Taking the paci away

On Wednesday, Trey & I decided on a plan of attack for taking Peyton's paci away. Lately Peyton has been coming into our room in the middle of the night to sleep with us (probably 4-5 times a week). He's also been going to bed very late for the last couple of weeks - it's like he's waiting on us to go to bed so he can come with us. Usually we just put him in his room and he will play until about 11. Either he goes to sleep there or if he's still awake, we will let him sleep with us. So, Trey felt like if we took Peyton's paci away - he needed to be able to sleep with us. I agreed and thought it was pretty brilliant. Obviously taking the paci away and putting him in his room has never worked so this was a new approach for us. Peyton enjoys sleeping with stuffed animals. It really doesn't matter which one - he's not picky. So, I thought since he was not going to get his paci last night that I would take him to build a bear to make a bear. Now, I knew he wouldn't "get" build a bear but I thought it would be fun to at least take him and let him pick it out. Build a bear went ok - the blowup machine scared him but he was ok by the time we left. So, we came home and he played around. I had told him earlier in the afternoon when he asked for his paci that he was a big boy and wouldn't need the paci anymore. I didn't say anything else. I didn't even want to say the word PACI for fear of a meltdown. The night went surprisingly well. Peyton DID NOT ASK FOR HIS PACI AT ALL. He got in bed with us (and was excited since he didn't have to sleep in his bed) and goofed around for a bit. He was starting to get a bit irritated so we found some cartoons and put that on. That calmed him. He laid on the bed precious as could be. He held his bear (not his new one - but old reliable "mr. bear.") It was like he knew he had to be a big boy and go to sleep without his paci (and again - we didn't even mention it since earlier in the afternoon...we just didn't want to bring it up). MY CHILD HAS NEVER LAID DOWN TO GO TO SLEEP WITHOUT HIS PACI IN A PEACEFUL MANNER. But, he did that night. he acted like he had never even had a paci before. It was surreal. It probably took him over an hour to go to sleep but he did finally fall asleep - probably around midnight. Trey and I talked quietly to each other about how awesome it had gone. I knew it wouldn't be that easy, though - I still expected a meltdown. So, at 3am Peyton wakes us screaming PACI, PACI.... He will usually wake up in the middle of the night to find his paci that has gone missing. he will put it back in his mouth and then off to dreamland he goes. But that night - there was no paci. he wasn't even really awake when he was asking for his paci. It was like he had a bad dream and was looking for his paci to comfort him. I held him and told him that he was a big boy and he didn't need his paci. He kept screaming "stop it...stop it...No....No!!!" "PACI.....PACI...." He would go through moments of being ok and then freaking out again. We found cartoons again on tv which calmed him for the most part. He continued to cry but it wasn't real tears so I knew he would be ok. Eventually he fell asleep. Since I didn't have to travel the next morning, I told Trey that I would let the boys sleep in and would take them to school whenever they woke up. I was just so proud of Peyton and I knew he had a rough night so I didn't want him to go to school tired and cranky.

It's been 4 nights since we took Peyton's paci away and although he has found two paci's on two different occasions in the house (which we had to take away) it has gone incredibly well. He even napped this afternoon for over 3 hours. I can't even remember the last time he took a nap that long.

We're both so proud of Peyton - this is the last time we're taking the paci away. I know it's going to work this time. He's being such a big boy and Trey and I aren't giving in - of course it helps that Peyton isn't fighting us as much.

Great job Peyton!