Bye Bye Bullet

I love that we called it his Bullet. Not only are we not really paci or binky kind of parents, but Cap just isn't one of those kind of kids either. It wasn't until Cap was around 8 months old where I finally liked the Bullet. He was already way into sleeping through the night, but it was that darn MIA Bullet at times that would wake him up until we stuck it right back in his mouth. At 8 months, he finally figured out how to find it in the pitch dark and stick it back in himself...then I really started to like that thing.

When he turned 1 we just let him have it during naps and at night. He didn't even notice we took it away during the day. He was too busy exploring and walking by then. During long trip, like to Kenya, he got to have it whenever he wanted. It was a good distraction on those long plane rides. I like the Bullet then too.

Around 16 months, I started to wonder if we could start slowly weaning him off it. Had no clue how to go about it. Heard horror stories of other parents who attempted to do the same with their kiddos. Something about toddlers with bullets in their mouths and full diapers still on just didn't appeal to me at all.

I did no research at all. Talked to a couple of friends, but it was too late to try their methods. (A note for next time, take it away when you go from 2 naps to 1. They are so tired adjusting to 1 nap that they will easily fall asleep without it.) I heard about poking a hole, then slowly snipping some pieces off, until the kid just doesn't want it anymore. That sounded easy enough. I really didn't like ruining a Bullet. We never lost a single one somehow. In my head, it was one less thing to buy next time. But we did it. Poked a little hole...2 actually. Cap was unfazed.

I let it have just the holes for a few days until Bryce said let's snip some off. Well, first off, not that easy. Little Bullet, big scissors. So when I went for the snip, I like really snipped it. Big chunk just gone. Cap was not impressed at all with this. It was time to go to bed. We did our usual routine and then put him in his crib, gave him his bullet and said night night. He pretty much lost it. There isn't a better way to put it...he LOST it. Cried and cried. We didn't even need the monitor on, we could clearly hear his screams from across the house. It was terrible.

On a side note. I started to feel pretty guilty before the snip about taking something away from him that provides such comfort and security. Silly I know, but I mean, he sleeps in a completely dark room, alone on the other side of the house from our room, and I am trying to take away the thing that I taught him to love and rely on. Just seemed wrong all of a sudden. BUT, it didn't stop me from grabbing the scissors now did it!

I went in their to try and console him a little. He was not having any of it. Leave the room, because obviously he didn't need me.

10 more minutes go by and he is still screaming like he lost his best friend. I can no longer handle it at this point and go back in his room and pick him up. Again, he does not want me he is screaming for his Bullet. I tell him he has it. He screams and cries again. I finally cannot take the guilt anymore and trade the snipped Bullet for an untampered with Bullet.

He is still very upset and does not want the new Bullet. He wants his blue one that is half missing. But he wants me to fix it. I realize he is going to have to work this out on his own because I could hold him for hours and it would not do any good. Put him back in his crib, crying, he is, not me, shut the door, and let him be.

Finally falls asleep. Wakes up the next morning incredibly needy for us. He is obviously hurt by the situation and I put the phase out Bullet on hold.

Fast forward a few weeks later. Already have had a hole in the Bullet he has been using. Did not have the heart to snip it and don't know that I ever will. Cap takes a 4-5 foot fall head first off our backyard to our basement deck. Incredibly scary. Bryce and I were both a foot away but couldn't stop it. I screamed we both climb down to bottom deck. Cap is screaming but completely fine except a hurt hand and 2 bloody fingers.

An hour or so later it is time for his nap. I laid him on his belly. His hand was hurting and he was just staring at it. He didn't ask for his Bullet so I didn't give it to him. Walked away. He fell right to sleep. First nap without a Bullet.

That night he asked for it and I gave it to him. The next day for nap he asked for it and I said no may be later. He totally was okay with that and fell right to sleep. Wow!! That night he didn't ask so I didn't give it to him. He hasn't asked for it since then, and of course now I wouldn't give it to him because he is just fine without it.

So there is my VERY long explanation of how we weaned his Bullet. The terrible fall is what did it I think. I am so thankful he was alright and can't believe we were able to pull the no Bullet thing off during it.

Good luck to anyone trying to wean one of those things!!!!