I am no expert by any means, but I can tell you what worked for our son (who is now 11 months old and sleeping 12 hours at night with 2 two hour naps during the day). I found that making his room as dark and quiet as possible was the best for naps (replaced old blinds with light blocking blinds). We found out by reasearch and talking with the ped that he was very overtired and therefore would not nap or sleep well at night. At this time he was about 4 1/2 months. Our plan of action was to put him to bed at 5:30 for 4-6 nights. If he had been sleeping for less than 2 hours, we would leave him be (extrememly hard when he was crying, but we stuck to our guns). If it was after 2 hours since waking up, we would give him a bottle, letting him take whatever amount he wanted. When giving him a bottle, we kept it fairly dark and quiet in his room using only a night light and not talking to him. We would also use a swaddle/sleepsake for night time as well as for naps when he was that age. We rocked him until he was about 6 months old, but we didn't have to wean him from it, he just decided one day that he didn't want to be rocked and fought it so I put him down in his crib and he fell right asleep. Hasn't had to be rocked since then. I am going to say that this site and my experience told me that nighttime was always easier to "change" than naps were, so starting with night time may be better/easier. When we did finally us the CIO methond for naps, I would let him cry for hour, but no longer. We only had to do that for 2 days before he started to fall asleep on his own, but at that time was still only sleeping 30 min to an hour. His naps got longer immediatly after putting him to bed at 5:30 for 5 nights. To this day, if my son wakes up crying during a nap, I know that he is still tired and will leave him. He will eventually fall back to sleep withing 10 min or less. At night, if he still wakes up crying, I give him about 15 min, which is usually enough time before he falls back to sleep. Although there are times when he won't stop crying after 15 minutes. At that point one of us will go in a and give him a pacifier and rub his belly for (no more than) 1 minute, then walk out. If he continues to cry for another 10 or so, we will then make a bottle to give him to himm (only using nightlight and no talking to him). This ususally only happens once or twice a month; it hasn't become a habit.
I can see why your ped wants to get rid of the pacifier, but my personal opinon is different. I am willing to allow my son to use one if it continues to help him sleep and then deal with the weaning within the next 6 months. Just remember, which ever method you use, make sure you stick with it and give it at least 2 weeks before saying it doesn't work. Good luck to you and your daughter!