2.5 yr old with nap/night paci only

[scsparks06]

I might just be searching for some partners in crime here, but my 2.5 yr old still uses his paci for nap/night only. He doesn't sleep with it in his mouth the entire time, but drops it out when he is in deep sleep. He'll pick it back up again if he needs it through the night. The only problem I have with the paci is sometimes he can't find it and comes to us to help him at 2am, etc. This happens rarely. We have tried the paci fairy and it gave him horrible nightmares when we started discussing it. We tried trading it for a bike, no luck. He chews on it a lot and pulled the tip off one himself and we thought we lucked out. No go because it happened right before bed and he was a disaster. I don't know if it really bothers me that he still uses it - he'll outgrow it eventually right?? I don't agree with replacing it with a lovey because that's still a prop (and paci's are much easier to find at a store when one gets lost!!). Anyone else in my boat? Anyone have paci graduate stories?

[Colin Macs Mom]

We got rid of it when Colin was 2.5 - http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=113519.0

You can't assume he will outgrow it eventually -  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=213264.0
I really don't mean this harshly so I hope it doesn't sound that way, but it's our job as parents to guide our LOs, even through hard, unpleasant stuff like this. It's only a problem if you think it is, but it sounds like you are leaning that way.

And for what it's worth, a lovey is not a prop because LO controls the lovey. http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=67676.0   It's definitely recommended to have more than one though!!

[tearss]

Hi Colin Macs mom, like your DD, mine chew on the paci till it was almost broken n I showed him how badly the paci was and ask him "maybe it's time to throw into the dustbin" n he just threw n never look back. Though he does ask at times n after I explained to him , he will give me a shy grin. Yes it did improve his night sleep but it didn't help him to settle down for nap or sleep that quickly. Now he takes 2 hrs to settle down before he tires out. I can see that his mouth is still in a chewing action. He didn't cry or the paci but I can see that he can't settle down as he is a sprited baby.

He doesn't really like soft toys so we try to give him some comfort item like his favorite book to hug etc. may I ask if this is just a passing phrase that I should hang on to or I should let him use the paci longer do not to compromise on his sleep hrs n he can sleep longer,?

[tearss]

Oh he is 2.1yo

[Colin Macs Mom]

No, definitely do not give the paci back now. It's all part of the process of him learning to sooth himself another way. It sounds like he's definitely an oral kid - has he ever shown any inclination to suck his thumb? Have you tried a blanket? Don't worry, he will find something   In the meantime it might help to do a longer winddown to give him more opportunity to unwind before sleep.

[tearss]

Hi Colin macs mom, sincerely thank u for replying. Thanks for making me sure thatcichave been doing it right. He doesn't suck his thumb. However today, for the first time during nap time I heard from my helper that he sucked his whole hand to sleep! Never at night . I have already told the helper not to let him do that again.

Plus I try to get him to hug his favorite toy to sleep. Hopefully it will make him more secure.

Wish me luck. Looking forward to some good change next week! have a blessed 2012!

[Colin Macs Mom]

Good luck!!

[scsparks06]

I guess if you have taken away the paci then giving it back now is not the best idea.  However, I am still leery of the whole paci as a prop vs lovey idea. If the way of thinking is that a lovey is something that LO can control, there is no difference there with a paci, because LO can definitely control that at this point too. Tearss, my DS is also a spirited, very oral child, always has been. I have noticed lately, even though we have not removed the paci (he uses is at nap/night only), he sucks his thumb or fingers during the day. We are constantly trying to get him out of that habit. He would just suck a blanket too if we got rid of the paci. I don't see the difference and frankly I'd rather he use a paci at designated times rather than trying to break the thumb/finger habit. He won't go to school with a paci and he won't get married with it. I am not seeing the harm. GL to you though! I think some kids are just more oral than others - my 6mos DD only uses a paci to fall asleep and then she doesn't want it, nor does she suck anything else. Two different kids.