Ditchin the Paci

When the "boppy" fairy (aka pacifier) goes missing unexpectedly you run with it!

This kid has always been addicted to his pacifier. After he turned one, we started limiting it more to just bedtime and naps. So I've actually had no problem what so ever with an almost 3 year old still having a pacifier! I know there are many people out there that may judge that saying he is too old for a pacifier but I really could care less. It stays in his bed with his blankie, he doesn’t carry it around with him at all times, it doesn’t get in the way of his speech, and it’s one of the last two things (aside from diapers) that still make him a “baby”. L

He’s actually NEVER been given his pacifier for naps at daycare. I actually never knew that until we switched him from his carrier to an actual car seat after he turned one. I brought in the pacifier to give to the babysitter and she just very casually and nonchalantly told me “Oh he never uses that there. I’ve never given it to him at nap.” So I know he has always been totally capable for sleeping without this pacifier but it had become a habit at home and has continued to stay one.

Of course there have been stages when he was a bit more dependent on it than we wanted. I think around when he turned two, there were a few months as soon as we would get home he would run to his bedroom to grab his boppy and blankie to carry around all day or evening long. He would try to hide them behind his back or under pillows if we told him to put them away. 

Anyways, Dave and I have decided to move Madden into a Big Boy Room around his birthday. Which should hopefully give Madden enough time to adjust to sleeping in his new room before baby arrives. He of course wants it to be a baseball room which Dave is thrilled about ;)  So over the past few weeks we’ve been talking to Madden about his big boy room and in order to get it he has to be potty trained and no pacifiers are allows. 

A week ago last Saturday Dave and I went out to dinner and movie for our Anniversary, so his parents came over to babysit. During that time he had his pacifier and then lost it somewhere in the house. They all looked everywhere for it!  Madden even looked in my usual hiding spots and apparently was a bit distraught about where it could be, as expected. Grandma and Papa didn’t even think to call to ask about a back-up, which were sitting on a shelf in his room behind his picture. He typically has no problem going to sleep but was a little harder to fall asleep at first wanting all the lights on, the door open and grandma in his room to read extra books. He was fast asleep by time we got home and actually stayed asleep all night long. Once they informed us of the missing paci I immediately decided to run with it. Sure we had back-ups but he went to bed like a little trooper the first night it went missing. The following night when he asked where his Boppy was, I reminded him how he had lost it the night before and we  hadn’t found it yet (which we hadn’t yet). It seemed to be fine with the answer and went to bed just fine with only his blankie.  

We have now been pacifier/boppy FREE for a week and a half!!! 

 Dave actually ended up finding it about 4 days later in our bedroom under his side of the bed. Madden still asks every night where his boppy is but is fine with his telling him that it's lost. Most nights he does yell for one of use to come back in his because he's cold or wants milk or a sucker or another kiss or to cuddle. I gladly come back in to give him extra kisses, hugs and cuddles. It actually makes me look forward to his big boy room even more since he will be transitioning into a full size bed and I can definitely fit into that to cuddle :)

Now to concur potty training...