“Dom at 7 months—completely strung out on “paci”
Dominic turned two years-old today. That sweet little baby boy who slept on my chest has grown into a willful little toddler driven by an insatiable lust for mini vanilla wafers and demonic talking Elmo dolls. Obviously I’m kidding—I adore my little buddy and love the little personality he’s developing. I have a sappy post about how much I love my boy ready to go, but I’ll save it for another day because it’s crucial that I deliver an important warning to all parents of children 24-months and younger:
YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE A PACIFIER ADDICT.
Like heroin, pacifiers give users a short term respite from the pain and terror of an uncertain world. Sure, you think you know what you’re doing. You tell yourself that you’re in control. You’re just going to let your child suck on it here and there to calm him down. But then, before you know it, he needs the pacifier just to fall asleep, and he’s “riding the snake” during every nap.
Kerry and I tried the suggested “you’re a big boy now” intervention before bed tonight, culminating with Dominic throwing his pacifier into the ivy patch behind our house so the baby rabbits can use it. I think he figured out the baby rabbit story was a load of crap. As I type this, Kerry is sitting next to Dom’s crib talking him down off a ledge. He’s working through excruciating pacifier withdrawal symptoms, and I’m going to be honest, it’s touch and go right now.
Pacifier addicts, like my son, don’t just harm themselves but everyone who surrounds them. It could be a week before we get a good night sleep, and Kerry will be punished all day tomorrow. Take my advice, friends. Ditch the pacifier before it’s too late. It’s a hell of a lot harder to deny your child his sense of security when he can curse you by name. The longer you wait, the harder it’ll be to break him of the habit. If you don’t heed my warning, you’ll end up just like us. The horror. The horror.
Tagged with: pacifiers
July 13th, 2009 at 9:39 am
When my daughter was turned a year old, we actually lost all the pacifiers. So she had to go off them cold turkey. A few months later she found one and started sucking on it. But we took it from her right away, and used the Men in Black memory eraser thing and she hasn’t wanted one since.
Our son just never liked them. He prefers his thumb. He’ll be 2 in october and still sucks his thumb when he’s relaxing. I’m trying to find out how to deal with that issue.
Daughter will be a year old in November. I think we’re going to lose those as well.
It will be ok. Maybe find something to subsititue the pacifier.. Maybe menthols?