Sunday, September 28, 2014

The Paci

A few weeks ago I posted this picture on Facebook with a caption something like "We're in trouble when we try to break the paci habit!"


I got a handful of comments with advice (which I am going to take eventually) on how to kick the habit.  For now I'm seriously not worried about it, it was more just a funny moment to me when I checked on her and this was what I saw.  I was really happy over the summer to get her down to just sleep time, carseat, and stroller.  I know that might seem like a lot, but I targeted the key times it is helpful for her to be content and hardest to distract with other things.  We were really doing well towards the end of summer, and then her incisors started to come in and that little piece of rubber was all she wanted to gnaw on for relief.  We caved to the cries for the paci and suddenly she was totally hooked again, and with starting back to school and her being cranky in the evenings it has just been easier to give in when she asks for it.  I'm starting to realize that the paci addiction has reached new heights though.  

A few nights after this picture was taken when I put her to bed, she wouldn't settle down until she had one in her mouth and one in each hand ready for later.  At school when I pick her up she doesn't get excited because I'm there, the first thing she calls out is "Paci!" because she knows we get it out of her box to take home and she gets it in the car.  (They are much better than we are about not giving it to her unless it's naptime at school.)

This morning I decided it's time to use the paci addiction to our advantage.  When she was rolling around and giving me a hard time on the changing table, I pulled it out of her mouth and told her she couldn't have it until she turned over to be changed.  She rolled over so quick and was perfectly still for the entire change.  There will come a day sooner rather than later when it will be time to kick the paci habit, but until that day comes, I'm going to use that sucker to my advantage as much as I possibly can!