When To Wean Off The Pacifier
Most new parents are at a crossroads when it comes to making the decision on when to stop giving their baby a pacifier. While pacifiers can be soothing for the baby, they can also cause dental problems and it is important to know when to stop. Just how can you rid your child of the pacifier? Children are different; some easily accept that the pacifier is no longer a part of their life while others need to be carefully weaned off the pacifier. Sometimes, you may even need to reward the child for letting go of the pacifier.
Meanwhile, what mother, having sheepishly allowed her over-2 toddler a pacifier at the grocery checkout (to avert the tantrum sure to erupt when said toddler is denied a Blow Pop or M&Ms), hasn't endured the disapproving glances of well-meaning strangers?
The good news for parents puzzling over pacifiers: Experts agree they're entirely appropriate for soothing baby. Still, pediatric dentists recommend limiting pacifier time once a child is 2 and eliminating it by age 4 to avoid dental problems. Beyond that, there are no hard-and-fast rules about when and how to say "bye-bye binky."
When Should You Stop Giving a Baby a Pacifier?
Speech experts and pediatricians recommend letting go of the pacifier at 12 months. That said; there are children who have been known to use their pacifier well past 12 months and even into their toddler and preschool stage. In these cases, the pacifier is more like a transitional object which helps them adjust to challenges and new situations. It also helps relieve stress and could be a comfort piece. You could let the child hold onto the pacifier much longer as they try to develop other ways of coping with new situations.
Why? (Detriments of not giving up)
The timing is important and a pacifier could negatively affect your child’s speech. The reason many pediatricians and speech therapists recommend 12 months as the stopping point is because this is the time when your child is undergoing speech development. If your child constantly has a pacifier in their mouth, they are less likely to practice speaking and even worse the pacifier could distort their speech. Pacifiers keep the child’s mouth in a position that is not natural and this makes it difficult for the lip and tongue muscles to develop normally.
Pacifiers can also push forth the tongue and lead to a lisp. Although there is no evidence pertaining to pacifiers as far as permanent damage to the teeth is concerned, they could also force forward the upper set of teeth. Your child also may become dependent on the pacifier to sleep and getting rid of it can help the child learn to sleep on their own. Last but not least, getting rid of the pacifier could provide some ear relief especially if your child is prone to getting ear infections.
How to Wean Your Baby off a Pacifier
1. The Gradual Way
You need to strategize on the timing and you may want to try removing the pacifier in relaxed settings such as when the child is playing. You can also try to remove the pacifier when the child is home and gradually eliminate its use in outdoor settings as well. Take advantage of the holidays or trips to the dentist by telling your child that the pacifier needs to be donated in exchange for a better toy. Rewards always help to smooth the transition. Expect some resistance.
2. The Three Day Plan
According to the author of Pacifiers, Blankets, Bottles and Thumbs, Mark L. Brenner; there is a three day plan that one can use to eliminate the pacifier.
3. Make It Taste Bad
You can make the pacifier a turn off by making it taste unpleasant. This will turn off the child and make them associate the pacifier with the unpleasant taste. Below is the experience of one mom:
“We tried using various approaches with my son but he still insisted on sucking his pacifier. We couldn’t handle the tantrums so we just let him be. When the pediatrician advised that we try and rub the pacifier with something that tastes bad, we did not think it would work. Nonetheless, this worked perfect and my son threw his pacifier away. He didn’t even try to clean it.”
4. Sabotage It
Safety experts don’t advocate for this method but it works. Sabotaging the pacifier makes it unsatisfying. However, you need to be careful with this method since you may easily create a choking hazard. You can go with subtle impairments such as poking its tip. This is one mom's experience:
“At 24 months, my son still sucked on his pacifier and had resisted all my attempts to eliminate it. I heard about the sabotage method and poked a tiny hole on its tip just to see if this would work. Initially, he still tried to suck on it but after three days, he got tired of the air coming in and gave it a rest.”
