From day one, your baby’s soother has been a bit of a blessing and a curse at the same time. On the one hand, it is your absolute saviour because it calms and pacifies your baby when they are upset or in an uncomfortable situation. But on the other, it is a daily stress.
From day one, your baby’s soother has been a bit of a blessing and a curse at the same time. On the one hand, it is your absolute saviour because it calms and pacifies your baby when they are upset or in an uncomfortable situation. But on the other, it is a daily stress. You leave the house without it and face an afternoon of meltdowns. Not to mention the money that has been spent replacing lost soothers or ones that your baby has chewed through.
There comes a time where as a parent you have to intervene to help your child separate from their soother. Your GP, public health nurse or school teacher may mention it. It is usually for reasons concerning speech and dental issues.
Perhaps like many of us, you vowed that the soother would be a distant memory by their first or second birthday? It may not have panned out that way and you may find yourself with a three or four-year-old that is very attached to their soother.
We’ve heard about leaving the Soother out for Santa to take. People have had great success with that one. We’ve also heard about fairy trees and fairies taking the soother away while your child slept. Of course, they also replaced it with a gift which always goes down well.
If those ways don’t appeal to you, why not consider the below? They are lesser known but parents across the world have found them to work a treat.
- Make a rule where the soother is only allowed when your kid is in or around their bed. This creates a boundary and will detach some of the comfort associated with it. If your child wants it, they’ll have to go to their room. When the time they use it or look for it, is limited it will make it easier to plan for life without it.
- Take your child to the zoo and tell them that a baby animal needs a soother. In return, you can pick up a cuddly toy of that zoo animal to take home. It’s a swap and you can always refer to how kind they were to give their soother to a baby animal.
- Cut the top of the soothers off and act oblivious. This may seem harsh but it could be a case of explaining that they are “finished” now and chances are your child will have no interest in them when they look and feel like this.
- Time it with a holiday or trip away. “Forget” the soother and with all the fun and distractions it will most likely be fine. By the time you get home, it might be easier to continue like this.
- A soother ceremony. Tie the soother to some colourful balloons and wave them off as they travel to a little baby that needs them. Take lots of photos and make a big deal of how exciting it is.
Written by Tracey Quinn staff writer at Family Friendly HQ. Tracey also blogs at www.loveofliving.ie