Weaning from Pacifier

[MomBoss]

My personal belief is that a pacifier should be taken away at 6 months. This is before the start of Object permanence so it makes it easier to get rid of.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians recommend limiting or stopping pacifier use after your baby is 6 months old to reduce the risk of ear infections. After that, using a pacifier is linked to increased ear infections, especially among 2- and 3-year-olds."
My son was done with his pacifier at 4 months. He attatched himself to a frog stuffed animal that he still has to this day. He sleeps with it but its not allowed to go anywhere but his bed. I was a blanky kid and still have that special blanket to this day . I just dont like kids ****ing on things. Its gross and i believe it causes more of an oral fixation. I teach that only food goes in the mouth. No hands, no toys, that spreads germs!
In daycare, pacifiers are done at 12months. Parents understand this before enrolling. I once let a 18month old have her pacifier at nap and would scream her head off every time she couldnt find it or she tossed it over her crib and couldnt get it. I was done running in the nap room every 10 min. We went cold turkey and it took a few days before she would stop asking for it. Her parents now say if they have another baby they will not be giving a pacifier because of the drama and stress it caused them at home.

[Blackcat31]

My personal belief is that a pacifier should be taken away at 6 months. This is before the start of Object permanence so it makes it easier to get rid of.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians recommend limiting or stopping pacifier use after your baby is 6 months old to reduce the risk of ear infections. After that, using a pacifier is linked to increased ear infections, especially among 2- and 3-year-olds."
My son was done with his pacifier at 4 months. He attatched himself to a frog stuffed animal that he still has to this day. He sleeps with it but its not allowed to go anywhere but his bed. I was a blanky kid and still have that special blanket to this day . I just dont like kids ****ing on things. Its gross and i believe it causes more of an oral fixation. I teach that only food goes in the mouth. No hands, no toys, that spreads germs!
In daycare, pacifiers are done at 12months. Parents understand this before enrolling. I once let a 18month old have her pacifier at nap and would scream her head off every time she couldnt find it or she tossed it over her crib and couldnt get it. I was done running in the nap room every 10 min. We went cold turkey and it took a few days before she would stop asking for it. Her parents now say if they have another baby they will not be giving a pacifier because of the drama and stress it caused them at home.

Seems even the AAP contradicts itself... ::

"Some people believe that using a pacifier can harm a baby. This certainly is not true. Pacifiers do not cause any medical or psychological problems. If your baby wants to **** beyond what nursing or bottle feeding provides, a pacifier will satisfy that need.

However, a pacifier should not be used to replace or delay meals. It may be tempting to offer your child a pacifier when it is easy for you. But it is best to let your child decide whether, and when, to use it.

Buy pacifiers that are one piece. The two-piece models can come apart and pose a choking hazard. NEVER tie a pacifier to your child's crib, or around your child's neck or hand. This could cause a serious strangulation injury, even death.

When your child reaches one year of age, you may want to talk with your pediatrician about how - and when - to start weaning your child from the pacifier."

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/aap-press-room-media-center/Pages/Pacifiers.aspx

[happymom]

I'm another for not removing when they aren't ready. That would be the approach taught in ECE classes I attended. I was pretty surprised at a thread I was reading one time, where several providers where saying they just take it away without even discussing it with parents. Because they (providers) just didn't believe the child should have the paci at that age. Everyone has different views! I'm happy for you, and him, that the center did talk to you instead of just taking it from him!

He definitely associates it with sleep. When he was an infant, he was a wonderful sleeper (opposite of my other child) and I didn't want to do anything that would disrupt that (take away his pacifier).

Now, he is not a great sleeper, but taking away the pacifier might make him worse. He was very distraught when he woke up last night and didn't have it.

[hwichlaz]

At some point, we can’t find it at nap time (the only time I allow them past 12 months) and that’s the day we go cold turkey.

[HappyEverAfter]

My nephew was about 2 or 3 his parents started taking his pacifier while he was sleeping. When he woke up they would pretend to look for it in his bed with him and tell him he must have swallowed it in his sleep. They’d laugh and pat his tummy and tell him it was in there now. They did his every single night with each pacifier they owned until they were all “gone”. Then they told him “oh well, I guess you’re too big for pacifiers now”. And he did just fine. And until he was about 5, if you asked him what happened to his pacifiers he’d pat his tummy and say he swallowed them all.

I know another person that soaked/stored all her child’s pacifiers in a big jar of apple cider vinegar so that they’d taste bad. Within a week her child no longer wanted them.

[flying_babyb]

That's a really good idea, too. My kids go through their share of "favorites" but mostly it's their clothing that seems to be a security thing for them, especially this little guy, it's his jacket. Before it was this particular jacket, it was a different one (that he outgrew).

