Parenting can sometimes feel like a never-ending rollercoaster, especially when it comes to managing our little ones’ attachments. My 2-year-old daughter, Mia, is currently in the throes of a binky obsession that makes previous experiences with my other two children seem like a walk in the park. She insists on having her binky in her mouth, one in each hand, and can’t even imagine heading to the store or getting into the bath without them. She’s completely dependent, more so than any of my other kids ever were.
I have three children, aged 9, 7, and 2, and each of them had their own binky phase. However, as they hit the two-year mark, that phase can become quite challenging. Binkies seem to multiply around the house—there are some in the van, the kitchen, and even a secret stash in the pantry. We had to relocate this stash after Mia discovered it and nearly destroyed the drawer in her quest for more. Finding a replacement drawer box was a headache and expensive too.
The thought of breaking Mia’s binky habit within the next year fills me with dread. I remember all too well the trials we endured with my other kids. With my first child, Ethan, I naively thought reason would work. At three years old, I sat him down for a heartfelt talk about why he needed to let go of his binky, thinking my words would resonate. Instead, he looked at me as if I were speaking a foreign language. After just 45 minutes of inconsolable sobbing, I caved and handed it back. We tried various methods, from vinegar-dipping to limiting binky time to bedtime, but nothing worked effectively.
Ultimately, we found success by attaching his binky to a doorknob, allowing him to visit it occasionally but forcing him to leave it behind. I’ll admit, he put up quite the fight, spending an entire day in the hallway, torn between the comfort of his binky and the reality of the situation. By the end of the month, however, we had finally broken the habit.
With my second daughter, Lila, we opted for a different approach—snipping the ends of her binkies to make them less satisfying. While it eventually worked, she also transformed into a little monster for a week, as if detoxing from something much stronger. There were moments during the weaning process when I cracked under the pressure and handed them a binky, causing a full-on relapse. I often imagined my children as teenagers, still clinging to their binkies, thinking I simply wasn’t strong enough to follow through.
Despite knowing all this, I didn’t hesitate to give Mia a binky. Whenever I see another child with one in public, I feel a sense of camaraderie with other binky parents. There are definitely those who are staunchly against them, giving judgmental glances at parents like me. But what they fail to appreciate is just how powerful a binky can be.
Anyone who has navigated the binky addiction knows the late nights and the screaming, and the reality that you’ve created a little monster who finds comfort in a small piece of plastic. Yet, reflecting on those early years, I have to acknowledge that having that one go-to comfort item was invaluable. There’s a certain level of helplessness that comes with caring for a baby, and a binky provides a sense of control, an immediate way to soothe your child.
As soon as a new baby arrives, it’s easy to forget the struggles of breaking the binky habit, focusing instead on the cries of a newborn. I cherish those moments of seeing my little ones with a binky, their faces serene and peaceful, even if it means facing the inevitable battle down the road. If you’re in need of resources or support for this journey, check out this blog post and consider reputable retailers like Make A Mom for at-home insemination kits. You can also find valuable information at UCSF’s Center.
In summary, breaking the binky habit is a tough uphill battle, but it’s one that many parents face. While there are challenges ahead, the comfort a binky provides during those early years is often worth the risk.