Binky Update

It's been 2 days and about 12 hours since I "pulled the plug". It's gone fairly well actually. Sunday night Kian screamed and got himself into hysterics after about 20 minutes. I went in and we talked about that it (stupid 'binky') was "broken" and had to go, was all gone. I told him it was okay. I did the whole, "you're sad it's gone, but it's okay, you're too big for it now" talk. Then, since he love, love, loves Kenny I told him that Kenny threw his binky away. He sat on my lap and his sad, little voice kept saying, over and over "okay...okay...Kenny binky...ll gone...okay, okay". That is the only true time I felt sad and guilty! Then I sang him a few songs, laid him in bed and left. He whimpered for a few seconds and then was out! Yay!

Monday, he asked for it in the morning but I just told him we'd go have juice and breakfast and that was that. He did want to snuggle with me and refused to let his stuffed dog go. My mother in law watched him and said he didn't want to sleep, was goofing around in his crib, throwing things out, but still didn't ask for it. Monday night, was much the same of Sunday night, except he clutched his baby doll and wouldn't let it go. Yes, it's a boy baby doll. No crying, he didn't even ask for it! But, the true test would be daycare!

This morning he did not ask for it, but gripped that baby doll tight. He is finding his replacement object, I think. He also is carrying his blanky around a lot more. That's fine with me. I loaded up his daycare bag with his blanky, another to cover him for nap, his baby doll, his stuffed bear, hsi cups, and his broken binky. I explained to the teachers he's been without it and doing okay, that he might not sleep too well, and here's all his "stuff". I told them if he asked for the pacifier to show him the broken one and he'd remember why he didn't want it anymore. My only goof-up was that he only started on a cot at daycare last week. I didn't think about that being another new change for him before I took the pacifier away. But, he slept 2 hours today and they said he didn't have much trouble at all at nap time. Yay!

Tonight, oh tonight was a different story. He hasn't taken decent naps since we started this process so, he's more tired than usual. He was wound up and not wanting to go to bed at all, but I finally convinced him that his baby needed to brush his teeth too. We read books, sang, rocked and then I put him in bed. He pretty much freaked out. I let him go for a few minutes until it was clear he was not going to calm down on his own. We stayed in the dark room and rocked and sang, and he decided he wanted to sleep with his Yankees Build-a-bear guy. Ok? Whatever works kiddo. It's more of a decoration than a lovey or plaything. He did fuss for a few minutes after I put him back, but again never asked for it.

I really think we're over the hump and should be smooth sailing from here, right? It might get a bit tricky with the holiday this week, so close to the termination of pacifier bliss. I'm pleased it's going so well, I was braced for much more drama. It's been nice having some more snuggles at night, instead of the pacifier putting him to sleep he actually wants to cuddle! Now, if only potty training goes this smoothly...