5. Leave It for the Binky Fairy
The binky fairy seems to work in many cases and this is a simple give-away method that allows the child to transition smoothly. One mom says:
“Our daughter gave up her pacifier with minimum resistance thanks to the Binky Fairy. We simply told her that the magical fairy takes all pacifiers when children turn 3 years old and in exchange she brings lots of new toys for big girls. She helped us pack her pacifiers and went to sleep eager to get an exciting new batch of toys.”
6. The Instant Throw Away
Sometimes, your child needs some tough love. Simply make up your mind to throw out the pacifier while your child is watching. Ensure that you get rid of all the pacifiers and do not give in to the crying. It’s ok to soothe your child but also explain to them that they are growing up and do not need to have the pacifiers any more.
Weathering the Storm
Whatever method you choose, brace yourself for one to five nights of crying, and whatever you do, don't give in. "If you give a child back the pacifier after he's cried, screamed, and kicked for 45 minutes, you'll only solidify that such carrying on will get him the pacifier - and everything else he wants", says Glinder. If you're tempted to cave, remember: Children (and parents) have endured this rite of passage for millennia. "We all get rid of our pacifiers eventually", he says.
Pacifier Safety
When purchasing a pacifier, be sure to follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
The Basics of Pacifier Use
Babies are born with an innate need to suck, says Richard Dowell, PhD, a pediatric neuropsychologist. Newborns rely on this "suck reflex" not only for sustenance but also for soothing. "Young infants have no other mechanism to control their distress", explains Dowell. "They can't get a drink; they can't ask for a blanket; they can't use their hands to control things. Sucking provides a way for them to calm themselves."
Thus, babies will suck - if not on a pacifier, then on a thumb, finger, bottle, or breast, says Karen Breach, MD, a pediatrician. "If a baby needs to nurse more than every two hours, he's using mom as a pacifier", she says, noting that, in such cases, a pacifier can help satisfy baby's non-nutritive sucking needs while giving mom a needed break.
Just be sure breastfeeding is well established before introducing the pacifier, cautions Kellen Glinder, MD, a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. "For babies who do have trouble learning to breastfeed, the pacifier can teach bad habits." Once baby is an expert at nursing and mom's milk supply is established (typically in a few days), it's fine to bring on the binky.
Pacifier Pros and Cons
While parents worry that binkies may harm baby's teeth, they typically have no affect on a child under 2. "From a dental-health perspective, it's best to limit the pacifier when a child is 2 and stop it entirely by the time a child is 4," says John Stritikus, DDS, a pediatric dentist in Dickson, Tennessee. Past age 4, pacifiers can cause an overbite, open bite, or crossbite - problems that affect chewing, speech, and appearance, and often require orthodontics to correct, notes Dr. Stritikus. Unfortunately, so-called orthodontic pacifiers don't make a difference. What matters is the frequency and intensity of the sucking habit.
PROS: On the plus side, pacifiers may decrease the chance of cavities by keeping baby from using the bottle or breast for non-nutritive sucking, says Stritikus. "Babies who sleep with the bottle can develop 'baby-bottle cavities' in all 16 or 20 of their teeth", he warns. On the other hand, pacifiers may help reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). One study found that babies put to sleep with a pacifier were 20 times less likely to die of SIDS than were babies who slept without pacifiers. Researchers speculate that pacifiers may keep babies from rolling onto their faces or may keep their tongues forward and away from their airways. "I wouldn't introduce the pacifier just to prevent SIDS," says Breach. But it's another reason to feel okay about doing so.
CONS: Recent studies have linked pacifiers with a three times higher risk for ear infections, so if these are a recurring problem for your child, it may be worth eliminating the pacifier to see if it makes a difference, says Breach.
The good news for parents puzzling over pacifiers: Experts agree they're entirely appropriate for soothing baby. Still, pediatric dentists recommend limiting pacifier time once a child is 2 and eliminating it by age 4 to avoid dental problems. Beyond that, there are no hard-and-fast rules about when and how to say "bye-bye binky."
When Should You Stop Giving a Baby a Pacifier?
