I do think sometimes a little short-term stress beats months of drawn-out negotiations... especially when you’re worried about their teeth in the long run.
There's definitely something to be said for just getting it over with. I’ve seen a lot of parents wrestle with the “gradual vs. cold turkey” debate, and honestly, it really seems to depend on the kid’s temperament. You mention you were strict about getting rid of it early—honestly, that’s not a bad thing when you’re thinking about bite development. I’ve read some research suggesting prolonged binky use can impact the way the front teeth come in, so your concern is valid.
That said, I’ve noticed in my own circle that some kids swapped to thumb-sucking, which is even trickier to break. Sounds like you dodged that bullet. Maybe luck, maybe your approach—hard to say. I do wonder sometimes if the “rip off the Band-Aid” method is less traumatic than we assume. A few tough nights, then it’s done. Either way, you did what felt right for your daughter, and that’s what matters most.
We tried the gradual approach at first, but honestly it just dragged things out and made everyone cranky. Ended up going cold turkey after a rough weekend—turned out to be less stressful (and cheaper) than replacing lost binkies every week. The dental bills later on were my main worry too.
That’s interesting, I always assumed the gradual method would be easier on everyone, but thinking back on it, our slow transition just led to more arguments and sneaky binky-hunting. Cold turkey was brutal for a few days—lots of lost sleep—but I think you’re right about it being over faster. I get the dental worries too… did your dentist mention any actual issues from the binky, or was it more of a “could happen” thing?
