Binky Bootcamp!

Take a look at these first three pictures of my beautiful Shyla May:

1)

2)
3)
Notice what they have in common? Yep, that pesky binky!

Now, to be clear, I have nothing against a binky. There are lots of positive uses for it and Shyla's binky has been a very important comfort to her through the past two years.

Dr. Terry (her pediatrician) did not say we had to take the binky away. He just doesn't like 2-3 year olds to talk with them in because they can affect speech development.

Dr. Pria (her pediatric dentist) did not say we had to take it away because binky use doesn't affect permanent teeth placement and because she let her son keep his until he was three.

But, we felt it was time. Truly, I believe Shyla would have been ready to say bye-bye-binky months ago, but I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to listen to her whine and/or cry about it. Especially while welcoming Harper into our lives.

And thus began Binky Bootcamp.

It was simple:

Thursday, August 25th: We started telling Shyla that it was almost time to say goodbye to the binky. We talked about it, and talked about it, and talked about it.

Did she hear us? Yes.

Did she understand? Probably not.

3 days later:

Sunday, August 28th: Binky was only available to her during nap-time and bedtime. And we stuck to it. When she wasn't in her crib, we stored to binky on her IPOD shelf so she could see it and know it was safe, but couldn't reach it.

Did she ask for it? Yes.

Did she whine for it? A little.

Each time she asked for it we said, "No. Binkies are for sleeping only. But, you are doing such a great job and we are so proud of you and you are such a big girl!"

I even wrote a note to her teachers so they would use the same reply at school.

Five days later:

Friday, September 2nd: We went to Peter Piper Pizza to celebrate because she did AWESOME! We are SO proud of how she handled herself all week. She is such a big girl. And she has such a beautiful face and I love that we can see it now!

My favorite part: She does not try to steal Harper's binky and she LOVES being the one to give it to her when she cries. Amazing.