Weaning my 14 month old from the paci??

Question

What are some tips/ideas for taking my 14 month old boy's paci from him? It was really convienient when he was cutting teeth, it helped a lot. But now that he is talking, I want to take it from him so he's not trying to talk with it in his mouth.

Answer 1

Have him put it under his pillow (like a loose tooth) - and have the "good boy fairy" (or whatever name you want) leave him a little toy for it.  When he asks for it, remind him where it went, and give him the toy to hold.  You could put a little stuffed animal on his pillow - something he can use for security instead of a pacifier.

Answer 2

I'm doing the same with my 14 month old right now as well... we're down to just bed time-- sometimes we forget to use it and she's ok with it-- i think we'll just go cold turkey and deal with the fussiness for a while- i agree it needs to be thrown out because everytime my little girl sees it she whines, reaches for it and says peez- haha- good luck with yours!

Answer 3

I will never forget the night that I decided enough was enough with the "plug" as we called it.  It was just too easy to let him go on with it because it made him so happy and content.  He would need it and depend on it every night to go to sleep.  Then I realized we needed to stop or that one time we were away and didn't have it for some reason or someone else didn't know to give it to him, it would be a disaster.  So we got some advice that you just have to go cold turkey.  And we did.  I am not sure who it was harder on....him or us.  He must have cried for a good hour and it seemed like an eternity.  It was ROUGH!  He screamed for it!!!  It broke our hearts.  But we stood firm and did the whole routine as if we were doing the "cry it out method."  And eventually, he fell asleep.  And that was it.  The next night, he went to bed without a problem and without his "plug."  You just have to be brave and strong and know that it's for the best.  Those things carry germs and aren't real attractive - you have a beautiful child, why hide behind a piece of plastic?  Also...very bad for his teeth.

I hope this helps.  :)  Good luck!!!  YOU CAN DO THIS!  :)

Answer 4

There are 2 ways to deal with this, personally I prefer just taking it away and dealing with all the fussing all at once. The other way is to start taking it away during the day, it may not come out of his bed, so only nap and bed he can have it, there will be fussing during the day, then after a week, take it away for nap, more fussing, after a week take it all away, more fussing. See how just take it away and within in a week he will adjust, but you need to be consistent and do not give it back to him, even if you have to throw them all away. When he starts fussing tell him no, stop crying you are fine and get his mind off of the paci, like play with play dough or something like that. Either way you will have fussing, but he will be fine. You might not survive though. Just remember this with your next child and believe me when I say this, from 3 months on do not give the paci except for naps and bed time, by 6 months start weaning them off of the paci, it will take about two days, it is sooooo easy when they are young.

Answer 5

You could make a game of it. Tell him that all the pacifiers need to go bye bye. Have him get them and put them in a special jar/bucket then throw them out. (Saw this on Supernanny).

Or do what my sister did. Tell him big boys don't need pacifiers/bottles.

Answer 6

If you know any little babies, tell your son, now that your a big boy we need to give our paci's to "baby name" Boil them, wrap it up (have him wrap them) and give them to the other baby....of course the other baby really doesnt need to use his paci's but a friend will play out the story with you.