Ending The Sucking

My boy has loved this since Day 1, well ok, maybe Day 3.

Around 1.5 years old, I transitioned  him to use it only at nap/bed and in the car. He bite a hole in his last "car paci" several months ago and he threw it away, so he is down to having it in bed only.

My girl ditched the big green paci around 6 weeks and then picked up another bad habit at around 12 weeks.

She sucks her fingers a lot. As soon as she gets intimidated or tired, in they go. I try to discourage it when we are out, but it is sheer habit for her.

My parenting style is pretty laid back when it comes to these kinds of things. I figure that it is offering them a comfort they need and I'm not going to mess with that. There is enough in this world to mess them up; I'm not going to quibble over sucking some fingers or a plastic nub. In my opinion, they will stop when they are ready and not a moment sooner.

....BUT...

The twinadoes went to the dentist last Friday for the first time and she knew immediately that they were suckers. She mentioned that it is time to stop. Reagan has always said that "on May 10th" she will stop sucking her fingers.  (May 10th is their 3rd birthday.) So, maybe in the name of future orthodontic work, it istime to give a little push toward going suck-free.

I can't wait to see how this is going to go!

Any strategies that worked for you to ease into giving up their vices?