**This post was in no way sponsored by Build-A-Bear, I just wanted to share how we successfully got rid of the pacifier via their awesome store!
Although it's wordless wednesday, this post is going to be anything but wordless, just FYI ;)
It's hard to believe, but my youngest will be 2 1/2 years old soon! With him likely being our last child, I have a harder time letting go of each stage and milestone that passes. Potty training, moving to a big boy bed, getting rid of the baby gear we no longer need, etc! I know it's all a normal part of transitioning from baby to big kid...but knowing he's our last makes saying goodbye to these special stages a little more sad for this mama.
One of those stages, is getting rid of the pacifier. All three of my kids have had pacifiers and loved them as babies/toddlers. Kaelyn and Kaden were both around Caysen's age now when they said goodbye to their boppy (aka pacifier). Some of you may remember me writing about our experience with Kaelyn and getting rid of the pacifier. If not, you can read about it here. We took her to Build-A-Bear and let her pick out an animal. As they were stuffing the monkey she chose, she put her two pacifiers inside before it was stitched up. It went so well, that we did the same with Kaden at 2 1/2. He also chose a monkey. :) It ended up working wonderfully for both kids, and to this day their monkeys are very special to them.
Kaden
Kaelyn
We've been weaning Caysen from his pacifier for quite some time now. He has only had it at bedtime and naptime for the past year or so. We knew he was ready to say goodbye to his boppy for good...which is why we made a trip to Build-A-Bear Workshop this past Saturday so he could have the same fun experience his sister and brother did at his age.
Caysen was very excited for the whole process, and had Kaelyn and Kaden there to support him too. He had fun picking out a Build-A-Bear animal, and although we let him choose, he decided to go with a monkey just as the other two had done.
As the monkey was getting filled, Caysen put his last two pacifiers inside before he was stitched up. It was such a neat moment to watch. He was so proud, and I could tell felt like such a big boy!
We let him pick out an outfit, and although it took a bit of time (there's so many to choose from), he decided on the Buzz Lightyear outfit which is absolutely adorable.
What I love so much about doing the Build-A-Bear idea, is that when we take the pacifier...the kids have had something meaningful to replace it. Something they can still have at night to take its place. I love that each of my kids were able to be a part of the process so they understood what was going on each step of the way. It allowed for us to take their pacifiers cold turkey, while still giving them them comfort in knowing that the pacifiers are still always with them (in their monkeys)...while also knowing that they have something special to take its place.
Have you had to take pacifiers from your kids? If so, what ways have you found to be successful?
What a wonderful idea. I am some what a germ freak which has helped with the pacy because they were never allowed out of the car seat if we were in the car and after age 9 months they were not allowed to have them out of their beds. We then started taking them away for naps but allowed during bed time. Then at 12 months we told them they were not going to have them for night times. I do dance and sing with them before putting them into bed every night so that is something they look forward too. It has worked for me for two of my three children. My first son was so hooked at 18 months I said I would never let me kids go that long again. I mean he would have one in each hand and one in his mouth or he would not sleep. It was so painful to get them away from him. I really wish I had thought about the build a bear thing with him. That would have been awesome. He was so addicted that when my daughter came he would steal her pacy and rub it to go to sleep. Never said anything about it because he would not suck them. Crazy how attached some get.
Thank you so much for this idea. My daughter is 2 1/2, and mainly wants a paci for naps and bedtime but it's time to say goodbye to it. I just hadn't figured out a way to do it until I read this. I'm hoping it goes smoothly, i'm sure it will because she LOVES stuffed animals and we've never taken her to build a bear but I think we'll be taking a trip to build a bear VERY soon now! :)
So cute though and it is sad in a way they are getting older. Great idea for sure though!!