My daughter is turning 18 months and I will be sending her to school soon. How do I get her to break away from the pacifier habit without going through a traumatizing process for both of us? She uses them throughout the day especially for naps and bedtime.

In addition to what Jamie and Idza have suggested, this article offers a "three-day approach" (towards the end of the article), which I thought is interesting. http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/behavioral/bye-bye-binky-ending-the-pacifier-habit/ It involves informing your child that he/she will be saying goodbye to his/her pacifier in three days time. Repeat the same talk over the three days and act on it on the third day (via a game-like approach). Having the three-day timeline could prepare your child for the change and make it easier for him/her to accept it. However, at 18 months, you may have to make your child go cold turkey or try a more gradual approach (also mentioned in the same article), which is to slowly limit the use of her pacifier. You can try to first remove it during naptime, then extending to bedtime. Regardless which approach you try, there will be protests and crying. Do be mentally prepared for it because you have to be firm in order for your child to accept the change. Good luck!