Speech experts and pediatricians recommend letting go of the pacifier at 12 months. That said; there are children who have been known to use their pacifier well past 12 months and even into their toddler and preschool stage. In these cases, the pacifier is more like a transitional object which helps them adjust to challenges and new situations. It also helps relieve stress and could be a comfort piece. You could let the child hold onto the pacifier much longer as they try to develop other ways of coping with new situations.
Why? (Detriments of not giving up)
The timing is important and a pacifier could negatively affect your child’s speech. The reason many pediatricians and speech therapists recommend 12 months as the stopping point is because this is the time when your child is undergoing speech development. If your child constantly has a pacifier in their mouth, they are less likely to practice speaking and even worse the pacifier could distort their speech. Pacifiers keep the child’s mouth in a position that is not natural and this makes it difficult for the lip and tongue muscles to develop normally.
Pacifiers can also push forth the tongue and lead to a lisp. Although there is no evidence pertaining to pacifiers as far as permanent damage to the teeth is concerned, they could also force forward the upper set of teeth. Your child also may become dependent on the pacifier to sleep and getting rid of it can help the child learn to sleep on their own. Last but not least, getting rid of the pacifier could provide some ear relief especially if your child is prone to getting ear infections.
How to Wean Your Baby off a Pacifier
1. The Gradual Way
You need to strategize on the timing and you may want to try removing the pacifier in relaxed settings such as when the child is playing. You can also try to remove the pacifier when the child is home and gradually eliminate its use in outdoor settings as well. Take advantage of the holidays or trips to the dentist by telling your child that the pacifier needs to be donated in exchange for a better toy. Rewards always help to smooth the transition. Expect some resistance.
2. The Three Day Plan
According to the author of Pacifiers, Blankets, Bottles and Thumbs, Mark L. Brenner; there is a three day plan that one can use to eliminate the pacifier.
Day 1
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Prepare your child psychologically by telling her that she needs to let go of certain items as she grows older. It’s best to have this talk in the morning when she wakes up and at bedtime. Keep the conversation short so that it doesn’t sound as though you are seeking her approval. Giving your child a three day notice does not necessarily make them anxious but instead prepares them for the change.
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Day 2
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Repeat the same talk you had and again keep it short. Keep a firm yet gentle tone. Remind her of the three day plan and point out that ‘tomorrow’ she needs to let go of the pacifier.
|
Day 3
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It’s the big day and you need to gather up all the pacifiers. Ask your child to help you and if you face any resistance, proceed to collect all the pacifiers. You don’t need to be harsh; you can instead create a reassuring story. For example, you can explain that the pacifiers will be recycled to create new toys. Of course, this is not a smooth process and you may have to deal with a meltdown. While you can be empathetic, remain firm.
|
3. Make It Taste Bad
You can make the pacifier a turn off by making it taste unpleasant. This will turn off the child and make them associate the pacifier with the unpleasant taste. Below is the experience of one mom:
“We tried using various approaches with my son but he still insisted on sucking his pacifier. We couldn’t handle the tantrums so we just let him be. When the pediatrician advised that we try and rub the pacifier with something that tastes bad, we did not think it would work. Nonetheless, this worked perfect and my son threw his pacifier away. He didn’t even try to clean it.”
4. Sabotage It
Safety experts don’t advocate for this method but it works. Sabotaging the pacifier makes it unsatisfying. However, you need to be careful with this method since you may easily create a choking hazard. You can go with subtle impairments such as poking its tip. This is one mom's experience:
“At 24 months, my son still sucked on his pacifier and had resisted all my attempts to eliminate it. I heard about the sabotage method and poked a tiny hole on its tip just to see if this would work. Initially, he still tried to suck on it but after three days, he got tired of the air coming in and gave it a rest.”
5. Leave It for the Binky Fairy
The binky fairy seems to work in many cases and this is a simple give-away method that allows the child to transition smoothly. One mom says:
“Our daughter gave up her pacifier with minimum resistance thanks to the Binky Fairy. We simply told her that the magical fairy takes all pacifiers when children turn 3 years old and in exchange she brings lots of new toys for big girls. She helped us pack her pacifiers and went to sleep eager to get an exciting new batch of toys.”
