The thing is, and I'll sound like a bad mama for saying this, right now it is our savior. Jack and I joke that sometimes, sadly maybe, it is our sanity. Or it keeps us from losing our shit after a long and stressful day at work. I'm being honest here so don't judge! :) When you become a mama, nobody tells you not to give your baby the pacifier because it will be hard as shit to take it away later on. You know that this might happen but in the back of your mind you think, I'm sure it's not that hard. Well it is friends. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.
When Elliot was born, he was in the NICU for a week, you can read that story here. Once released, he was sent home with a couple of those green soothing pacifiers. A couple were brand new and one that was with him in the NICU. We went home and of course started using them. Elliot rarely got fussy and I can thankfully say that I can count the times when he would cry. He was such a good baby and we didn't really need them that much. Entirely different story now. :)
When we lost a couple, I ran to Target to get a couple more thinking there's no way we would lose them. No way.
He basically grew up with it and that was our biggest mistake, BUT, as he got a little older, one thing we did do was that we would only give it to him during nap time and at night. It worked. No paci during the day. After he turned one, all hell broke loose and shit went downhill. If he cried, we gave it to him, outside of nap time or sleep time. I cringe for doing this. Of course he became super attached to it and now we cannot even mention the word paci because he starts giggling and immediately takes our hand and takes us where he knows we put them after we wash them. If we mention it and refuse to give it to him, Toddler Tantrum City erupts. Then he keeps pointing at it, babbles firmly (probably cusses at us) and demands it. Smart kid. So now we spell it. ;)
I sometimes feel that he's not saying enough words or talking as much as he should be because of it, and we are back to trying to not let him have it during the day but it's tough! He begs for it. He cries for it, he can't go to sleep without it and I feel so bad because it was our fault! Then there was a major change in his life, we had to enroll him in a new daycare because his closed unexpectedly. Then, the brilliant mama that I am decided to wean him off of it, or try to, while going through this change. GREAT idea. He was so mad at us for doing that to him! So, naturally, we gave in and we are back to square one. Even when I get him out of the bath to dress him up he's already looking for it.
It's crazy how you learn so much in one year and swear that things will be different with your second child now that you know so many things about motherhood! Ha!
Are you guys going through this? Have you gone through it? How did you do it? I've heard/read that cutting the tip of the paci helps and that might be our next step once he adjusts to his new daycare. I know that kids adjust quicker than we do as adults to mostly everything, but I want to do this without having to "let him cry it out". Never been a fan of that option so hopefully we can find a way to do it so that he gives it up on his own!
We are down to one and we refuse to buy more. You better believe we are holding on to it for dear life!
For now, Happy Friday!!
