The Pacifier Woes

Dear Pacifier,

I don't like you.  Oh, sorry to be so blunt, but I just want to keep it real with you.  I didn't use you in the first 6 weeks after Julian was born so we could establish his nursing habits.  I am so thankful that I waited, but then you came into our lives camouflaged as one of the best inventions in the world.  You made my life much easier and Julian took to you right away.

Before you, he used to have to be bounced to sleep on an exercise ball and he would cry and cry.  After you came to comfort him, all I did was nurse him, put you in his mouth, and out he'd be.  We used you only for naps and you made my (let's be honest, our) life so much easier.

Now your true colors are to showing.  I'm not sure when the pattern started, but we'd do our usual routine putting Julian to sleep, but he'd drop you and wake up crying.  I didn't mind running upstairs and placing you in his mouth again since he was unable to do so for himself at that time, but unfortunately I set up a bad habit of always replacing you even after he was able to put you in his mouth himself.  Now I have a son who is fully capable of picking you up and putting you in his mouth, but he doesn't know how when it's dark and he's mostly asleep.  I never trained him, but you were the instigator.

The other problems you caused was that you disguised yourself as a very useful mute button.  Julian's grandparents came to visit and we were out all time and he was learning to use his voice in a not so pleasant way, so we used you to keep him quiet in public.  Oh you were so effective but wait, now Julian demands you to be present whenever we're out and about.  You are a sneaky one Mr. Paci.  Baby crack is your new name.

I decided today that I really didn't like you, so I  nursed Julian to a comatose state, placed him in the crib and he was up after 15 minutes.  Not cool Pacifier, NOT cool!  It's 3:30pm and Julian is sucking on you (I gave in) since this is the first time he has really napped today.  I don't like you...I really don't like you.

Sincerely,
J's mom


For all of you who have used pacifiers, can you help a mama out?  I suppose I have to train J to put the paci back in his mouth when he wakes up, but he really doesn't know how to do that...just cry and then cry harder.  If you have suggestions, I'd take them.  I'm thinking about placing a pacifier in each hand.  Or when I go in, help him learn to look for it.  It's much more work than just putting it back in and him going right back to sleep, but sometimes we run upstairs 5-8 times in 2 hours before we go to bed.  Not cool.