Paci-B-Gone!

I think I can now say, knock on wood, that we are paci-free! I took a gradual approach this time, as opposed to going cold turkey with the others, and spread out the process over about three weeks. With Mallory being our last {planned at least} child, she's getting to do things a lot longer than the others because she's the baby or because I know she's the last one. That may not be fair, but it's true. With poor baby Ross, I pulled the plug at 12 months, and he was pretty scarred. It took him a good two weeks to return to his normal, non-sad self. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't be such a drill sergeant about it. He was just a little guy. It bugs me to see three year olds with pacifiers, so I didn't want to be that parent.

With the other two, I just layed them down for a nap without it when they were both 15 months, and neither one fussed or cried. They simply went to sleep. It was very easy!

I knew it would be a bit tougher for Mal because she has three older siblings willing to aid and abed her. At 16 months, she can pretty much say anything (and she has A LOT to say!) so she would always ask for her "papi" whenever she saw it, was sad, or sleepy. Last week, she fussed a bit and asked for it when I laid her down for a nap without it. When I went in to get her after nap time, she was gleefully sucking one as she looked up at me with smiling eyes. Apparently she had some contraband hidden behind the stuffed monkey in her bed. Later that night, as Edward laid her in her crib at bed time, he said she didn't even fuss at all. She just laid very still, and then slowly slid her hand under the monkey, looking for her "papi." He said her shocked look upon not finding it was hilarious! Anyway, she as gone all week without asking for it, so I think we're in the clear. I'd be lying, though, if I said I wasn't tempted to go looking for one during some of our fussy times. A paci is just as much for me as it is for my babies!

This is a picture on about day two of the hijacking. She was willing to settle for a fuzzy Build-A-Bear pacifier that I'm sure one of the big kids offered her!