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(WCCO) In the world of parenting, trying to pull the plug on pacifiers can be difficult.

"I don't think it will be a pretty sight," said Heather Garcia, a mother.

She says her 2-year-old son Josef and 1-year-old daughter Sofi are pacifier addicts.

"If I become insistent, it just sort of becomes a struggle and sort of a match of wills," she said.

For Heather and her husband, Carlos, the time has come to neutralize the Nuk.

When speaking of Josef, Carlos said, "He'll get one or two of them and he'll just sit there as he goes to sleep just switching them out."

The Garcias want Sofi's Nuk to be gone before she's big enough to protest.

They've tried to take the Nuks away before, but Carlos said, "We give in."

They vow this time will be different.

"Our understanding is that at this age it could affect his teeth," said Carlos of Josef's addiction.

Pediatric dentist Dr. Amey Severson of Children's Dental Care Specialists agrees.

"They can actually move the jaw forward -- especially the upper jaw," she said. Severson said if just the teeth move, it should correct itself.

"If it's the jaw structure itself, then we've got a problem," she said.

Parenting expert Lori Jo Kemper agreed to work with the Garcias to come up with a plan to pull the plug.

"It's not a problem. It's just a parenting challenge," said Kemper.

She said the ideal time to get rid of the pacifier is around six months when a baby's instinct to suck has diminished. As for Josef and Sofi, it might be harder because of their age.

Kemper said what to do largely depends on your child's personality. For a budding drama queen, you could pick a date on the calendar for "No Nuk" day and celebrate with a party. For older children, sometimes being matter of fact about it and taking it away with no fanfare can work. All children can be encouraged to latch on to a different object -- just not a thumb.

As for the Garcias, Kemper had something else in mind.

"There's nothing wrong with make believe at this age," said Kemper.

Enter the Nuk fairy.

"The Nuk fairy comes and you make him color and draw and make a picture that you staple together and the Nuk goes in it and the fairy comes when they turn two and a half and then it's gone because he's old enough," said Kemper.

"I like the idea of having some magic around it," said Heather.

So, did Josef. They spent a day getting ready for the fairy.

"When he was drawing, he kept saying, 'no Nuks, no Nuks, no Nuks.' He was also very brave and loved helping to make the box and helping put glitter stars on and stuff," said Heather.

But when nighttime came, the magic disappeared. First, it was Josef crying, and then, Sofi would join in -- all night long.

"So I go in. He's just crying and crying, asking for his Nuk, and I'm like, 'no, the Nuk fairy is coming to get them,'" said Heather.

By morning the arrival of the fairy couldn't come quick enough for Carlos.

"I hadn't slept yet," he said about staying up until 4:30 a.m. He was up again, at 7:45 a.m. to go to work.

"I started getting ready for the day and went to Starbucks," said Carlos.

After the first night, some things got better.

"The second night, he was so exhausted, he actually slept the whole night. So that was a lot easier," said Carlos.

And by the fourth day, Josef was sleeping through the night.

However, that wasn't the case for little Sofi.

"It's at night that Sofi especially has had problems," said Heather. She's been a visitor in Heather and Carlos' bed. She won't sleep in her own without a pacifier.

"We understand this is going to be part of a process," said Carlos.

No Nuks have also meant no naps. The kids just won't settle down.

"The fact that we're losing the nap kind of helps when it comes to night time, because then, he's tired at the end of the day and he goes down easier," said Carlos.

Even with the challenges, the Garcias said they're happy the fairy paid them a visit.

"The benefits totally outweigh any inconvenience of one or two nights," said Carlos.

Josef's now totally on board with the changes. The Garcias hope Sofi will be too.

"We're not too concerned. We will handle that one," said Carlos.

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