We just transitioned Garcon from his schnuckie (pacifier) and we couldn't be happier about it. We're not anti-pacifier - it was a great tool while we used it. We just thought this transition would be a huge battle. Here's what worked for us...
At about 18 mo, we began making the pacifier only for night and naptime. Encouraging him to take it out himself post-rest helped. He didn't have a problem with this, in fact began taking out his paci and handing it to us as he was lifted from the crib.
He's now 23 mo, and just last week Friday, we went cold turkey at night. As usual, we read a book, snuggled a little after the light went out, and then put him down. Without the schnuckie.
He certainly fought it, and the first two nights, cried hard and shook his crib, almost to exhaustion. This was harder on us than him, certainly. To help stem off any potential emotional scarring (kidding! I hope!) over the next couple nights, I laid on the floor next to his crib, while he continued to cry, though it began to subside. Just like on The Nanny, over the next few nights I lay down farther and farther from the crib, and last night (the ninth night), I gave him a hug, put him down, told him to put his head down on the pillow, and said good night. He cried about 30 seconds, and then passed out cold. VICTORY!
We were totally relieved, as the bedtime crying has been emotionally trying. He has typically been a happy sleeper, able to relax at the end of the day on his own (or with his bear/schnuckie. So hearing him cry at night was hard. The other upside is that last night, for the first time in, well, a few nights, I haven't fallen asleep on the floor of his room. I actually got to hang out with my big sweetie!
We are thrilled and relieved to be done with the pacifier - dental and habit issues notwithstanding, we have another on the way in six more months, and I don't want to have Garcon taking the pacifier from the baby, or any other (avoidable) power struggles.
Have you dropped the schnuckie like a bad habit? What worked for you?
