We are coming around on 17 months in this household and Cora’s two favorite things are her blankets and binkies. Every time she falls, gets sleepy, needs a cuddle or really any moment, she needs one but prefers both. Thankfully she isn’t attached to a specific blanket or binky but does love them all.
I wanted my child to be a binky baby. I seriously hoped that she would not be one to hate them because I wanted the mute button, I won’t lie. My second reason was because I was a thumb sucker. As in, I was probably 13 before I quit and my Mom tried everything to get me to quit but ultimately, you can’t take that away. A binky you can. To my happiness Cora took to that binky the day she was born and hasn’t turned back.
I remember around the 9 month pediatrician visit, the doc was discussing getting rid of the bottle and I asked her about her thoughts on the binky. She told us they don’t get too fussed about getting rid of the addiction till around 2. She fully believes it helps them and parents get through the teething phase and lord knows the teething phase in our household is anything but fun. She had a much greater concern over getting rid of the bottle by 12 months which we successfully mastered.
From there, I honestly haven’t given it a ton of thought, my girl and her addiction. She will play without one during the day and knows they aren’t allowed at the high chair. She does know where the binky bowl is and is magical at pulling one out of thin air. Sometimes she likes to chew on two at once. (Teeth!) At times, when she pops one in her mouth, she has the same look on her face that I do when I take the first sip of wine after a long day. She certainly requires one for naps, car rides, bedtime and some soothing in between. I’m careful to keep them boiled, replaced when need be, and age/size appropriate.
I have started to have a few comments from people regarding her little attachment. Perhaps she likes it a bit too much, perhaps we should start getting rid of it now….everyone has an opinion, horror story, advice or made up knowledge on the topic. Then I realized I am starting to let go of a lot of this “society baby requirement” shit more than ever. While I thought we were fairly good about letting a lot of it roll off our backs, there are some things I wasn’t as good about. I’m currently giving zero fucks about her binky situation. I’m not going to research it, I’m not going to worry about it…nothing. I’m going to pop one in her mouth tonight if she screams at me, that’s what I’m going to do.
Do I want my kid to be the 3 year old talking around a binky? No. But the girl isn’t even two yet so can the lady in the grocery store cool her shit just a notch? Just trying to keep her from burning down the house can be exhausting enough! I figured we will start a 12 step program with her over the summer with a goal of it to be almost gone or gone by the time she turns 2 in October.
Goals I tell you.
What are your binky stories?
or comments like “you know you will have to get rid of that”. I am a formula feeding mum to and I am already sick if the questions…same as my c-section. I have complete strangers or acquaintances asking why I don’t breastfeed or why I had a section. I used to explain, now I just say “private medical reasons” and leave it.
Through My Mistakes 
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