Gone Paci Gone

This is a story about a boy who bravely gave up his pacifier.....

Being that Taj is 2 1/2 months shy of his 3rd birthday (and pacifiers past this age can become really addictive and bad for growing teeth), we had a discussion with him about how he is "outgrowing" his Paci, that his teeth are getting bigger and Paci no longer fits.  We explained to him that we would be sending his beloved Paci (same one he's had for over a year) off to Paci Land, and in exchange he would receive a special gift.  Since Taj has relied on his Paci to soothe him solely during nap and bedtime for the last two years, and always left it in his room after waking, we knew he was ready for this momentous "big boy" milestone.  As with all of his "big boy" moments (potty training, toddler bed, etc) we have always slowly and gradually prepared him (and in this case, weaned him from his pacifier).  

When we told him that in 3 days we would have a "going away" party for his Paci, he got very excited and agreed to send Paci off with a bang!  We reminded him every day until the party, and in the mean time, I made Paci a little less desirable by discreetly puncturing a few teeny tiny holes along the seam of  it so it didn't inflate the same way!  It was perfect timing because he noticed right away that Paci didn't feel the same, saying "Mommy, there's something wrong with Paci.  Fix Paci, please."  In which I answered, "that's because your teeth are growing and Paci doesn't fit in your mouth anymore.  That means you are a big boy now and no longer need Paci."  To my luck, he took it well and agreed.

The day of our goodbye party, Taj decorated and colored the special box we would send Paci off in.

Then, just after dinner, he said his thank you's and bye bye's to dear little Paci, 

and put him in the special box.

Both Taj and his baby (doll) said goodbye to their pacifiers.

He gave the box a tender kiss and we placed it outside by the front door.  We told him that during the night, both pacifiers will travel to Paci land (that's where all the pacifiers go once they outgrow children's mouths).  Then in return, when he wakes in the morning, he will find the box by the door with a special toy in it!  He received a new little car just before going to bed for being so brave.

Paci flew off to Paci Land (aka, was hidden and stored for safe keeping so one day when he's all grown we can pull it out and show it to him) :)

Taj took this little car, his lovies, and snuggled with all of them....enough to soothe himself to sleep.  We still keep the ocean sound machine in his room to help him get to sleep.  With only a couple of cries, or excuses, to have a sip of water or a bandaid for the hangnails he likes to pick at, he slept solid all night long his first ever night without Paci!

In the morning, he discovered his gift from Paci!

This all happened almost a week ago, and I'm happy to report that Taj has been sleeping great at night without his Paci!  While Taj received his awesome new cars in return, this momma had to forfeit her down time during Taj's usual nap time.  Not all transitions are perfect, so for the last few days, because Taj has a harder time winding down for his nap without his Paci, he decided he wasn't going to nap!  I didn't give up, so I told him he still needed to remain in his room for "quiet time".  "Quite time" meant that he could either try napping or stay quiet and play or read books until it was time to get up.  After 2 consecutive days of him crying and screaming during his 1 hour quiet time, he finally conceded, and was quiet enough to earn his Thomas the Train and Little Einstein cartoons afterwards.  So because he has refused his naps during the day, he goes to bed earlier in the evening and is so worn out that he doesn't need his Paci to soothe him to sleep!  Today though, we had another breakthrough...... Taj fell asleep during his typical nap time!!!  I'm crossing my fingers that this trend continues, and he gets back into the swing of things with his usual 2 hour lunch nap.  I sure need him to!  LOL

And that is the story of the wonderful little big boy who bravely moved on from his Paci..... and mommy and daddy (and Jax) couldn't be more proud!  Taj makes everything look easy!