One Mom's Journey

When my oldest daughter was 2, I started trying to figure out how to get rid of that darn soother.  Her soother attachment was getting out of control.  Parents with children and soothers totally understand this constant battle to wean the child of the soother.  It is not easy, and we sometimes lack the confidence to take it away.  I know myself, I feared losing the afternoon nap and the constant battle to stop the crocodile tears. I am sure you all felt similar.  While researching some different methods, I came across this awesome list from About.com and thought I would share it.

1. Cold turkey. Stand your ground and don't give in!  It is tough, but you can do it.
2. Phase it out. Start by only allowing it at bed times and in the car, then take away the car, then take away nap, then take away overnight.  Over time is the key to this one.
3. Say hello to the "Soother Fairy" or any other mythological creature of your choosing. The goal here is to take the pressure and anger off of the parents and transform it into a rewarding event. Soothers or pacifiers go to the mythological fairy in exchange for a treat or a present. Preparation is key for this, so best to use a book or song as a tool - and repeat it often.

The children’s book, Susy the Soother Fairy, newly released this past December and is quickly becoming the go-to tool for parents who have a child with a serious soother/pacifier attachment. The book, written and illustrated by Laura Page-Hamelin in Oakville, Ontario, features a fairy and a magic sac that helps toddlers get rid of their soother/pacifier attachments once and for all.

Susy the Soother Fairy Comes when you are Three, is targeted at three year olds directly. Three year olds are able to process the information and accept what is about to happen.. The book comes complete with Susy’s magic sac, making the experience very real and successful for young ones.

Rewind to 2010, when my daughter was born.  First time mom, lack of sleep, a baby that constantly suckled on my breasts, lack of sleep and did I mention lack of sleep?  My husband and I did it.  We committed the ultimate sin (according to some).  We gave our baby a pacifier...and guess what.  We slept.  It was wonderful, it was glorious!  I had no regrets - until she turned two.  It was crazy.

This is where I began to refer to her soother habit as an addiction. Because it was just that.  This is also when I started noticing the shifting of the teeth, so I asked around and researched and sure enough, it was recommended to try and wean a toddler of a pacifier no later than two because of the damage it can cause to the upper mouth and teeth alignment.  But, I had another new born, and it was soooooooo easy to just plug that soother in my two year olds mouth as the solution to EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM.  I am not sure looking back if the addiction was hers or mine...because that pacifier was my savior.

Yes, I did some research on soothers, but at the end of the day, sleep outweighed the potential negatives 100 per cent.  I thought you may find it useful to see some of the research I came across along the way.It may help you come to terms with the pacifier/soother vortex you have just entered and/or support your reasons for never giving a soother in the first place.

Positives: