How did we wean her from the paci? Easy. My friend Stacey and an author from Prayer of Hannah gave me great advice. Simply cut the paci vertically from the end of the paci ( not cutting off the end, but just making a vertical slit in the paci). The paci will still look the same, but they will know something is different.
These pictures are not focused well, but you can at least see what I'm talking about.
Laney was old enough to know, after putting the paci in her mouth and then examining it, that it didn't look the same because it now had a cut in it. She looked at it and said, "I need a new one. It's broken." I just told her, "Let's put it back in your mouth and go nite-nite Laney." So, she did, but the desire for her paci just wasn't the same. For two-to-three days she kept that paci loosely in her mouth. We'd go and take it out of her mouth after she was asleep. (FYI: Laney only used the paci during sleep hours, not during awake time.) Within those two-to-three days, she would complain that it was "too big" because it wouldn't stay in her mouth. She never screamed or seemed really upset that it wasn't meeting her need to soothe her to sleep. It was just different. By me still giving her the paci at bedtime for those few days and her deciding it just wasn't "cutting it" anymore, we didn't seem like the bad guys taking away her beloved paci she's had all her life.
Day three: I didn't give her the paci at all, for she fell asleep faster than lightening due to the fact that she didn't have a nap that day.
Day four: I told Hugh about her not even having the paci the night before. He encouraged me to not mention it at all, unless she asked for it. Come to find out, she didn't ask for it that night. Hugh and I were FLOORED. FLOORED! She did request the paci at bedtime that night, but I distracted her with the books we were reading.
**One thing that I would advise the parents who want to use the method is to try giving something for your child to physically hold onto, whether it be a blanket, new stuffed animal, etc.. Coincidentally, during this week, Laney found a few of her baby blankets (as I was getting the nursery ready) that she totally remembered were hers from infancy. It was as if she fell in love with them and wanted to carry one particular one from room to room. When she went to bed at night, she wanted it close by. So, I jumped at that opportunity to fill that desire for something and tried to mention her blankie at bedtime. I'm fine with her having a blankie until she's thirty even, if she truly wants it, just not a paci.
The rest is history my friends. She hasn't asked for it since, and we haven't mentioned it. I was in prayer over this weaning process while we were going through it. It's definitely a HUGE answer to prayer. H-U-G-E. I'm so thankful that this is behind us and it wasn't even a painful process.
6 comments:
YAY, Laney!! I know you're so glad to have that over with before Baby girl arrives.... : )
That is really awesome. I need to ask Stacey if she has an advice for weaning thumb-suckers!
Margaret,
Oh boy...I was a thumb-sucker for A LONG TIME. I remember my parents trying everything from putting socks over my hands to putting Tabasco on my thumb. And I REMEMBER CRYING in the middle of the night because my mouth was suddenly on FIRE! I'll have to ask them what did the trick. I did have buck teeth (on top only) because of it. The Orthodontist said that had I not sucked my thumb, I would not have needed braces. I wore braces for 10 months on the top only. But I would have needed a bracket for the small gap that I had inbetween my teeth. :)
hollie,
we got rid of ours this week too! jordan is 3, and i felt terrible but it HAD to be done. went cold turkey and he did great. congrats! i know the feeling of accomplishment to get rid of the thing. i have another addict on my hands, but we'll deal with it when the time comes ;)
i know you're so excited about your new little love on the way. so incredible!
Wow, this is a great accomplishment!
Good job Laney and Hollie!! It worked like a charm for my 3 paci addicts..i knew it would work!!
Margaret...my sister was a finger sucker...the only thing that my parents found that worked was putting bandaids on her fingers at night. Like Laney, she only sucked them at sleeping times...she was even old enough to try and not to suck them...but when she would fall asleep they would still end up in her mouth. So, my parents put bandaids on those fingers each night...for about a week..then the habit stopped..she just didn't like that "feel".
aww...as I write this I am missing those paci/finger sucking days! My sister is 20 and my 3 are 13, 6, and 5! Those times go so fast! :(
Stacey
Post a Comment