Now that my son is 5 years old, I am FINALLY putting my foot down with the bobo (pacifier). He only used it at night, but it was really getting on my nerves. I wanted to take it away from him sooner, but my husband felt like we should leave him alone. And I knew that if my husband and I weren’t in agreement in this matter it would cause problems. So, I let it go.
My husband was now the one to say that it was time (Thank God). So, we prepared our son for weeks prior to his birthday, letting him know that once he turned 5 – it would have to go. We told him that he was going to be a BIG boy and that we had something special to replace his bobo with for when he went to bed. He was very excited about that fact.
I came across the coolest gadget online for kids – a portable nightlight shaped like a little person called the Tykelight. I thought it would be the PERFECT thing to give to my son in place of the pacifier that he held on to for so many years. The light is made out of this silky plastic material so it is soft and comfortable to hold.
It is rechargeable and will last up to 10 hours. It even has a 15 minute dimmer timer so that it will automatically shut off. It has several different glow settings – blue, red, green, and a color changing setting that slowly changes the colors between red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. That is my son’s FAVORITE setting. 🙂
I got the Tykelight directly from the company website at www.Mobi.com for $24.99, but I actually found it for cheaper (after the fact) on Amazon.com for only $19.70.
So, I am happy to say, that it has been 3 nights now and my son has been doing GREAT without his bobo. He has asked for it a few times, and I did find him with his 3 yr old sister’s in his mouth one night (they share a room), but all in all it has not been too bad. I thought it was going to be much worse.
Here is a picture of him tonight with his new bed buddy –
I did buy 2 of the night lights, so that my 3 yr old would have the option of giving up HER bobo, but she is not ready and my husband feels like we should wait until she turns 4 and do something special like how we did for our son. So, that is the plan.
I am sure some of you moms are wondering why I am allowing my children to have the bobo for so long in the first place, well…. I was a thumb sucker until I was 16 and it did some serious damage to my teeth. I had to have a lot of mouth work done. I would rather my children use the pacifier and not resort to their thumbs.
What do you think about the pacifier? Did you use it with your children? Are you for it or against it? I would love to hear your thought. 🙂
I understand completely!
I wanted to take the paci away on the second birthday, but it just didn’t work out. Hubs had the same reasoning… paci is better than the thumb, so we let it go. However, over time the paci’s started getting lost. Instead of buying replacements I decided when the last one was gone, that was it.
This week the last paci fell behind our bed. When hubs told me about it I suggested we just leave it there and see what happened. Sure enough, he could live without it! Lil Man is 2 and a couple months, and he’s paci-weaned. Sure, he asks for it at bed time (the only time he’s used it in over a year) but when we explain it’s gone, and he’s a big boy who doesn’t need it anyway, he calms right down and goes to sleep.
It’s been so much easier than I expected.
For anyone else who’s struggling with the paci deal, I’d suggest the above solution! I’ve had a few friends give advice in this area as well… Some said they took a pair of scissors and cut a small slit in the nipple, which caused it to collapse when the child sucks on it. Then once they complain, you explain it’s broken and give them the option of throwing it away. I can see this working well with an older child.
Congrats on winning the paci battle!
.-= erica mueller´s last blog ..Focus =-.
Thank you for suggesting I read this!! I hate to admit it, but I do love knowing other parents struggle with the same things I do.
Delaney seems to be responding well – she loves the praise she gets when she ‘tries’ to stop – so I’m focusing on that!
Fingers crossed she can do it!
BTW – just saw your vlog on your pregnancy – I LOVE that you did that – so proud of you – it was so brave and so honest and I adore it. Congratulations! I know you will be able to master the organization!! What an amazing family you have and will have! Hugs!
.-= Danielle @ ExtraordinaryMommy´s last blog ..How Quick Can a 3 year old go? =-.
Yep – both of mine had it but I never intended for them to. The hospital actually started my son on it after he was born! I suppose I technically had the option to ditch it as soon as we got home but it soothed him so I let him keep up. I never liked cute, made-up names though so I called it his “friend” which is probably not so great since he had to give up his “friend” eventually. But when he was 2, he bit a hole through one and I told him he was ready to give it up. I let him toss it and that was that. My daughter got the same thing – I let her keep it until she was 2 and then it HAD to go. I think hers ended up getting lost and we put no effort into finding it. No issues afterward, thank God.
Gee a frownie face? I’m not that bad! LOL! I posted that before I joined your blog, so now I am wondering what face will show up now!
My daughter is 22 years old and very secure with her life but at ages 1, 2, 3, & yes 4 I thought she’d be taking her paci to school. My decision was not to force her to give it up for fear that if I did she’d latch onto something else. I feel that because I let her decide when to lose the paci she was fine with it. The same went with potty training, her brother was potty trained at about 2 1/2 years old, but not my daughter she was a little over 4 years old as she had some issues (35 ear infections by the time she was 36 months old). To make a long story short once potty trained there was never another accident,never in bed or otherwise. As parents we sometimes think we know what is best, but do we really? Sometimes it’s best to let things ride…I’ve seen a 1st grader in a diaper or a college student with a paci.
Typo…big typo in last line…”I’ve NEVER seen a 1st grader in a diaper or a college student with a paci.” Sorry! 🙂
my 3 yr old still has his Poozie he refuses to give it up. Although last night he did fall asleep without it so we may be crossing a road…keeping fingers crossed.
I’m thinking on taking it to the store to buy him something and he’ll pay with his poozie.
Love that nightlite guy you found. Super cute. I wonder if my boy would go for that trade.
.-= Nightowlmama´s last blog ..Want comments on your blog?? I’ll come give you TWO… =-.