Maci was getting pretty attached to her binky. It was almost a real person to her. She only used it during naps and night time and had been that way for many months. But recently she would cry for it during the day when she was put in time out or wouldn't get her way or told no. So David and I knew the time was upon us. So I did some research online and we decided to have her go cold turkey with it. So I ordered a book from Amazon called Goodbye Binky and decided to start reading it to her 5 days in advance of when we'd take it away. So Sunday, January 20th, after our scripture reading, we added the book to our nightly schedule. She loved the book. Here is a short summary.
It is about a 2 year old boy who loves his binky and goes with him everywhere. One day at the park while swinging, the binky pops out of his mouth and falls to the ground. A girl his age picks it up and tells him that she didn't need one anymore because she was a big girl and that the binky fairy came to visit. So the boy thought of that as he went to sleep, wanting to be a big boy. The next day Bubbles, the binky fairy visits with a red box saying how brave he would be if he gave up the binky. He did that night, tossing and turning but eventually falling asleep. The next morning he awoke happy to see he slept through the night and found a Big Boy award from Bubbles and of course, binky was gone. The next time he went to the park he noticed someone else had a binky like his and wondered if they fairy gave it to him.
So we read it Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night to Maci. On Wednesday night, David switched her name for the boy which made it personal to Maci. I thought I would try no binky during nap time. The next two hours were bad for both of us. I would go in and try to comfort her every 30 minutes but there was a lot of heartache. That night we also cut the tip of her binky off . When we gave it to her, she sucked, pulled it out of her mouth and said "yucky." David and I snickered and put her to bed. Well, about 20 minutes of fussing, she finally asked for some water. I brought it in and what did she do? She dipped her binky in it and put it in her mouth. She laid down and went to sleep. The water caused the sucking comfort that she needed. Talk about a smart little girl! She woke up once during the night and asked for water again for the binky. So the next day, I didn't let her have her binky for her nap again. To my surprise, she actually fell asleep! This gave me hope for this evening. Later she found the red box I had made (with a picture of Bubbles, the fairy on it) and said her binky was in it (good she already knew what was in store). We then took the box to our bedroom and read the story and she was eager to put her binky in. Going to sleep was rough but she finally fell asleep then waking up 3 times during the night. Okay, the night was better than we hoped. In the morning, she found toys, bubbles and a Big Girl award in her box instead of binky. She was sad but loved her presents. No nap the next day and with a little encouraging of not needing binky and being a big girl, she fell asleep. She woke up 4 or 5 times. Saturday night she would wake up each time screaming and couldn't be consoled for 10-15 minutes. Sunday night she fell asleep at 9 and woke up each hour until 2, then up at 8am. (we couldn't tell by now if this was getting worse or better) Monday night she woke up 3 times but we shut all doors and let her soothe herself to sleep. Finally by the end of the week, we were mostly rested and Maci was getting used to the nights. She still woke up, sometimes screaming, some just whimpering. Now, 13 days later, she still haven't slept thru the night like she had before, but she now comforts herself and is able to fall back asleep on her own. The binky is only mentioned when she brags about the binky fairy coming. For example, we were at the story and passed a 9 mo old boy with a binky and she told him her story of the binky fairy coming and bringing her presents. It was cute
The plus side of it you ask??? Well, finally, we see a plus side; we weren't sure we were ever going to get there. Macs now cuddles more. She has never been one to cuddle but now she asks to be rocked to sleep or sit on your lap to watch a movie. She voluntarily comes up to you and gives hugs and kisses for no reason at all (precious are these moments). She altogether seems to have grown up a bit too. She is more helpful around the house and plays better with her friends and cousins.
We are so glad this is past us. David says this next little on isn't getting a binky but I say otherwise. We will just take it away at about 12 months old or sooner. That is of course if he/she will even take to one. We know that binky's are lifesavers but taking them away from an attached toddler was HARD. We know we didn't do it alone. Heavenly help was on our side. It is amazing what prayer, trust and persistent can do.
"Bubbles" the Binky Fairy's Box
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