Earlier this summer I posted about Blankie & Paci for the first time. They have always been inextricably linked to Our Man Pete. Since he turned 3, we've been discussing life without Paci and how we get there. After much deliberation, we found a solution.We cut off its head.
After hearing several friends and family members discuss their techniques, this one kept bubbling to the surface. It basically involves having your child help you cut the chewy part of the pacifier off, leaving the handle intact. The child involvement is critical to buy-in. Once that part is gone, so is the attachment to the paci. They have the physical piece, but not the full satisfaction, allowing for easier detachment. It's kind of like smokeless cigarettes. You get the stimulation without the addiction.
Did it work, though? To an extent, yes. There were a few nights on edge at first. A few sad moments, but nothing like what we were dealing with prior when we'd take the real thing away for large portions of the day. Without the true satisfaction he adjusted.
That doesn't mean he doesn't still carry around the relic. He takes it to bed with him along with Blankie. He just holds it as a remembrance of the golden days. Maybe he dreams of the times they used to share. Hey - we're cool with it still being around since it's no longer dangling from his lips several hours of the day.
We're impressed. The kid basically went cold turkey.
Ok, room temp turkey. Way to go, Pete.
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