Banishing the Binky

It was a magical day in our family, one would change the house forever. It was momentous and exciting, but also scary and nerve-wracking. And it wasn’t the first time it had happened either.

At our house, we have always fought a battle with the binky. That’s right, call it what you wish – bink, binky, paci, dummy, pacifier – it’s all the same. As a mom, I’ve heard it all. Both of my children, my son and daughter, had them. And now the Treacy House is free of them forever!

How’d we do it? Like I said, it was all “magic.” We owe it all to the Binky Fairy.

Who, or what, might you ask, is that? Well you’ve heard of the Tooth Fairy, right? This is her lesser-known younger cousin. Instead of swooping in to exchange your dejected chompers, the Binky Fairy comes in the dead of night to steal all of your binkies. I have to give credit where it is due. I thank SuperNanny. She told us all about this concept and we’re so glad she gave us the Binky Fairy’s number.

There is a good story, of course. You see, the babies of the world need binkies and once you turn 3, at least in our house, it is time to allow the babies in need to have a chance with them. You are growing up and you have to pass them along to the smaller ones of the world who need the comfort more than you do now.

About a week after the third birthday, it is scheduled. We notify the fairy that we are in need of her services and she sweeps in to the rescue.

In exchange for gathering up the binks, she leaves behind a note of gratitude for your selflessness in the form of a toy you’ve longed desired. It can’t just be any old thing from the toy aisle, but something you’ve been asking about for quite some time.

In my son’s case, just two-and-a-half years ago, it was a Thomas the Train table. (Mind you, that same table sits in my basement now, collecting dust.) For my daughter, about two weeks ago, it was a “Big Girl” nail polish and make-up set. As part of being a big girl and giving up the famed binks, it seemed more than fair.

And so it was that just a few weeks into the world of 3, Alora headed to bed, still sucking on her friend and companion. She’d had them since the NICU. She’d toted them everywhere ever since.

But when she awoke, there before her was a sparkling new make-up set and gone were the binks. She never complained once. She didn’t ask for them. She didn’t cry for them. She took it for what it was. It was time to move on and she was thrilled to have the gift.

I’ve been criticized for years for allowing my children to have binkies as long as we did. I have been told they’ll have over-bites and speech impediments, deformities for life. I’ve had speech therapists, other moms, teachers and even my own parents voice their concerns. I didn’t care. They were comforted by them and I can’t think of something that matters more to me in this world than their happiness.

Whatever the critics’ opinions, it is over now. And I’m oddly a tad saddened by it, now that I think of it that way. My babies are growing up and that is just one more thing – like bottles and onesies and bouncers and high chairs and walkers – that are gone from our house, never to be seen again. It’s bittersweet.

If you have a tot struggling to ditch the paci, I’d highly recommend a call to the Binky Fairy. She is a close family friend, and we owe her a lot!