Saying Goodbye to Binky

on August 24, 2009 at 3:15 PM

I've heard of countless ways to get children to give up the pacifier. But none are quite as creative as these binky weaning methods from MomLogic:

In Denmark, toddlers donate their old pacifiers to the zoo...Why?

To give to the new baby animals, of course!

Some families have a "paci fairy", who, similar to the tooth fairy, leaves money or a present in exchange for an old pacifier.

Some toddlers give their pacifier as a gift to their new baby sibling.

Check out MomLogic for even more creative weaning ideas.

How did you child give up their binky?

About the author Kim Conte

has shoes that make people stop her on the street and ask "Where did you get those?" but it doesn't work for taxi cabs as she was hit by one ... and lived to tell the tale. She has more freckles than Lohan but way less attitude. And she's a fierce cook with tons of recipes to share -- and wishes she could share some with Bourdain.

Filed Under: bedtime, siblings

Comments (16)

Eco-Mother

on Aug 24, 2009 at 8:54 PM

Ok, so I guess I am one of the few that doesn't call a pacifier a binky. Binky was actually a brand name for pacifiers. Call me wierd. lol It's like Kleenex......that's brand name. But I digress. When I decided my son was too old for his pacifier, I just got rid of them. They simply disappeared. It was part of the transition from toddler bed (where he could have it) to the BIG BOY bed (where he could not). It took about three days of fighting about it and crying for it, but after that we have had no issues at all.

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LuminousMom

on Aug 24, 2009 at 10:06 PM

my mom told me monkeys stole my binkie when I was 2 and we were on a camping trip... worked for us I guess.

TaraBell81

on Aug 25, 2009 at 12:41 PM

The way I got my daughter to give up her binky was rather slick if I do say so myself. Rather then giving them to the fairy or santa claus, and have her freak out the next day over it. I tricked her into thinking she no longer needed it. And here's how. Everynight, once I knew the coast was clear, and she was asleep, I'd go into her room and snip the tip of her bink off. The next morning, she would show me something was wrong with it, and I'd pretend that her teeth were simply getting too sharp for binky's anymore and that it would be dangerous for her to continue sucking on the damaged ones. After about 3 nights of this, she said she didn't want it anymore!

MarfMom777

on Aug 25, 2009 at 3:23 PM

My son quit taking one at 3 months, so I haven't had this issue. However, my girlfriend had a great way of getting rid of them that I might use for future kids. As her kid's 3rd birthday approached, she explained that 3 year olds have the opportunity to buy a toy with their pacis. Her kids rounded up their binkys and took them to the toy store. At the register they paid for their toy with the pacis and then my friend slipped the clerk cash.

mommyof1gr8boy

on Aug 25, 2009 at 10:21 PM

what if i cut off the end of the dinky? fine it works out BUT in the middle of the night he wants it or he cries and cries and sobes b/c of it what do i do with taht situation????????????????? confused ????????????????

sodapple

on Aug 25, 2009 at 10:23 PM

cold turkey, i took it away one weekend when my husband was away and by the end of the weekend we were paci free. yes, she cried to sleep at first but then she forgot it =-)

Charlar111

on Aug 26, 2009 at 1:37 PM

I am trying to get my youngest to give her up -- she must have one to sleep with. I tried to do with out when we lost last one but she cried and cried and cried for it and never did take a nap. I don't know my oldest was attached to her Binky and we mowed her last one over when she left it in the yard but she was almost four. I haveread to just let them tell you when the time is right so I'm kinda playing by ear so to speak.

CKCS_ElCEE

on Aug 26, 2009 at 3:47 PM

First we cut the kids down to just having it at bedtime, then to get rid of them we left them out for the Easter Bunny to take and give to her babies. We had one or 2 nights where the boys asked for them back, but after that nothing.

coop1515

on Aug 26, 2009 at 3:48 PM

I let my son cut the tips off of all of his pacis. Then when he tried to suck on them they would fall out of his mouth. He would tell me they were broken. LOL

Nonmember comment from Wendy aka NANA

on Aug 26, 2009 at 3:57 PM

We have a special needs grandson living with us. When we tried to wean him off the binky, he still wanted it at night. We cut off all the tips and the result is that they don't get the same stress relieving sucking action (according to his dr.) so they are more willing to go without. We had 2-3 days where he still wanted a binky to go to sleep but I guess he realized it wasn't doing anything for him so he'd spit them out and thus was weaned...