I would just stop letting him have it and only allow it during nap time. I'd deal with the crying and just let him cry. It's a habit and not a necessity so the habit just needs to be broken. His crying for it is just like anything else...not wanting to go to bed, not getting his own way, etc. If you keep giving into it, he just learns that if he keeps up the crying, you will give in to it eventually. If you never give into it, he will learn that his crying for it won't work and he'll move on. It might be a hellish week or so but it would be worth it in the end. I don't allow the kids anything "personal" until it's nap time...no soothers, blankets, stuffies...nothing.