And, the thing is, the pacifier works. And he doesn’t use it much now: only to fall asleep about half the time, and doesn’t sleep sucking it. (Unless we’re tired and our patience is wearing or if he graces us with a public scream-fest. Good times.) I usually try to get him to fall asleep without it, but sometimes he just can’t calm down until he’s sucking on something (babies are funny creatures). I take it out after his sucking slows down, and he falls asleep without it. Without fail, though, it calms him down, which is worth gold in my book.
(I’ve been encouraging Gabe to suck his own fingers, but he’s just not interested. And I’ve challenged my assumptions a bit about just why I shudder at the thought of Gabe the two-year-old with a pacifier, and it could very well be that I don’t want others judging me. Sometimes I think the fear of judgment is more harmful than the judgment itself. But that is too deep a thought for this post.)
So now, I must make a decision. Do I make life difficult now? Or do I put it off until he’s ready and it’s easier – even though he may never be and it may become a battle of wills and involve tears, blood, and late nights. (Okay, so maybe there won’t be blood. Gosh, I hope there won’t be blood.) ALSO, what about this whole emotional attachment business? What if Gabe suddenly decides he wants the pacifier during the day? While he’s awake? What then?
(What’s that you said about needless anxiety? Hush, you.)
One-month-old wee Gabe and his best friend, the pacifier. And his papa. |
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