Isabelle is finally sleeping at night without her "nuk." I never wanted her to have a pacifier and it took her pediatrician telling me to give it to her to feel comfortable about it, but for the past 3 years she has been a big nuk-lover.
We never let her carry it around and several months ago we took it away from her and put it in her bed, to never come out again. Since she couldn't have it unless she was in her bed, she has always been happy to climb into bed at night. Jelly has never been a good napper, since day one she has resisted naps, but she has always slept well at night. (She doesn't need much sleep like her dad.) In January she visited the dentist for the first time and the dentist told her that the next time she visits her, in July, she wanted her to throw her pacifier away. Since Isabelle is the rational child that she is, she immediately came home and threw it in the trash. However, that night she dug it out and has slept with it ever since. On Saturday afternoon, Jelly woke up from a short nap and yelled from her bed I am throwing this nuk away so it doesn't make my teeth crooked! Of course, Ben and I had to follow her lead and she has not had a drag in four days.
The first night it took her over an hour to fall asleep with out it but it has gotten progressively shorter each night. The second night she cried and cried and said she wished she was still a baby...I do too! She still whimpers and cries a little for it and always says I love my nuk before rolling over and shutting her eyes, but we have gone cold turkey and so far she and I are both still alive. One major drawback is that since she hasn't had her motivation to get into bed, she hasn't napped yet this week. None of us are quite ready for that change, but I am fearful that that short break mid-day is coming to a quick end.
As a side effect from the lack of sleep, today while we were grocery shopping she was unhappy about something and this was our conversation:
Isabelle: Mom, I am so angry!!!
Mom: Why are you so angry Belle?
Isabelle: I am so angry mom...because my Grandpa's liver is just so bad!!!
She got me on that one!
**This is a Jaimie Haley Photography picture! Check her out: http://www.jaimiehaleyphotography.blogspot.com/
6 comments:
She is too cute. Congrats on being nuk free. As hard as it was for me at times with my babies not taking one, I've always known that I was so lucky not to have to ween them from one either. We'll try to help fill up your nap free afternoons!
aaahhh
- poor Belle... it is hard for her!
I love that kid!
Doing that on her own shows great discipline and reasoning powers for a three year old! Sorry to say her Dad and her Uncle Jake and Uncle Joe, who were all real oral and verbal like that still have a hard time falling asleep and self-comforting at night.
I learned later that it is recommended to substitute other habitual sensory experiences, like a long relaxing bath followed by a set number of minutes rocking and then their cheek against their special pillow or blanket while listening to soothing music or story followed by white noise. Each time they say to themselves, "instead of . . ."
Audiotapes are supposed to be particularly helpful because they are distracting. My boys loved them. There is a guy who does soothing adventures where he takes you on imaginary journeys, all designed to put them to sleep. I'll try to find those on the web--first name was Jim. I've heard mothers rave about them, but never owned any.
Ryan was so easy with the pacifier. Jackson is going to be a different story! I dread that day.....
Uh I feel your pain. Only we are trying to stop Tori from sucking her thumb, unfortunately we can't throw that away.
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