Letting go of the pacifier

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I knew weaning Xander off the pacifier wasn’t going to be easy — but I didn’t realize just how emotional, exhausting, and complicated it would be.

My goal has always been to have him off the paci by the time he turns two in September. And a few weeks ago, I decided it was time. We said goodbye to the pacifier… and instantly opened the door to a whole new level of parenting challenge.

Since then? It’s felt like we’ve gone backwards in sleep. He wakes up multiple times a night — just like when he was a newborn — crying, unsettled, searching for that one thing that used to bring him comfort.

And honestly? It’s hard.
Hard not to give in.
Hard not to feel guilty.
Hard not to question whether I’m doing the right thing.

I’ve tried giving him stuffed animals — and trust me, he has plenty. But none of them bring him the calm the pacifier once did. That was his thing. His comfort. His constant. And now I’m asking him to live without it… while he’s still too little to understand why.

I know this is part of the process. I know we’re making progress even when it feels like we’re stuck.
But at 2AM, when I’m rocking him back to sleep for the third time that night, I can’t help but wish there was a roadmap for this — one that didn’t involve so many tears (his and mine).

Still, I’m proud of him.
He’s adjusting, slowly but surely.
We both are.

Letting go of the pacifier has become a lesson in patience, grace, and trust — trust that he’ll learn new ways to self-soothe, and trust that I’ll keep showing up for him while he figures it out.

We’re not there yet. But we’re trying. And in this season of night wakings, clinginess, and trial-and-error, I’m learning that growth looks like chaos before it ever looks like peace.


Before the great pacifier breakup of 2025 😅


So if you’re in the middle of a hard transition with your little one — whether it’s weaning, sleep training, or anything else — just know: you’re not alone.

We’re all just figuring it out — one restless night, one deep breath, one pacifier-free nap at a time.

💛 With love,
Anjelize
Life of Curls & Chaos


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If any of you mama's have any suggestions that have helped ween your little one off of the pacifier, please comment your tips! 😭

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