Eliminating Pacifier Usage

[Cat Herder]

Most here stop using them at around 3-6 months, if at all. I do not give them for crying, only during the beginning of nap, in the crib, with parent request. Most prefer to skip it at daycare, here.

I also do not give it back it if falls out and they are content. I do not allow pacifiers to be down in the playroom, at all. I take them if they are chewing on them, I offer chewers for that.

I will not give a pacifier to any child over 12 months. Same with bottles and spoon-feeding.

[LostMyMarbles]

Funny I'm the opposite of all the posters so far.

Once kiddo turns around 6mo and/or gets mobile it goes into the pack and play for naps only. Somewhere between 12-18mo it goes away all together. Never really had much "withdrawal" issues doing it that way.

Have had several dcp's over the years embarrassingly pull a pacifier out of a 3-4yo mouth because they forgot to take it away in the car.

I only use at nap time here. I, personally, feel it stunts their vocabulary. I feel there is no need to constantly put a plug in it every time a baby makes a noise. I have had parents bring 2,3 and 4 year olds with pacifiers tethered to their kids. Unsafe and nasty.

[AmyKidsCo]

I was just reminded of a child I saw in the grocery store a couple of weeks ago. She looked like she was about 3 years old, had one of those pacifiers with the attached stuffed animal in her mouth and was playing on mom's phone.