Paci-Free...Take Two

6 weeks ago, I blogged about weaning Caroline from the paci. In the beginning, we did pretty good. And then we went to Columbia a couple of times, baby shower, she got sick, mini-vacation to Atlanta & Auburn...we ended up NOT doing so good. As the weeks went on, she had the paci here and there...not always for nighttime & naptime - but here and there throughout the day. And that was MY lack of control, not Caroline's. I was weak.

Well, I said the entire way to Atlanta 2 weeks ago that when we got back to Myrtle Beach, the pacis were going in the trash. I was D.O.N.E with them. And on the way home I told Caroline "You use that paci all you want now because when you get home from school tomorrow you won't have it anymore!" Isn't that mean of me?

So, on Monday while she was at school and I was at home doing laundry, I searched the house high and low and threw them ALL away. Monday night was pretty bad - total of 30 minutes crying, didn't want to be held, didn't want to be laid down. She finally cried herself to sleep. Tuesday night? Not a peep!!!! Wednesday night? NOTHING!!! Thursday night? SILENCE!!! HOORAY!!!!!

Friday night? Not so good. From the time I picked her up from school to the time I almost had a mental breakdown, she cried and whined and wanted to be held. And all I kept thinking was "I can do this. I can do this. I can do this" We had mastered bedtime with no paci for 4 nights. Not ONCE did I ever think about her attitude otherwise. So, after 3 times of putting her in her crib just so I could check what was in the oven for dinner (and one 1 time of her throwing up during a crying fit in her crib), I caved. I was a failure. And I found the paci I hid for an emergency (BAHAHA!). Caroline took her paci for about 3 minutes, took it out to drink her milk and didn't have it again for the rest of the night.

Did she just need a fix? Was she THAT addicted to it? Who knows. The rest of the weekend was spotty - she did have it here and there...especially first thing in the morning when I needed her to go back to sleep while I got another 20 minutes of sleep (hey, every minute counts). But, now we're back on track. She has not had the paci at home since Sunday afternoon and she's been an angel.

On a side note - she still takes it at naptime at school. I think in the next week or two we're going to ask her teachers to throw them away, too.

I realize that this is much harder on me than it is on Caroline. I don't doubt that at all. But, this too shall pass and we will make the best of it. She's become closer to her lovey ("Fuzzy" as Daddy has named it) and has even taken to a doll baby, too. And she can sleep with those two as long as she wants - til she's 30 if she needs to!