I Knew It Was Time

I knew it was time for my daughter to let her paci go when she started chewing on it and ripping it out of her teeth like a piece of beef jerkey.

I knew it was time for my daughter to let her paci go when, while laying on her changing pad, she reached back into the diaper caddy with yoga-like moves, grabbed her paci and put it in her mouth.

I knew it was time for my daughter to let her paci go when she started "asking" for it (that would be making noises and gestures) when she was perfectly fine.

I knew it was time. I knew it was time.

Our pediatrician has recommended that she not have it after 18 months. A is now 17 months old, so we're getting close to that deadline. I'm sure if A had a calendar, she'd be dreading that deadine.

I've decided in this past week to take it away at nap time. The first day without the paci was horrendous. She cried (with some playing and talking in between) for 1 hr, 45 minutes. Quite a record! Normally she is asleep (with paci) within 5 minutes of getting put down to bed.

Oh, how she cried! She went from being sad about it to being down right MAD that I had taken this away. And it's in those moments that I remind myself that I am the parent, she is the child, and I need to do what is BEST for her, even if she kicks and screams for nearly 2 hours against it.

The second day it only took about 15 minutes until she fell asleep without it. It seems each day is getting better, but I just have to remember not to give in when the crying sounds so miserable and desparate.

Did you have trouble "weaning" your child off of something? A paci maybe, or possibly a bottle, blanket, toy, etc? How were you successful? I'd love to hear!