how do i get my two year old to stop using a pacifier?

Answer 1

I never gave my daughter one, so I don't really know. I just wanted to say don't do the dipping it in something gross thing. My friends mother dipped hers in vinegar and to this day (she's 26) she can't eat anything with vinegar. No salad dressing, no marinades, nothing. Its just mean to do that to your kid. I did hear of one woman who told her daughter that all big kids have to send their pacifiers off to the babies and they mailed them off together so the little girl knew they were gone and felt she had done some thing good (I believe she mailed them to her mothers house).

Answer 2

- ask your child about giving up the pacifier and how she would like to go about doing it (ie: whether he/she wants to do it slowly or suddenly)

- replace the pacifier with something else that will sooth him/her (eg. playing a musical instrument, or holding his/her hand when she cries)

remove the air from the pacifier by poking a hole in it

A friend told me that her young girl continued using the pacifier up until kindergarden. No matter what they tried, her girl refused to stop using it until one day, it "accidentally" fell into the toilet bowl, and that was the end of it - so "sudden" treatment does work sometimes.

Some children take surprisingly well to the idea of trading in their pacifier for something they really want. Sometimes a quick trip to the store for a new stuffed animal, toy, or book is all that it takes. Make sure you clue the salesperson in, so that payment with a pacifier doesn't come as a surprise.

For some children, out of sight, out of mind works very well in significantly cutting down on pacifier use. If you haven't already, start placing the pacifier somewhere where it's not noticeable and have your child be responsible for fetching it if he/she wants it.

Make a rule that the pacifier can't be used while doing other special activities such as watching TV, coloring, or reading books.

Tell your child that you can't understand her whenever she asks for something with the pacifier in her mouth.

Finally, don't feel like you have to force the issue. While some kids do just fine with the cold turkey approach, others are truly dependant on their pacifiers for a sense of security and self-soothing and need a bit more time to be phased out of using them.

No matter how difficult it may get, you must avoid putting your child down or calling her a ‘baby'. Instead, encourage her to "grow up". There's a difference between the two approaches!

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have heard a lot of different ways to do this - Try what you think will work best with your child's personality. I just took it from my daughter...we talked about it for a little while leading up to the night, that soon she would be a big girl and she wouldn't need to use one anymore...then on the big night, we just didn't give it to her anymore.

Looking back, I would have rather done this:

start the same and talk about how you won't need it soon, etc. but on the big night - have a going away nukker (or whatever you call it) party. Make it a huge celebration with grandparents, cake,etc to celebrate the pacifier leaving. And then that night put them to bed without it.

I have also heard of cutting part of the nipple off so that it gets smaller and smaller and soon they can't really get it in their mouth. A variation on that is to cut the nipple in an x pattern - it would still be the whole shape, but with slits on the side - I have heard this makes it feel different when they suck and they don't want it anymore then

Finally, I have heard of sending it to the pacifier fairy - a variation no the tooth fairy. Have the child put it on the window sill and leave it for the pacifier fairy who will take it to some baby who needs it and leaves them something else in its place. Problem with this is, they may put it there and then get up out of bed to get it back again ....so you may have to wait a few nights for them to really give it up


Good luck!!

Answer 4

Pacifiers are a source of security and comfort for children. I think it is very harsh to just take it away from them.
You could try to slowly reduce it, maybe stop giving it in daytime. If he/she asks for it a lot then give it for 2 minutes and then slowly take it away. If he notices and cries again, again give it for 2 minutes.
It will take time but they do get over it. You could also try replacing it with another lovey or comfort thing ,maybe a teddy bear or a muslin, whatever works.

Answer 5

I never used a pacifier when I was a baby. But, I used a bottle. My mom simply just took it way from me. I cried for a while but, then I got over it. Perhaps, you should try the same approach.

Answer 6

Take the pacifier away from him/her. Tell them they are not going to use it anymore.. then throw it away in front of them.. Of course they are gonna cry and probably have a hard time sleeping for the first couple of nights, but beive me, as a father of two, they'll forget about it and wont miss it later.

Answer 7

Do you know anyone who recently had a new baby? If so, you could take all the pacifiers and put them in a box- you child can help, and then "send" it to the new baby. Say that so and so needs them now, and since you're big and don't need them we can let her/him have them. My niece used to have a thing for washcloths- she'd sleep with them in her mouth like a paci, but when I had my daughter my sis did that- I got a box of washcloths in the mail, took pictures of my daughter with them and sent her the pics. She seemed very pleased that her cousin was using them!

Answer 8

i do not know this one.. i have a two year old grandson that has to have his pacifier.. he will go for a few hours without it but then he starts asking me about it.. then i have to help him find it.. but you would not believe the number of pacifiers that have been bought... i feed him good and i know he is not hungry.. give him snacks.. but especially when he gets tired he wants his pacifier...so i can not tell you cause i do not know.. i remember when my children started throwing their bottles out the window then i broke them .. and if i had my grandson continually i would just let him get use to not having it when he loses it,,, but it is hard when they go back to their mom and dad and they do as they please not what i think...

Answer 9

take it away and do not give it back no matter how much they scream. at least in a week or so they will finally get the hint that the pacifier party is over.

Answer 10

say the garbage man took it, that is what my sister did and her 2 year old daughter got over it within 2 days, she whinned but it was only for 2 days off and on and mainly at night before she went to bed.... It will be well worth it in the long run..