I get where you’re coming from, but I actually couldn’t bring myself to do the “ceremony” thing. I worried it might make my daughter feel like she was losing something important without really understanding why. We ended up doing a super gradual approach—cutting down use to just naps, then just bedtime, and only after she seemed okay with that did we try stopping completely. It dragged out the process, honestly, but I felt better knowing she had time to adjust. Maybe it’s just my own anxiety talking, but I always second guess if I’m rushing her too much.
That’s exactly how we did it, too. I just couldn’t handle the idea of a big “goodbye” moment—it felt too final and honestly, I was worried it’d backfire. We took months, shaving off one use at a time. I still wonder if we dragged it out too long, but she barely noticed when it was finally gone. Guess slow and steady worked for us, even if my nerves were shot the whole time.
I get the slow approach, but honestly, I went cold turkey with my son after our dentist flagged some early tooth alignment issues. It was rough for a few days, but the quick switch seemed to help his teeth bounce back faster. Sometimes ripping off the band-aid works, even if it's intense for a bit.
Ha, I remember when my granddaughter was glued to her binky like it was a winning lottery ticket. Her folks tried the slow fade, but she caught on and just hid extras around the house—like some kind of toddler squirrel. Eventually, they did the cold turkey thing too. There was a lot of dramatic wailing (from both kid and parents), but after about a week, she forgot all about it. I guess sometimes you just gotta brace yourself for a few rough nights and hope your nerves hold up... or invest in earplugs.
That “toddler squirrel” image made me laugh—seen it firsthand with my nephew. His parents tried to swap the binky for a stuffed animal, thinking he’d go for the trade, but he was not having it. Funny thing is, as a dental person, I always cringe a bit at prolonged pacifier use, but honestly, it’s tough in real life. Did you notice any changes in her teeth or bite after she gave it up? Sometimes you see a little overbite that just sorts itself out.
