I have a pacifier junky...help!
Find a Conversation
I have a pacifier junky...help!
| Sun, 02-04-2007 - 9:25pm |
o.k. jack is 3.8 yrs and dx with pdd-nos. despite his 'quirks' and some sensory issues, jack has been a generally laid back child and has transitioned very easily from certain stages. for example, he gave up his bottles very easily, tranisitioned into his big boy bed without much fuss, resisted potty training for awhile but then woke up 2 months ago and told me 'no more diapers thank you mommy'. he has spoiled me in these areas save one....the BINKY! he is a junky! now, he has never 'needed' one in public (i.e. stores, playdates, etc. he seems to understand the age inappropriateness) but when we are in our house it's a different story. depending on his mood for the day, he may walk around with one all day then there are days when he doesn't want it or seek it out but bedtime it's always a must.
i know of all the ways to 'end' it (giving them to a younger family member, cutting them so they are less pleasurable, etc.) but since he has given up other things up so easily what's his resistance to this? i don't want to traumatize him and take away something (maybe the only thing) that brings him comfort when he's on overload. we have discussed this at length with him in preparation, but i was hoping for some input from others before i make any final decisions.
thanks,
anne
i know of all the ways to 'end' it (giving them to a younger family member, cutting them so they are less pleasurable, etc.) but since he has given up other things up so easily what's his resistance to this? i don't want to traumatize him and take away something (maybe the only thing) that brings him comfort when he's on overload. we have discussed this at length with him in preparation, but i was hoping for some input from others before i make any final decisions.
thanks,
anne

Well seeing that Liam didn't give up his binky until last year (he was almost 6) I would say 3.8 is still young, lol!
but thanks for letting me know that jack is not the only binky lover! ha-ha
anne
p.s. how did your child stop?
Jack sounds just like Hayden! When Hayden was 3.4, I took all of his binkeys and cut the tips off of them, put them in a bowl, and presented him with the bowl. He went thru every binkey, and said they were all broken. I told him he would not get new binkeys b/c he was 3 yrs old, and 3 yr olds don't need them. And that was that! So easy I could not belive it! And his baby brother, Mason was still taking a binkey, same brand as Hayden's, just a different nipple. I hope the same thing works when we eliminate Mason's binkey usage! We were VERY lucky. I hope you find something that works. In my opinion, if its too traumatic, I would not take it away.
Chrissy
BTW, our PEDIATRIC dentist said that his teeth would move back after I took it away, and about 2 months after he quit using it, they went back. His teeth had a VERY small space when he bit down, they didn't touch, now they do. Tell that to your dh, lol.
Chrissy
Ya, I tend to agree with everyone here.... If its a comfort, why worry about it? I remember sucking on my two fingers littleroses as a child. I remember the comfort it gave me and no way in heck could I stop. But I finally did lol. In fact sometimes I try to imitate it just to see how it feels. It does feel good, but not so much to were I do it now. I just remember the memories of doing it.
My parents thank god didn't stop me either.
I think society is the one that looks down on stuff like this, pressure with other people judging us, or our kids.
I hate to do what society says to do, I always do the opposite if its in the interest to how my child feels.
Lainie
anne
Now I don't feel so bad either.
My AS son is also right around 3.8 years I guess (he'll be 4 at the end of May) and he's still taking a bottle, even during the day some. I'm trying to decrease to just bedtime right now, but I intend to let him have it till he's ready to give it up. I also sucked my two fingers till I was 7 or 8 and aside from a little finger shape weirdness, there were no residual effects - except boy did it help me stay calm sometimes.
Glad to hear we're in good company. We're also not forcing the potty training issue here. Riley had it and then totally gave it up, and we're slowly working back here. But, we're taking our cue from him. Don't get me wrong, we by no means let our kids walk all over us, we believe a child with rules and structure is a happy child - but I believe there are some issues that the harder you force them (esp. potty training) the more they backfire. Binkies, bottles - they won't last forever.