My three yr old just started to come off the pacifier (I know) and now she puts everything in her mouth. Help?

Question

She has even put soap in her mouth and not minded the taste. How can I break her of this?? Gum doesn't work, she won't keep it in her mouth, and hard candy she chews up and then wants more and more.

Answer 1

What's with the pacifier in the first place?
Keep your dildo in a safe hiding place, too.
Tell her she will spoil her appetite.

Answer 2

Positive reinforcement, NOT CANDY, may be a good way to help deter her from putting stuff in her mouth, as well as simple discipline when she does. I thought stickers were a great idea!

Addition (in response to another poster): A stage is something that is temporary, that will pass. This child is going through a sort of addiction of putting things in her mouth shown by the fact that she is 3 and still has a desire for the pacifier which is supposed to be a substitute for the bottle or mothers breast and may, in the future, cause not only damage to her teeth but can also lead to other addictions such as cigarette smoking and overeating (why I was against candy as a reward or replacement). When I said simple discipline (and lets forget the PC verbage) I meant whatever the mother feels is appropriate to teach the child that she shouldn't put things in her mouth as they may be dirty, etc (short of a beating).

To the original poster: Children are more then able to understand what is being said to them at a younger age then 3. Don't underestimate your child, speak to her like she had the ability to understand and she will eventually get the idea that she can understand.

Answer 3

I don't have much to add besides sticking with positive reinforcement....but to add to another poster, you CANNOT use positive reinforcement and "simple discipline" in the same sentence. It's called NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. You should never "discipline" a child for a stage she is going through.

Another idea: How is letting a child have a pacifier until they are three wrong? It would be the same as a child sucking their thumb that long....each child is different and the reason they use pacifiers and thumbs is for comfort. How are you going to sit down and have a conversation with a three year old? They don't understand that crap! Is she potty trained yet? If she isn't potty trained (which is also PERFECTLY NORMAL) it is because she doesn't have an understanding of it yet. Please don't let these ignorant people misguide you, they obviously don't know what they are talking about. I have a double major-child psychology and elementary education......I have learned so much in this area and everyone telling you your wrong is just insane.

Answer 4

3 years old and just off the pacifier? Kind of old isn't it? She's so used to having something in her mouth that she'll put anything in there. Most kids will do this at any rate. You'll just have to go the hard route and keep things you don't want her to have out of her reach. And watch her closely.

Answer 5

Please don't give her sweets during the day, all day long... That is rewarding her for doing what you don't want her to do.
What you DO want her to do is Stop putting things in her mouth. Reward her for NOT putting things in her mouth with things such as stickers, new crayons, etc. that aren't intended to be in the mouth anyway.

One great method I've seen is to use a chart system with the gold stars..just like they use in elementary school. When she keeps objects away from her mouth all day, then she gets a gold star. When the whole week is filled up, she gets a prize...Try sugarless suckers if you'd like her to have something like candy. We don't want any tooth decay.

Answer 6

Why don't you just give her pacifier back to her? It beats candy or her getting choked on something small or eating soap! I don't see the big problem with a passy, she'll grow out of it eventually anyway especially when she starts preschool or kindergarten.

Answer 7

More than likely she is subsituting that pacifier with anything she can find. Maybe try giving her a ring pop, its a ring with candy on it, i know candy is not good for her teeth, but neither is a pacifier.

Answer 8

Act like she is being silly and say "Big girls don't do that!" Give her a sticker for each 15, 30, 60 mins. she keeps something out of her mouth. It's all about the rewards.

Answer 9

hello this is how kids are all you need to do is watch her closely and for your next kids dont let them have a pacifier until they are 3 years. that is why this one still one something in his mouth. why are you giving her candy?

Answer 10

It's a stage. Most kids will put things in their mouth. It's another way to "explore." Teach her about germs and give positive reinforcement and hopefully she'll stop soon.