How Do I Get Rid of the Paci?

Dear Dumplin,

Pacifier, paci, binky, bobo, dummy, or soother.  A pacifier is something many parents use to calm their young children.  I never had a second thought about you having a pacifier.  My mom told me that she used it on me and I knew I would do the same thing.  I’ve baby sat many children in my life, and most young babies used a pacifier.  I never stopped to think how long you would use it or when you would stop.

Fast forward to today.  You are 19 months old and you love the thing!  With some effort, I’ve been able to get you to only use it during naps and bedtime.  When you are tired, you look for it because you know where I put it. You point and say, “Bobo?”  If I take it away before you wake up fully, you scream.  Once you are fully awake, you give it to me without a problem.  Now I can’t get you to stop using it!

I’ve actually watched you stop yourself from screaming by putting your own pacifier in your mouth.  Once you are sucking away, you look at me as if to say, “Oh well.”  You have two molars coming in at one time now.  You chew away and chew away on your paci.  I watch you on the baby monitor wake up at night, put the bobo in your mouth, and lay back down.

But now what do I do?  You are saying more words every day and are learning so much.  I don’t want the pacifier to mess up your teeth.  I also don’t want you to be dependant on the pacifier for too long.  How do I get you off of this thing?

I wish you could tell me.  LOL.  In the meantime, I will take it one day at a time.

Love,

Mama

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