OMG! I got this kid in my class, Wears a hat all day long. I asked if he did it at home and dad goes "uh no"

[happymom]

My nephew was about 2 or 3 his parents started taking his pacifier while he was sleeping. When he woke up they would pretend to look for it in his bed with him and tell him he must have swallowed it in his sleep. They’d laugh and pat his tummy and tell him it was in there now. They did his every single night with each pacifier they owned until they were all “gone”. Then they told him “oh well, I guess you’re too big for pacifiers now”. And he did just fine. And until he was about 5, if you asked him what happened to his pacifiers he’d pat his tummy and say he swallowed them all.

This is so funny and adorable! We only have 1 pacifier at home and at daycare. I'm sure the cat will eat the one at home one day and then we'll have none.

He napped at daycare yesterday without it. He asked for it and they told him they were going to try today without it, and he went to sleep.

OMG! I got this kid in my class, Wears a hat all day long. I asked if he did it at home and dad goes "uh no"

My son has a hat, too. Well two of them, they are identical. He indeed does wear his hat most every day, but it is to be removed for meals, baths and sleep.

[lovemykidstoo]

All of the kids that I've cared for that had pacifiers only had them at naptime here. I don't allow them to walk around with them all day. First of all, they drop them, other kids pick them up. I feel it inhibits their speech etc. I only have 2 right now that have them out of 8. The one mom asked me to stop giving her daughter hers, but then found out that she has it all the time at home, so I said no. I'm not going to be the bad guy, so whatever approach you take, do it together, don't make the daycare do it first if that makes sense. If your child cries and you give it back, then that's what the daycare should do to. I've typically done the cold turkey approach and I have had zero problems with it. We've also packaged them up and given them to the youngest child here too. That has worked. The older child thinks it's a big deal to give their binkies to the baby of the group. One of my families that i have now, he's nearly 4 and does not have one here, but as soon as he gets in the car the mom puts one in his mouth. He doesn't even have to reach for it. That I find a bit disturbing actually . She's told me she's not ready for him to grow up yet. So really is it her that needs the binky or him? His older brother was biting the tips off of his when he had him here. I took them away and said no way and she was mad. I said he's not choking on my shift and I can't believe you'd allow him to have one at home if he's biting the tip off. Crazy! The younger one I have must be doing the same because he's told me that momma bought me new ones. ugh!

[lovemykidstoo]

I should add in my last post that the 4 year old that does not have a pacifier here but mom puts one in his mouth the moment he gets in the car, he is going to speech therapy because he stutters. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.

[Meeko]

I should add in my last post that the 4 year old that does not have a pacifier here but mom puts one in his mouth the moment he gets in the car, he is going to speech therapy because he stutters. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.

Hate the darn things!

Most "dummies" (as they are called in the UK) are for the parents and not the kids. They are merely "let me shut you up" plugs. Nasty, ugly, dirty chewable plastic...ugh!

[Gemma]

I am in the camp of not removing a security item until a child wants to.

I do however, limit them to when and where they can have .

Me too!
I've seen too many kids start ****ing their thumb because they were forced to quit the pacifier before they were ready, and once they start the thumb they do it all the time (some do) and I feel that's way worse than a pacifier at nap

[daycarediva]

Hate the darn things!

Most "dummies" (as they are called in the UK) are for the parents and not the kids. They are merely "let me shut you up" plugs. Nasty, ugly, dirty chewable plastic...ugh!

agreed! None of my own kids took them, and I limit them to nap for my dc kids.

Thumb ****ing on the other hand is the bane of my existence. None of my kids were thumb ****ers. DC kids? OH MY. spitty hands. spitty hands everywhere.

[mamamanda]

agreed! None of my own kids took them, and I limit them to nap for my dc kids.

Thumb ****ing on the other hand is the bane of my existence. None of my kids were thumb ****ers. DC kids? OH MY. spitty hands. spitty hands everywhere.

None of my kids took a pacifier, but I have 2 thumb ****ers. Thankfully it is mostly only when they're tired/going to sleep. However, my 3 yo can't stand the sensation of being wet. So he ****s his thumb, then cries b/c it's wet, then cries harder b/c now his face is also wet... So I keep talking to him about being a problem solver. Crying will make our eyes wet which is ok, but if you don't like how it feels then we need to find another solution that doesn't involve crying about it. My suggestion was to keep his thumb out of his mouth altogether. His solution...**** thumb until it feels too wet, then dry it off using his comforter on his bed. Then reinsert it in his mouth. Rinse & repeat. He can not touch his lovey blanket with it though b/c that blanket doesn't like being wet either. Dis.gusting.