Pacifier - Maricopa, AZ

My son used to use a pacifier, but doesn't any more. I just slowly stopped offering it and having it around, and he lost interest in it. I would just slowly start offering other toys, etc... to chew on and play with. Try to get him to use it less and less, then eventually it can just be gone and he won't notice. If he sleeps with it, you can read The NO Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantly for ways to help him not have it in his mouth while he is sleeping or falling asleep.

Hi J.,
My son used a pacifer all the time too. I just slowly started giving it to him less and less during the day. He doesn't really NEED it all the time, so I just chose when he would get it, like nap time or in the car and at night time. Now he only gets it when he's taking a nap or sleeping at night. Just do it slowly and it shouldn't be a big deal. I still keep one in the car for emergencies, but he never needs it! I think it's more for my benefit than his. Remember he is still young so if he is used to having it, he will want it. Just go slowly and take it a little more each day! Good luck! :)

Hi J.,

I wouldn't necessarily get rid of it right now. Your son is going to go through a lot of different stages in the coming months, and the pacifier may provide a lot of comfort to help him through those changes. My son is just over a year and while the thing was a pain in the beginning, I'm really glad he's had it to help him through those "anxiety" stages (separation, sleeping through the night, etc...). Your son should be able to start putting the pacifier back in his mouth on his own in a couple of months. Once my son was able to do that, I would keep an extra pacifier in his crib at night, or just before I went to sleep, I'd go check on him and put one in if I couldn't find his other one (sometimes his would fall out of the crib after he fell asleep).

We only give our son his pacifier when he is going to sleep. During the day and playtime, we usually keep it out of eyesight. However, I will fully admit that there are times when he's in new situations (play dates or parties), where I'll bring one with us to help transition him into a new environment.

We plan on having him give up the pacifier by his 2nd birthday. I think it will be a lot easier to break the habit when he is old enough to understand that I'm taking something away because he's a "big boy" now... as opposed to just taking it away cold turkey without explanation.

Anyway - I hope all this rambling helped!

Good luck!
D.

My best friend cut the tip of the pacifier off and when her daughter went to suck on it and it wasn't the same she gave it back and never asked for it again. This is what I plan on doing with my son after he turns 2 in October. Hope this helps.

M.

Hi there,
If there is one thing I have learned that has really made a difference is that babies and toddlers are resiliant (not sure I spelled that correctly...heeheehe) I have stressed over making changes with my 2 year old daughter come to find out she welcomed the change and I waited for nothing.
Now I never started my baby on a pacifier. I felt that singing and talking to her would be soothing enough and it was. I don't think that it is ever to early to take it away. He might surprise you. Just when you are ready, don't offer it and see how he responds. It might be rough for a day or two but I bet he will surprise you and forget about his best friend BINKY! Out of sight out of mind. He will find another way to sooth himself. But just don't think that you are tramatizing him......he will never know what is really happening or be able to comprehend that Mommy took his favorite soothing toy. The only reason he has it in his mouth is because mommy puts it there. I think it would be harder to ween him rather than just removing it. So my advice is take it away and don't look back....throw them all away so that you are not tempted. He will be fine. I have never heard any news stories about babies being ruined for life because of a little misery over a binky. Good Luck

Both of my children had pacifiers. My son until two years and my daughter until 9 months. It was so much easier to wean my daughter from the pacifier at the earlier age. I waited for my daughter's cue and when she became more mobile and started showing disinterest, I just put it away and never gave it back to her. I did this on vacation of all times and she was so preoccupied with all of our activities, she didn't even notice.

However, I gave it back to her at 20 months to wean her from the breast because we were having a really hard time and now she still has it at two and a half. I definitely would wait to look for a time when he is not showing as much interest in it and then take it away and NEVER give it back, since I regret giving it to her again! Good luck!

I don't beleive in pacifiers. I never used them for either of my kids and were just fine. I would take it away now. IT's better now then later.

Baby's or Toddlers in my opinion don't really don't need them it's just a Moms way of getting them to be quiet.

K.

I think this is the best time, before it becomes too much of a habit. My daughter is 17 months and I wish I would have given it up long ago. I do however only let her have it when she is in her crib.

Hi J.,
I personally have never had to deal w/ the "binky" or pacifier, however my family members have! I agree it can be a hassle sometimes, but there is relief I've heard!....it is a gradual process of "out of sight, out of mind". Try to distract your little one w/ something he might enjoy more then hide the "binky". After a while he may only want it at night and before you know it he will forget about it all together!! Whenever it falls out because of laughter, or interest in another toy find it and hide it. Try to keep it out of sight and eventually he might forget about it! Older babies are easier to "ween" because you can give them their big kid "sippy cup" or a snack they can hold themselves, but at least w/ your son being so young you can count on his short term memory:) Hope this helps you guys!!
K.

I have two kids. My oldest never took a paci. My son lived with it. He eventually gave it up, I believe he was 1 1/2. He gradually weaned himself. We talk with our pediatrican she said not to worry to much just get rid of it before he really gets some teeth. We had him in a gymnastic class and the instructor was also a speach specialist. She said the sucking of bottles, nipples and pacifiers are the only way to strengthen the muscles used for speech. An Interesting thought. Anyway I think parents,in my case dont want to lose the baby in our children, and some worry to much. Its your comfort level. Good Luck N. in Az

Dont take the pacifier away to soon. Your son might just start sucking his fingers like my daughter. When they are older you can take away the pacifier but not the fingers. It is easier when the are older & understand more to remove the pacifier. I would keep it.

My daughter used her pacifier until she was about 17-18 months,you could try to take it away, but he might start sucking his thumb or chewing on his hand, if he does that I would def give him the pacifier back. My daughter was older, but I took a pair of scissors and cut the nipple off the pacifier and told her broke, so she touched it and tried to use it and realized it didn't work anymore, we just had 1 bad night and about a bad week in the car. If your baby likes it I would let him have it, but its your decision...good luck!

I gave my son a pacifier when he was 4months old, he was teething. Then he lost the pacifier in the store, it only took him two days to get over not having a pacifier.

Though my kids never really used a pacifier, so I can't speak form experience, I have read that babies have a need to suck until they're 7months old. After that they are doing it out of pure habit. I think like anything else (stopping the bottle, potty training etc),as long as the parent is consistent, you can teach your babies/kids to do anything. I would ween him off and then throw it out so you aren't tempted to give it to him.
Good luck!

I started just giving it to my son at naptime and bedtime and that was it. He is now a year old and still does naptime and bedtime. My next step is take it away at naptime and then eventually bedtime.