Nuk-Less & Fancy-Free

It was the best invention, it was the worst invention. Ask any parent whose child has been addicted to pacifiers and they'll tell you. There are the joys of being able to stop a cry in one small movement...put the binkie into the baby's mouth and a calm falls over the earth. On the flip side, little nuk junkies who lose their silicone buddies in the middle of the night will scream out until it's placed back in their needy mouths. This can happen SEVERAL times in one night. Then comes the day every parent dreads, the end of the nipple-shaped calming device. It's not the end per say that's the problem, but the beginning of the end. Mums and Dads all over the world know it's coming, but the thought of it is a little like going to see a horror movie. You may enjoy the ending, but there may be some seriously scary times before that.

For us it began with a trip to the library. Buttons and I went to the parent-child workshop where there are toys, books, crafts and also a professional from the area to answer questions. Well, after talking with the child psychologist about the pacifier, I knew it was time to begin the horror. Our pediatrician had told us the later you wait, the worse it gets. But when do you stop? So, yesterday Buttons went without her precious nuk for her nap. I put one in the crib just in case, but she never needed it. After her nap, we talked about what the doctor had told me that day and I asked her what she would like to substitute for the nuk. I had started this conversation a few weeks ago and she cried at the thought of loosing the binkie. However, she's been asking to have a book in her crib with her over the past few weeks, and she decided that would be a good replacement.

Last night, after dinner, during playtime and before any bed time routines, the three of us talked about going nuk-less for the night. She told us she would try it and that would make her a big girl. You know what? She slept all night without one wake-up! She started off crabby before coming into bed with us at 6:30 am, but went right back to sleep with a little hand holding. I know it's one day and I can't bring myself to throw them out cold turkey, but perhaps I could just keep a few around now for that just-in-case time. I know this probably means potty training is going to be off for a while, but that's ok.

Buttons came to us with a pacifier in her mouth, a love of warm milk in a bottle, and short spiky hair. She now loves orange juice first thing in the morning, has enough hair for pig tails and who knows what a nuk-less mouth will crave. I know parenting is all about change, but it's hard to see it happen so fast right before your eyes. All the things making her a baby are disappearing. However, the things making her my baby will never change.