The Plug Fairy

The 4th birthday is a milestone in our house - it is when we get rid of the nighttime plug.  What is a plug, you say?  Well, it's the name that my husband so affectionately gave pacifiers and has somehow stuck!  At one year, we wean them down to having one just when sleeping, and then the day they turn four, they give it up for good.

We prepare months in advance, talking about how four year olds are Big Kids and don't use plugs.  We read the BinkyBaba Fairy Book (which I change to say Plug Fairy) and talk about how, the night they turn four, they leave their plugs in a box and the Fairy takes them to new babies who need them and leaves a Big Kid present to thank you.

Aurora handled it pretty well when she turned four.  She didn't fuss, although she did stop taking naps and started coming out of her room at night.  I was nervous about Alex, since he seemed quite a bit more attached to his than she was.

Finally, the monumental night arrived!  Alex put his plugs in the box and got a cup of water (Big Kids get water, he says), and went to bed.  There was no crying, no fuss!  I heard him whimper twice through the night but both times he quieted himself down.

When he woke up, it was clear that he had not slept well...he was pretty grumpy and rubbing his eyes.  But he did not cry or fuss!  And he was excited to see what the Fairy had brought him....

A Cars TV/DVD set for his room!  He was so excited!  Big Kids have TVs in their room.  We set it up and he was so proud of it.

Then nap time arrived....and Alex realized his plugs were gone for good and not just for the night before.  A meltdown ensued - it was not pretty!  But he eventually calmed down, especially after I mentioned he'd have to lose his new TV if he couldn't act like a Big Kid...and went to sleep.  

And he's been doing fine since!