Goodbye binkis!

Before I was a parent, there was nothing I hated more than seeing a grown child with a pacifier. That was until I had a four year old who seemed to NEED them! That's right my daughter was four when she finally gave them up. It wasn't because of my laziness or her being spoiled, it was just simply it was doing no harm. Stay with me here, in her four short years of life she moved houses five times, her dad was in and out of her life, she was sick, and she had a few surgeries. Her pediatrician and I agreed that taking away her comfort item would do more harm than good. Finally, when she was four, we were in a better place in life and she didn't need it for comfort. She still however claimed she needed it for bed, whatever-we were making progress and taking huge steps in the right direction! After a few months of just using it at night Jason and I decided it was time to take the last step and took her to Build-A-Bear with her binki in a baggy. We let her pick out a bear and when it came time to put in her heart we asked the lady if the binki could go in too. She gladly put that guy in there and told our daughter to say goodbye to it. She did and was very pleased with her new friend. It wasn't until bedtime that she truly realized what had happened and she was filled with a little regret and shed a few tears. We reminded her she didn't need the binkis anymore though because she's a big girl, but our little girl cried and told us "I'm still a baby though!". After a little cuddle session, reading to her new bear, and pointing out that being a bid kid was an okay thing she was fine. We haven't had an issue since! I was very impressed considering I know people who have a harder time giving them up, I actually worked with a girl who used a binki until she was 16! Yea, my four year old having one wasn't a big deal after I heard that. As much as I used to cringe when seeing a child walking around with a binki I now know what I wish more people realized, it isn't always the child's fault! That little piece of plastic and rubber was such a big part in comforting my daughter when she felt afraid and I couldn't be more thankful. Sometimes children using them have special needs and can't help it. My point is, don't judge. I was once like you and judged the parents for this but now I know better.