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We too had an ordeal with the soothers. All 3 of mine have been real
suckers. They really needed to suck all the time. I think they got
it from me. I sucked my thumb until I was FIVE! I can still remember
my parents always on my case to get my thumb out of my mouth. I ended up
with a bad overbite. I didn't want my children following in my footsteps,
so we went with soothers for them.
Hayley was making me pretty raw with all her sucking, so she got
a soother at about 5 weeks. I had to really work with Hayley because if
she didn't have the soother in her mouth, she'd put her thumb in there. I
kept pulling the thumb out and sticking the soother in. I did work
hard at beginning to limit the soother during the daytime for all of the
children. Then by about 9 months old, they could only have it for
sleeping.
I figured having it for sleeping wasn't so bad. Then next thing I
knew, Hayley was 2! I started thinking it was time to take it away, but
then she wanted to toilet train. I didn't think we should have two big
transitions going on, so I left it. Then I became pregnant with the
twins. We were switching her to a big bed (not a good time to take it away
again!) Then she became big sister to two babies, again not a good time to
take it away! The next few months were chaotic for everyone. The
soother was her only "vice" and it was a real comfort to her. I couldn't
take it away then!
Anyway, we got to the point where she was old enough that we couldn't just
say the soother had disappeared, we had to negotiate with her that it was time
to give it up. We set the date as her 4th birthday. We talked about
it for a month or more beforehand. We practiced on a few naps and
nightimes before that date so that she would know she could do it, but it wasn't
cold turkey. That really helped. Then on her 4th birthday, it was
gone for good. She really mourned the loss and would say how much she
missed it for months afterwards. She still sucks things when she's a bit
nervous - like the wrist part of a long sleeved shirt. So, Mel, I can
sympathize with Quinn's reaction! The dentist had bugged me about it
too, but it is hard to remove the soother from an older child.
For Rachel and Sam, we didn't want to go there again. It just
disappeared when they were about 18 months. I was worried they'd resort to
their thumbs, but they haven't!
Martha
Mom to Hayley (6) and Rachel and Sam (3) You are currently subscribed to canada as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to canada as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
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