Tips on Helping to Wean Baby off of Pacifier

I am in the SAME situation. My son is 3 1/2 months old and uses the binky for naps and nightime- won't fall asleep 90% of the time w/o it. I wouldn't dare get rid of it as I think it is more important that he sleeps well then not have a binky. He uses it very seldom (sometimes when he gets fussy on long walks or gets fussy in general) out of sleeping time. I think it's ok. Like the other post said, when he's older I will get rid of it completely and he will not be walking around with it (I think that looks silly!) I feel your pain as I get up once or twice (sometimes more) to pop it back in his mouth as he is not old enough to do it himself. The ped. said keep using it and he will be able to put it back in during the night in a few months, just hand in there!! I really do think a rested baby (using the binky) is more important than getting rid of it at this point. Hope that helped!!

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I think babies at that age are calmed down by the pacifier and there is nothing wrong with that. I would let her keep it and have a few spares within her reach in her crib. She'll learn to find it and pacify herself. I always kept an extra one clipped to her baby carrier too so if she tossed it while driving, she could grab another. When she was 1.5, she only used it during naps. I wouldn't let her walk around with it in her mouth. When she hit 2, doctor recommended no more pacifier and I got rid of them cold turkey (made up some story)...we never looked back. GOOD LUCK!

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4 1/2 months old does not seem too old to have a pacifier for sleep. Babies at that age still have the need to suck throughout the day and night. I would recommend limiting her pacifier when she's awake, and allowing her to have it at night and naptime. Add more pacifiers to her crib so that when she reaches out for one in the night, she can find it without your help.

If you really want to get rid of the pacifier I would recommend giving her another item to soothe her at bedtime. Maybe the corner of a silkie blanket or a small stuffed toy. When she's used to cuddling with the new item when she falls alseep, then you can take away the pacifier.

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