The Dreaded Pacifier - Stafford Springs,CT

Hi

My daughter used a pacifer until she was in kindergarten. I thought she would get rid of it when she went to the dentist at three, but that didn't happen. She just got rid of it when she was ready. It didn't affect her speech or anything. I just think its a matter of personal choice, because someone always has something negative to say about an older child with a pacifer.

My daugher who is now 7 used a binky up until around that age. The myths about teeth are myths are as far as I can see. I remember one day when we were taking a trip I threw it out the window. She was only using it to take naps so I thought it was a good time to do it. She did ask for it but I changed the subject and directed her attention to something else. Like anything else it just takes a little time.

My son used a pac too. he's almost 4 now. i used to buy him new ones every 6 months. when we got to the large size, he hated it. he wouldn't use it. so i hid them after a couple of days he forgot all about them. he was around the same age as your son. yes, i heard that they wern't good either for their speech. good luck

I have a 16 month old who still uses her pacifier at nap/bed time and occasionally in the car. My husband REALLY wants to get rid of it, I on the other hand think it is a natural progression. If your child is speaking and trying to imitate what you are saying, I wouldn't worry about it yet. My pediatrician said that as long as it isn't interfering with their communication, they are okay until they are ready. I think you start to find opportunities for your son to go without it and if he asks for it say oops...mommy forgot it and then redirect. We do that with Amanda and she quickly forgets.

Good Luck!

Hi, C.. Your son is about the same age as my daughter was when we got rid of the pacifier at the pediatric dentist's insistence. Pacis CAN mess up teeth and, in my daughter's case, the roof of her mouth. Anyway, we gathered all of her pacis together and used scissors to cut the nipple part off, halfway. We then showed the "broken" pacis to her and she tried the suck on one but because they were much shorter than before she couldn't get a suction on it. She took it out of her mouth and said "NO!" and handed it back to me. We then asked her if we should throw it away since it was broken and she willingly threw it in the garbage! We did that on a Thursday and, I will admit, we had a rough weekend sleeping-wise, but by Monday she was over it. We just continued to remind her that the pacis were broken and we threw them away and she was old enough to understand that. The great part about that technique is that the child is in control of it somewhat, AND there are no pacis in the house for YOU to give them if you feel like caving! I still have her last paci (I picked it out of the garbage after she walked away from it) and it's in her keepsake box...I look at it every now and then and smile every time! Good luck!

I went thru the same thing with my 2 year old son. My husband and I were having a tough time breaking the pacifier habit. We tried throwing out the pacifiers, cutting the tips, etc, but our son still wanted it. Finally, I found an article in one of the parenting magzines that had an article on tricks in getting rid of the pacifier. One of the tricks was to take your child to "Build A Bear" and when they stuff the bear (or any other stuff animal your child chooses) that they take the pacifier and stuff it in there. I tried this with my son, and it seem to work. At first he would only sleep with that stuff animal and say "My binkies are in there". This really help us break the pacifier habit. (He was about 18 months old when he had the pacifier) Good luck and hope this helps.

I have an 18 month old daughter who, like your son, only uses the pacifier at naptime. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. If your son is not using it all the time (like a security blanket)you shouldn't have a problem "weaning" him from it when you/he are ready. I have neighbors who have a little girl that also used a pacifier - but she used it ALL THE TIME. They tried so many different "tricks" to get this poor child off the pacifier, but finally gave up. This little girl walked around with a pacifier in her mouth until she was 4 years old. I'm pretty sure this isn't going to happen to my daughter, or your son. Don't worry!

hi C....well i have three girls and my two oldest used thier paci's until they were 2 years old or so now if you see that he still wants it after the age of two then maybe you should stop cold turkey i also hear that works well.

Hi C.,

I have a 2 1/2 yr old and she uses a pacifier and she is more talkative then me and her teeth are straight as can be. My son never used the pacifier and he really started talking about 3.
I really think if the child is ready to loose the pacifier the child will show it just like if the child shows you that he/she wants the pacifier. Dont give him the pacifier if he doesnt ask for it.

M.

My daughter will turn 2 next month. I had the same concerns as you. We tried to take it away when she was 6 months, 9 months and 12 months, but she would flip out each time, keeping us up for nights on end until we would give her back the pacifier. She also only used it for sleeping, naps and in the car. Ends up I was freaking out for nothing. When she was about 18 months old, her pacifier fell out of her crib while she was sleeping, but she didn't wake up screaming for it. The fact that she as able to sleep without it seemed like as good a time as any, so I quietly put away all her pacifiers and she never asked for it again. I wouldn't worry about the way it affects the teeth. Apparently, it really becomes an issue when they're around 4 years old. For now, just keep trying and when he's ready, it won't be as hard as you'd think.

My daughter who is now 18 used her binky till about 4 yrs old. Always had to have a spare just in case one was lost. Her speech is fine and her teeth are fine. My own opinion is, don;t worry about it. Good luck and Happy Holidays.

hi C.. i think that it's time to take away the pacifier, cold turkey. he may fuss or complain for a few days but will get the hint. i find trying to take it away slowly makes it harder cause then you find a way to slowly wein them off. And you end up making it harder for them.

