Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Bye Bye Ba Ba!


I took Sam's pacifiers (he calls them ba bas) away from him today. Last night, out of the blue, I decided that today would be the day. I know that most of you are rolling your eyes saying that it's about time! Especially since he will be three in less than a month! But those of you who know me personally, know that I am a very relaxed kind of mama......I usually don't take away my children's comfort items. There are more important things that matter to me than things such as how long my children nursed (4 out of 5 nursed passed their first birthday), how long they took a bottle (2 took a bottle for a long time after weaning from breastfeeding---one until 19 months, one until 30 months), or until now, how long they took a pacifier (the only other child who took a pacifier, used it until 26 months). In each case, the child gave up the comfort item on his own! However, Sam has shown absolutely no signs of ever giving up his beloved ba ba!
My main motivation for ending the pacifier addiction is that I didn't want to have to keep up with pacifiers at Disneyworld, where we are going in 3.5 weeks. So, today was the day.
He did super! This morning I hid all of the pacifiers except for the one he was sleeping with--before he woke up. While he was eating breakfast, I secretly snatched the last one. After breakfast, he asked, "Where is my ba ba?" I told him that they were all gone, he was a big boy, and he did not need them anymore. He went to the drawer where I previously had kept them, and to his dismay, they were all gone! He asked, "Where are my ba bas?" They are all gone!! I repeated what I had just said, then picked him up and loved on him. I distracted him, and he was fine. I spent the day making sure I held him more than usual (is that even possible?). I kept him busy close beside me. He only asked for his ba bas 4 or 5 times all day, and was for the most part satisfied with my answer. Twice, he whined for several minutes....before naptime and bedtime. He fell asleep in my lap as I was reading books to him for his nap, and at bedtime, he jumped, sang, rolled around, tossed, and turned for one hour before falling asleep. But he never cried! I am so proud of him. Now that we have made it through the first day, I think all will be fine.
What a big boy!

7 comments:

  1. YOU'RE A GOOD MOMMY.
    I HATE IT WHEN PARENTS ARE SO HUNG UP ON HOW OLD THE CHILDREN ARE WHEN THEY POTTY TRAIN, ETC.
    I KNOW THERE IS A TIME, BUT... MOMMY KNOWS BEST! I STRESSED OVER NOELLE POTTY TRAINING, BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE SAYING..."SHE'S ALMOST 3 AND SHE IS STILL IN PULL UPS?" I READ EVERYTHING THERE WAS TO READ, SAT IN THE BATHROOM READING BOOKS TO HER FOR HOURS ON END, AND FINALLY CALLED THE PEDIATRICIAN. HE TOLD ME TO LEAVE HER ALONE, AND IT WOULD COME. ONE DAY OUT OF THE BLUE, SHE CAME TO ME AND SAID SHE NEEDED TO GO TO THE POTTY, AND SHE WAS POTTY TRAINED AT NIGHT AND DAY FROM THEN ON. SHE WAS 3 AND 1/2, BUT WHO CARES?
    CONGRATS TO SAM FOR BEING A BIG BOY!
    OH, AND I GOT A TEXT FROM DAVID SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT JIMMY'S MOTHER FALLING. HOW IS SHE?

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  2. Way to go Sam!!! What a big boy!!!

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  3. Aww! The last (possibly :) ) Johnson baby is growing up! I'm so proud of Sam!

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  4. Good job Sam and Mom!!!

    I agree w/ Liesa... Much to the dismay of some friends and family members, I don't push things. I've yet to have a 4 year old nursing, taking a bottle, toting a paci or wearing pull ups! Things are just so much easier when THEY are ready.

    Glad it was such a peaceful transition.

    Em

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  5. WOW! What a big boy!! He gave up his Ba Ba easier than some people I know!! Way To Go Sam!!!



    Happy New Year!
    ~Hannah~

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  6. ok Roan, you make me feel bad... But to make you feel better, I'll share this with you, Carson Langford is five years old, and 7 1/2 months to be exact and still has one pappie as he calls it, sounds alot like Sam, whenever I do try to take it away, he rolls, tosses and tumbles for about an hour trying to go to sleep and then I give in, give it to him and he's out in about 2 seconds. What amazes me is that he actually still sucks it. I'm sure that everyone who reads this will think I'm awful, but you know what? It'll get a hole in it one day and we won't have another to replace it, so oh well. For now, I'll just enjoy hearing that little fellow smack on it every night when he goes to bed while he twirls my hair. One day, I'm sure he won't do either!!!! :(

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  7. Aww! What a big day. I hope Sam continues to be brave.

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