Most experts seem to look at the age and development of the child when determining readiness to give up the pacifier. The twins are 18 months (almost 19 months) and that seems to be the magic number among most of these experts.
However, there clearly is a readiness of the family to be considered as well. I've noticed a wave of "Dread and Fear" wash over our household when the topic of possible binkie extermination comes up. My high school freshman age son is volunteering to pay any orthodontic and mental health bills that may occur if I could just wait 4 years until he is safely off to college before starting this process. He's not the only one trying to delay this process either, my 11 year old son is considering a long stay with Grandma and Grandpa and my 8 year old daughter simply tears up and curls into a fetal position. My husband is all about the boys "manning up" now but he's a total softy. He'll be first to slip them one when the going gets rough. I have to admit, the thought of weaning them both from their binkie at the same time seems twice as daunting to me too. However, I've yet to have a child not survive the process.
Further motivation to me is the fact that it appears they have stopped making their preferred pacifier model. Right before Christmas I noticed we were down to only 4 or 5 total and I was considering buying a spare pack before our long car ride. I checked out several stores and they were no where to be found. Some may call this "a sign" others may call this "a curse". In any event, I am now faced with a limited supply which is motivating me to get this process in motion before forced to make them both go "cold turkey".
So now it's time to rally the troops and head into binkie battle. Here's the general process I've used in the past that I plan to try again this time.
We did it! Read about the how we said our final goodbyes to binkies in a special way.
However, there clearly is a readiness of the family to be considered as well. I've noticed a wave of "Dread and Fear" wash over our household when the topic of possible binkie extermination comes up. My high school freshman age son is volunteering to pay any orthodontic and mental health bills that may occur if I could just wait 4 years until he is safely off to college before starting this process. He's not the only one trying to delay this process either, my 11 year old son is considering a long stay with Grandma and Grandpa and my 8 year old daughter simply tears up and curls into a fetal position. My husband is all about the boys "manning up" now but he's a total softy. He'll be first to slip them one when the going gets rough. I have to admit, the thought of weaning them both from their binkie at the same time seems twice as daunting to me too. However, I've yet to have a child not survive the process.
Further motivation to me is the fact that it appears they have stopped making their preferred pacifier model. Right before Christmas I noticed we were down to only 4 or 5 total and I was considering buying a spare pack before our long car ride. I checked out several stores and they were no where to be found. Some may call this "a sign" others may call this "a curse". In any event, I am now faced with a limited supply which is motivating me to get this process in motion before forced to make them both go "cold turkey".
So now it's time to rally the troops and head into binkie battle. Here's the general process I've used in the past that I plan to try again this time.
- Pick the time wisely. Don't start this process when hubby is going to be out of town for a week, or 3 days before Christmas. Try to find a lull in your schedule to help stack the deck in your favor.
- Find all the Pacifiers. Sweep the battlefield for "mines". The last thing you need is for an old binkie popping up somewhere unexpected once you've begun to ration the supplies.
- Develop a Plan of Attack. Slowly start limiting binkie use more and more. Maybe start with just giving them the binkie at naptime, in the car, and at bedtime. Next go to just naptime and bedtime, next it goes to just at bedtime, and finally they vanish completely.
- Encourage a replacement attachment item. Don't send you child into battle completely unarmed. Give them another way besides the pacifier to self comfort themselves. Keep handing them their favorite blanket, doll, or stuffed animal as an alternative item to soothe themselves.
We did it! Read about the how we said our final goodbyes to binkies in a special way.