My oldest daughter used on for a much longer time then just 18 months. You will come across alot of people who are going to put you down for allowing your son to still use it BUT you are his mother and you know what is best. There will come a time when he is ready to give it up. Right now it is like a blanket to him.
If you are very concerned slowly start throwing them away as you find them. This way he will be able to find less and less until finally they are all gone.

a lot of peopl hate the pacifiers to begin with...i personally LOVED it...we can only do so much as mothers and we need all the help we can get...lol...but with my son all i did is one day got hom to go to sleep without it & never gave it to him again I did the same thing with the bottle...so you can try that...try replacing it with something else like a stuffed animal or something like that...GOOD LUCK! :D

If it just at naptime and in the car, I would try not to stress out about it.

My son is three (and will be four in a month)and still occasionally sucks his thumb (he was never a pacifier user) and still has a special blankie. Alot of kids have rituals and routines for nighttime,and those are hard to break.

My oldest daughter used a paci until about 18 months and I think we just slowly weaned her from it....if you want to, maybe paci can only be around at naptime/bedtime and can be "lost" when you guys are in the car.

My daughter will be 3 in Feb. She had begun chewing her pacie and it was tearing. We told her that was a sign that she was getting too old for a pacifier and told her that when she became a "big girl" the "pacie fairy" would come and take her pacifier and give it to a baby and leave her with a "big girl" present. We talked about it beforehand and asked her what kind of gift she wanted the "pacie fairy" to leave her and really built it up. The night it was time for the "pacie fairy" to come was treated as an event and we had the "pacie fairy" even leave her a note saying thank you.

She asked about it a few times afterwards, but never had an issue going to sleep without it.

I am the mother of 4 children and 2 grandchildren. My pediatrician at the time had a piece of good advice. He said Orthodontists are an easier route than psychiatrists. Two of my daughters were thumb suckers and 2 were pacifier suckers. They had the need to suck which has a direct relationship to learning good speech. All four eventually gave up their habits on their own. All 4 went on to graduate college with highest honors (summa cum laude), only one needed braces.

My daughter is now 3 and gave her's up around 18 or so months. According to my doctor, those negative effects don't happen until their 2-3 years old if still using the paci.

The suggestion my doctor gave was to snip the very tip of the paci off with scissors. This leaves the "sucking" part open, so it flattens when they suck on it and doesn't give them the satisfaction it once gave - and it's not at all dangerous to them, though you do have to wash carefully. We did this and my daughter immediately hated it. She cried a bit and kept trying it, but tossed it every time. After a few days, she didn't even try anymore. Worked great!

Don't make a big deal out of it with him, and he'll be less likely to consider it a big deal. Good luck!
D.

My son is 2 and a half. His vocabulary is huge and he has spoken in full coherent sentences since he was 2. He has the vocabulary of a 3 or 4 yr old. He also has a binky in all the time. It makes him happy. If he isn't feeling well or gets hurt it helps comfort him. I read that it truly isn't a tooth issue until their adult teeth start coming in. Just relax and go with the flow. He will outgrow it on his own.

Hi C.,
My 2 daughters both were paci babies,my oldest was 3 when she got rid of it,by her choice. My youngest is 4 now and last xmas she left her binky for santa's baby reindeer.She asked for it a few times but I reminded her she gave it to santa,it was easier then I expected.I had tried a few times before this without success it was a security blanket for her.When she was upset,sick,tired,or just needing comfort,she cried for her binky.We never had any vocal issues she has been talking since she was 14 mos. and dental issues we had none.I often wonder if we make them get rid of it because they no longer need it or because society feels they dont need it?
I have a 5 yr old niece and 3 yr old nephew,my brother took their binkys away when the boy was just under a yr old,well they took up sucking their thumbs and still do at this point.I truly believe a binky is easier then the thumb,you cant throw a thumb away.Kids will look for comfort and security anyway they can it and from what.I wouldnt rush to get rid of it.

P.S. my daughter who is 4 yrs old,in her sleep still sucks as if she has a binky and its just cute .

well my son is almost 3, we always used the pacifier at naps and at night and when he found one laying around he stuck it in his mouth, we juat got rid of it a week ago! cold turkey. we told him that we had to throw them away because he is getting too big, he was very upset, but we are now on day 7 and he is fine. u just have to suffer through 2 or 3 days, then the kids almost forget about it! good luck

To use it or not!!!! That's the struggle I guess we all go through. My son used a pacifier when he slept and at 8 mo. threw it out of the crib and never looked for it again.(he'll be 4 in March)My son has a speech and language delay but it is based on orsl motor issues unrelated to the pacifier
My daughter will be 3 in February and she REFUSES to get rid of it(although she only uses it at night.) She now bites on it rather than sucking- but she still feels she needs it!) She is a chatter box and probably is only quiet when she IS sleeping!!!! Ha! Everyone says shes too old BUT I feel she'll let it go when she's ready