upset about not having his pacifier to fall asleep. We were supposed to take it away after Christmas but DH keeps giving in to DS.

I am definitely taking it away this week though because DS is no longer just sucking it, he is chewing it and now it is a choking hazard. I am hoping that it will take no more than 2 weeks for him to get over it.

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post

the first week will be the roughest...but it does get better...be strong..you are right...if you do give it back you will just have to deal with this again in the future!

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post

be strong.

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post

um ok since you asked WWYD...here is my honest opinion based on my experience.

I would give it back to her. Why? Bc my kids have been the worlds worst sleepers ever since I took the pacifiers away. If my kids only used the paci for nap/bed time then I wouldn't of taken it away. I'd let them have it til they left for college. lol

I took it away from them a little over a year ago bc they were obsessed to the 10th power with their opacifiers. It controlled my life. It really did. They had one in the mouth and one in each hand. then they'd fight over each other's. It was a nightmare. So bc of how nuts it was, they had to come of off of them cold turkey. Well that was the end of my perfect sleepers. They didn't know how to fall asleep, self sooth etc. They wake up during the night....and this is over a year mind you. I wish that they were able to take it for bedtime. I have zero issues with that.

You do what you think is best no matter what myself or anyone else says.

good luck!!!

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post

She may not be ready to give it up yet. I always swore I would not be a binkie mom but my ds did have one. I tried and tried to force him to give it up but he couldn't sleep without it. First we took it at nap time and he learned how to fall asleep with out it. Then when he turned 3 we told him now that he is a big boy he needs to sleep all night in his won bed in his room without his binkie. AND HE DID. In a weeks span he turned 3, gave up his binkie, slept in his own room all night by himself, dropped his nap (since he was sleeping all night he didn't need it) and potty trained. It was remarkable. I am still shocked. We had a little whimper the first night but that was all. He was finally ready. And it was so easy since he was ready.

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post - UPDATE

i see no hamr in them honestly....ff had one just for naps until she was almost three...she didn't use it at daycare, just at night, and i felt she was such an easy kid and this was the one thing she used, so we let her have it...one day she decided she wanted a pillow...and so we bought one for her bed, made a big deal, etc - she had to trade in her binky - the first night she asked for it, but then she was bribed down by us and the whole pillow idea, plus we gave her one of dd2's dolls to "borrow", she neer looked back...good luck and I saw your update...she'll give it up eventually, don't worry!

Re: WWYD? Another pacifier post - UPDATE

I would wait a little longer. I tried at your childs age and liek you said it was a nightmare. Then I tried at 3 1/2 and it was a different story. Granted the paci fairy visited and left a cool gift and we havent looked back.....its been 2 weeks now....try again at that age...:0)