My daughter was addicted to her pacifier until we weaned her off. It helped her fall asleep, kept her quiet in the car, all in all it was a life-saver. When she was about 18 months, we had decided it was time to get rid of the soother. Most manufacturers only make soothers up to 18 months anyways so that was another sign that it was time.
Nothing seemed to really work though. We tried cutting back the amount of time she used her pacifier. That didn’t do much good. One night me and my husband decided enough was enough and hid all her pacifiers in a safe spot. I took her up to her bed and laid down with her that night. I told her that the soother fairy was coming that night for her pacifiers since she was now a big girl and that the fairy was going to give her soothers to little babies that need them. She cried most of the night and that was the most painful thing for both of us to endure. I am sure that any parent can relate to the fact that they hate seeing their child in pain. She reminded me of a drug addict that was going through withdrawal. It was rough but after about two weeks it didn’t really bother her anymore that she didn’t have her pacifier anymore.
Since then, she has seen a couple of little ones around her age with pacifiers when we are at the mall. I am sure she is tempted to walk over and snatch that pacifier out of the toddlers mouth, I see the look on her face. Thank goodness she is strapped into her stroller.