6. The Instant Throw Away
Sometimes, your child needs some tough love. Simply make up your mind to throw out the pacifier while your child is watching. Ensure that you get rid of all the pacifiers and do not give in to the crying. It’s ok to soothe your child but also explain to them that they are growing up and do not need to have the pacifiers any more.
Weathering the Storm
Whatever method you choose, brace yourself for one to five nights of crying, and whatever you do, don't give in. "If you give a child back the pacifier after he's cried, screamed, and kicked for 45 minutes, you'll only solidify that such carrying on will get him the pacifier - and everything else he wants", says Glinder. If you're tempted to cave, remember: Children (and parents) have endured this rite of passage for millennia. "We all get rid of our pacifiers eventually", he says.
Pacifier Safety
When purchasing a pacifier, be sure to follow these guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Look for a one-piece model with a soft nipple (some two-piece pacifiers can break apart).
- The shield should be made of firm plastic with air holes, and should measure at least 1 inch across so baby can't swallow it.
- Purchase dishwasher-safe pacifiers and clean them this way frequently until baby is 6 months; after this, wash pacifiers regularly with hot soap and water.
- Pacifiers come in two sizes: 0-6 months and 6 months and above; for baby's comfort, make sure pacifiers are the correct size.
- To prevent the risk of strangulation, never tie a pacifier around your baby's hand, neck, or crib railing. Use a pacifier clip instead.
- Never use a bottle nipple and ring in place of a pacifier; the nipple can separate from the ring and pose a choking hazard.
- Inspect pacifiers regularly for damage and replace them if the rubber has changed color or torn.
The Basics of Pacifier Use
Babies are born with an innate need to suck, says Richard Dowell, PhD, a pediatric neuropsychologist. Newborns rely on this "suck reflex" not only for sustenance but also for soothing. "Young infants have no other mechanism to control their distress", explains Dowell. "They can't get a drink; they can't ask for a blanket; they can't use their hands to control things. Sucking provides a way for them to calm themselves."
Thus, babies will suck - if not on a pacifier, then on a thumb, finger, bottle, or breast, says Karen Breach, MD, a pediatrician. "If a baby needs to nurse more than every two hours, he's using mom as a pacifier", she says, noting that, in such cases, a pacifier can help satisfy baby's non-nutritive sucking needs while giving mom a needed break.
Just be sure breastfeeding is well established before introducing the pacifier, cautions Kellen Glinder, MD, a pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. "For babies who do have trouble learning to breastfeed, the pacifier can teach bad habits." Once baby is an expert at nursing and mom's milk supply is established (typically in a few days), it's fine to bring on the binky.
Pacifier Pros and Cons
While parents worry that binkies may harm baby's teeth, they typically have no affect on a child under 2. "From a dental-health perspective, it's best to limit the pacifier when a child is 2 and stop it entirely by the time a child is 4," says John Stritikus, DDS, a pediatric dentist in Dickson, Tennessee. Past age 4, pacifiers can cause an overbite, open bite, or crossbite - problems that affect chewing, speech, and appearance, and often require orthodontics to correct, notes Dr. Stritikus. Unfortunately, so-called orthodontic pacifiers don't make a difference. What matters is the frequency and intensity of the sucking habit.
PROS: On the plus side, pacifiers may decrease the chance of cavities by keeping baby from using the bottle or breast for non-nutritive sucking, says Stritikus. "Babies who sleep with the bottle can develop 'baby-bottle cavities' in all 16 or 20 of their teeth", he warns. On the other hand, pacifiers may help reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). One study found that babies put to sleep with a pacifier were 20 times less likely to die of SIDS than were babies who slept without pacifiers. Researchers speculate that pacifiers may keep babies from rolling onto their faces or may keep their tongues forward and away from their airways. "I wouldn't introduce the pacifier just to prevent SIDS," says Breach. But it's another reason to feel okay about doing so.
Culled and edited. Images: Google
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