Penny the Paci Fairy

Getting a last suck!

The Paci Fairy visited Taylor about 10 days ago. I had been dreading this night almost as much as my paci-loving daughter dreaded giving up her beloved "papi." Taylor has used a pacifier for every nap she's ever taken and at bedtime every night since the nurses in the hospital convinced us to use one. As much as I grew to hate the paci - fishing around for her crib for it in the middle of the night, finding spares to take in the diaper bag any time I left the house, begging Taylor to take it out of her mouth each morning before she started talking - it provided my little girl with a lot of comfort in her first three years of life. However, it was time to say goodbye. I started talking up the Pacifier Fairy about three months ago. I told Taylor that she came around her 3rd birthday. After her birthday came and went, I knew I had to execute.

One last picture of the pacis.

The first few nights were tough. Very tough. God bless my strong-willed child. She put up such a fight. The first night without her paci, she cried and slept restlessly the whole night. I just barely got in her room to swap her pacis for her present before she woke up in rage. She was so hysterical that Tommy and I finally caved and let her open her presents from the Paci Fairy at about 12:30 AM. After another 1/2 hour of play, she fell asleep as Tommy rocked her. The second night was equally as rough.

The third night, Taylor tried her usual stall tactics at bedtime but did not mention her paci. Hallelujah! After we put her to bed, she called me to her room because she need to "tinkle." As she sat on the potty, she said, "Mommy, did you call the Paci Fairy to find out what her name is?" I admitted that I had not, but that I would do so the next day. Sure enough, Taylor asked me the next day if I'd called the Paci Fairy. So, just in case you are wondering, I did, in fact, talk to the Paci Fairy. Her name is Penny.

The next several nights involved more crying for her paci, followed by night terrors in the middle of the night. Man, those are awful! Taylor has been absolutely inconsolable during the terrors, and sometimes they take over an hour to calm her down. I've learned that common causes of night terrors include (1) overtiredness and (2) a change in routine. Gulp.

The past couple of nights have been relatively calm. Granted, I've woken up with a little girl in my bed the past two mornings, but at least she's remained calm during the night. Tommy left today for a two-week work trip, so I am hoping to implement a new routine/schedule for Taylor while he's gone. Unfortunately, naps are a thing of the past. In the days since we said goodbye to the paci, Taylor has only taken one afternoon nap. Here's hoping the loss of a nap will result in an easier bedtime routine.

Rest in peace, Pacis!

A paci-free Taylor going to bed.