So we reached the weaning phase a few months ago and we're still working it out. I say we simply because it sounds more pleasing. My honest opinion is I'm weaning as I instruct my daughter to develop into the next stages in her life.
When my baby was in the NICU and working with a speech therapist, I was told pacifiers were a wonderful thing. My goal should be to wean when teething begins. So my poor darling develops her first habit...the pacifier. Almost immediately she knew which she prefered. She didn't care much for the soothie so it was easy giving those away. I donated them to an animal rescue. Once he figured out how to move her hands, she loved putting her pacie in her mouth. The fact that she'll insert the pacie upside down and give me the look still cracks me up. Anyway she got her first two teeth around 7 months and the love affair continues. We were down to maybe a half an hour a day. She didn't need one at night thanks to nighttime nursing though I keep in within her reach for morning. I'm not sure what happened that we had a setback. Her bff was born so maybe watching another baby suck on one made it the thing to do. Another possibility is the next two teeth cut about a week ago and she likes to gnaw on it at times. Due to the pediatrician telling me that teething is like having dental work done on a daily basis, I couldn't breakup this love affair. I mean I can take the fussiness around meal or nap time. It's those times when you've done everything on the checklist and still no relief when pacie comes to the rescue. Who knows if it's what she wanted or more of what I needed to keep my sanity.
So today on The View they talked about the binky fairy. Elizabeth swears by it. Sherry said absolutely not and Whoopi said what I really needed to hear. In a nutshell she said you're the mama so you do what's best for your child. If you want to tell them a fairy took it or that another baby needs them, that's your decision. And if someone walks up to your child and takes their pacifier...shake 'em. I prefer telling them to keep their hands off my child which was another suggestion. So if it takes 21 days to break a habit, the days of pacie are coming to an end. Because I'm a single mom and doing it all alone I will make sure to be well-equipped when away from home. Other than that a refresher course in self-soothing will be the next course of action. The goal is to be pacified free by her first birthday.
