Is it really a big deal if he sleeps with a nuk at bedtime? Some may say yes, I say no. We took his nuk away during the days when he was about 15 months and limited it to just naps and bedtimes. I'm sure if the nuk really bothered me, we'd have a few rough nights and then he'd get over it. But really - who cares? Would you cut off your child's thumb if they were a thumb sucker at night? I think not. This was a great topic of conversation during one of the ECFE sessions I actually got to sit in on one time last year. The teacher said one of her daughter's was a thumb sucker and she tried to get her daughter's dentist to tell her daughter that something really bad would happen to her teeth if she continued to suck her thumb. The dentist told her he couldn't do that, so she accepted it and knew that some day her daughter would outgrow her thumb sucking. I feel the same with the nuk situation. I am not going to buy anymore nuks for Jack, I haven't for about a year. He has one nuk left and when it gets broken or lost or whatever, well - that's that.
It's like everything else in parenting - just do what works for you and your child. I don't judge people who let their 4 year olds suck on nuks or bottles in public. I might think it's a tad ridonkulous, but I just assume that this a battle they'd rather not fight. Whatever works! Seriously. I think that's my motto when it comes to parenting - whatever works! My kid sleeps in the basement - whatever works. My kid is still in diapers - whatever works. I bribe my child with dessert so he'll eat his dinner - whatever works! ha.
So...did your babies take nuks or thumbs? Did you or will you take them away at a certain age? Do you think I'm crazy for not caring that Jack still sleeps with his nuk?
Well, I don't have a baby, so I can't weigh on in this particular debate, but I think you have absolutely the right attitude - every kid is different, every parent is different, every family is different, so you need to do what is right for YOU. Just trust that little inner voice, as human instinct is an underestimated but very powerful force.
ReplyDeleteYou are not crazy. That's exactly how I feel too...pretty much no nuks during the day for Greta (unless we have a super long car ride) and she's allowed to have them when she sleeps. For right now I'm not messing with the sleep situation but my goal is to start weening her off them around age 2. We will see how that goes!?!?! :) Haha!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I enjoyed reading it!
well, you know we are big fans of pacifiers. I think Logan had his till about age 2 and Austin will the same (which means I have to take it away while mike is gone!) we just did that so the older child won't want the one that the baby has...since we are having babies 2 years apart:-) I don't think it starts affecting their teeth till age 3 or 4, so you have time. Whatever works molly, that is a great motto and you have 2 perfect kids to prove it! Jack couldn't be more sweet and hilarious and Finn is right on his heels...keep up the good work momma!
ReplyDeletei agree. we should never judge other mom's. you have to do what works for you.
ReplyDeleteWell you know my new nuk situation (i.e. my blog you saw earlier). And I like your mom motto: whatever works. It's totally true and there is zero judging on my part. I think the moms that do judge are the moms that have those freakishly weird really good babies...and those moms have no clue what it's really like!! haha.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I know this worked with each of my younger cousins (although, obviously I've never tried it myself, it's just a suggestion). Their pediatrition said that once they are "old enough" (whatever that means) to no longer NEED a nuk (whatever that means) to take a scissors and make a very small snip at the tip of the nuk--just really small enough to make a little hole so that the air comes out when sucked on. Typically children don't like when they suck on the nuk and it flattens...BUT the trick is...they CAN technically still have it, but usually they decide on their own that they don't like it or it's "broken" etc. If they still manage to chew on it, every few days, snip a little bit more off of the rubber part and eventually it will just be gone. Like I said, all of my little cousins decided on their own that they no longer wanted the paci because they didn't like it anymore once it wasn't what they were used to. Just a suggestion. It never hurts to try!
Carly - I've heard of that before, but hearing about it in that detail really makes me think about doing it. I think I'll wait a little while, but I think I'd rather do this method than completely just take it away.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for the nice comments and letting me know how you feel and your plans with the "nuk situation" :-)