To Binkie Or Not To Binkie
Kate Hudson was recently ridiculed for allowing her son, Ryder, 3, to continue to use a binkie. While three years does seem like a long time to be relying on a pacifier, who really cares? It’s her kid, so mind your own business, right? Is it harming us in any way that her son uses a pacifier?
Squid never took to the pacifier. I bought a few before he was born because I thought all babies used them. I was wrong. And, although I wanted to agree with those who claimed with strong conviction, “I just hate it when parents use pacifiers. It’s like telling your kid to shut up,” I soon realized I would be quite happy if Squid took one. Especially at 3 in the morning.
It never happened. I think, ultimately, it is a good thing that he never liked pacifiers because it’s one less thing we will eventually have to wean him off. I’ve heard parents say binkies were more of a pain than a cure since if it dropped from their baby’s mouth mid-sleep, their little one would cry out until it was replaced.
Long story short - Squid is now 9 months and still wakes up twice during the night. This morning, when he began crying before 5, we just let him wear himself out. Eventually, he did fall back asleep. If we could just do that for say, a week, perhaps he’d drop the habit. But it is so hard to lie there and hear him wail, especially in the middle of the night! Someone wiser, please help!
January 11th, 2007 10:33
Ear plugs…LOL ;)
Children are small for such a short time that it should not matter how long Ryder has a binkie….live and let live. :)
Every child is different. Noodle had one until he was about 2.5. Peanut didn’t use one…except to be comical and steal Noodle’s and wait for someone to say–you don’t suck a binkie, so she could erupt into laughter.
January 11th, 2007 18:13
You are right, if you give it about a week then it will pass. That is what we did. After two nights of crying, our daughter now happily goes to bed every night after her night night kisses round. It’s harder on you, they forget the trauma by morning.
You are lucky about the binky. My daughter started spitting hers out at four month and opted for her thumb instead. Now, at almost two, it’s not as if I can chop her thumbs off to get her to stop.
January 11th, 2007 19:12
We did binkies until the boys were around 2 or so. Then the “binkie fairy” came after I’d secretly poked holes in them so they were useless. We sent the binkies away for other little boys to use. Or so my boys think! We had no trauma.
I know every parent has the right to let raise their child as they wish, but I’ve seen preschoolers and kindergarten age kids with them in their mouths, wandering thru Target or wherever, and I kinda cringe at that.
And I agree with letting him cry for a bit. It’s tough. Your heart hurts, your mind tells you it’s wrong. But they forget and soon, it’s a habit.
January 11th, 2007 20:45
It’s so funny you brought up US mag and Kate Hudson thing, I actually have a post in progress bitching about Us dishing out parenting advice.
Cricket never took one either. At first I was scared to try it b/c of nipple confusion fear and we had so many latching issues, then when I was really wishing he would he said no way.
January 11th, 2007 21:20
I nursed my first one back to sleep at the slightest peep. He never cared for anything but real nips. I weaned him at 8 months and he never seemed to miss me and my midnight milk.
My second one, 2 years later, was a hardcore binky addict. The “binky fairy” came when he was 18 months old b/c I couldn’t stomach the sight of him WALKING and RUNNING and even EATING with a binky in his mouth. I just took it away one night, as mean as that might be … it worked. A few rough patches followed in the moonlight. He STILL wakes every night due to a severe dust mite allergy.
My third one, who arrived 15 short months after my second, sucks her thumb like a mad woman all damn day. How do you wean them from a comfort object actually attached to their little bodies? Does anyone have the “thumb fairy’s” cell number?
January 11th, 2007 22:10
I think she is nuttier for letting that boy’s hair grow so long but that I just me I guess. I wish I could help you with the waking issues but both of my boys have been sleeping through the night forever. Don’t hate me lol
January 11th, 2007 23:53
ah..M is so attached and she’s 2.5. and i can’t quite pull the trigger.
someone described it as being an object soother..it made sense…and it’s ok. for now.
January 12th, 2007 05:40
It’s so silly - that they’re all up in her business about this. Especially since babies are biologically programmed to wean from the breast anywhere between 3 and 7 years old! That’s not always possible in today’s culture, obviously, but it is silly to be snarky about a 3 year old still needing to suck on something.
January 12th, 2007 07:20
Males reading this blog: Were you looking at the kid in the stroller or at Kate (Perhaps wondering, “Who the Hell is she?” [but not really caring]) thinking not about binkies but instead, “To bikini or not to bikini.”?
Advice, seriously?: No pacifiers, no thumb sucking, later no using the corner of the sheet for nose blowing, and they don’t need to sit in the shopping cart when they’re 10. Break all bad habits. You might as well. When he’s older, he’s going to be pissed at you anyway for something or everything.
January 12th, 2007 12:37
I agree…if Kate Hudson wants to let him have a binkie, then its her choice. She’s the mama.
And, crying it out definitely worked for me. We did that with Emma when she got to be about a year old, and just now we switched her to a toddler bed and she cried the first few nights, but we let her cry herself to sleep. If we didn’t she would never sleep.
The only thing is now, if she wakes up crying its because she’s fallen out of the bed. Stupid toddler beds.