I recall a day when a parent of a one year old came in and dropped off with nothing unusual to report. Then came nap time and the pacifier was nowhere to be found. Uh Oh!
So with a screaming child in the background, mom was called and we asked where the “nook” was! The response was ,”oh we don’t want her to have it anymore!” When asked if they had started taking it away at home, she said “no.”
OK dear daycare parent. To start withdrawing a comfort item like that at childcare is not a good idea! It can be a traumatic thing for some little ones! They have grown dependent on the pacifier as a way to calm down or feel secure.
So here is what you can do to make the process less painful for everyone.
First of all let the staff know you are planning to take the pacifier away. You can start at home by gradually cutting down on the number of times you give it to them. The teachers can then do the same at school. The child can usually be distracted throughout the morning and just given it at nap. Each child is unique and some have no issues with this while others may need a little more time.
Just please keep the teachers informed and start the process at home. Working together with love and patience will make this a much better experience for all concerned. No worries, they will catch on and be just fine in no time!
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