Pacifier, Night Time Only??

Question

My little boy is 1 1/2 & uses a pacifier at night time only for sleeping. Sometimes he just holds it in his hand. He does not use or carry around one in the daytime "AT ALL". My friends & family say this is still to old to be using one at all - what is the harm?? He is bottle broke so no problems there.

Answer 1

Please do not give in to pressure from others. You know your child better than anyone else. If he only uses it at night, no big d.
My dentist told me that as long as the pacifier is gone by 3, it won't permanently affect his teeth. And my therapist (I was going through a divorce at the time) said " Fixing crooked teeth is a lot cheaper than fixing a crooked psyche". My daughter used one until she was three, only at night. She gave it up with no problem and has never sucked her thumb or anything since.
When it came time, I told her she was a big girl now and that we neede to give her pacifier to the babies at her school because they didn't have any. My girlfriend had her little boy wrap the pacifier in a gift box to leave out for Santa to take to other babies who didn't have any pacifiers.
My sister would all the time brag that HER boys didn't take a pacifier, but the youngest one was still sucking his thumb at age 12. Makes you stop and go "HMM".
Keep on keepin on, honey. Sounds like you are doing a great job following your own instincts.

Answer 2

Your little boy probably uses the pacifier er as a security item, as some kids do with a favorite blanket or toy.{Teddy Bear, Doll etc.}
He will eventually figure out that it is not necessary to have this item in his crib(bed) at night & will just throw it away.
In the meantime if you want to break him of this habit, just suggest a Dinki Car or some other boy's toy to him to replace the pacifier. Tell him a he's a big boy now & pacifiers are for babies. I'm sure he'll want to be a big boy, not a baby. Kids are very aware of what they want to do, even at a young age.
As for your friends & family, don't worry about their remarks as they are not his mom or dad & therefore you are the ones who have the options to do whatever you think is best for your beautifull little boy.
P.S. Bottle broke at 1 1/2 is really good. you must be a very dilligent mother & a very caring one.
Good - Luck with your boy. May you have a wonderfull time watching him grow up, as it is a fascinating progress.
Keep us posted O.K. REBELCAT:****

Answer 3

Let her have the pacifier. My daughter just gave hers up and she is almost 3. They have these clips that you can attach to their clothing and attach the pacifier. I got mine at Walmart. She'll be more likely to find it. Why put yourself through the misery of taking it away now? I told my daughter one day, No more pacifier she's a big girl, and she never had a problem. I'd say a goodnight sleep far outweighs giving it up.

Answer 4

I read that they should be limited at the age of two, and gone by the age of 4. You're doing fine! My 2 1/2 year old 'sneaks' his off the shelf after I've put him to bed, and then puts it back when he wakes up. I think it's funny, so I've continued to let him do it. He doesn't have it any other time either. My neighbor, who's son NEVER took a binky, obviously looks down on me, but her son is a mega biter.

Answer 5

Your family has probably heard of different wives tales and myths about pacifiers.. but they may also be worried about his security to it and his teeth eventually if he continues to have it.. I think for only having it at night that's great but you want to start giving him something else for his security now so it won't be harder later on... I have listed a few links to help with phasing it out eventually when your ready.. good luck, mine took pacifiers too .

Answer 6

My daughter also used to only want her pacifer at night. She also did not take a bottle during the day. We went through a few of them also,but one night she tore it and started to cry,but I was not going out late to get her another one.Thus the end of her using a pacifer at night. Habits are hard to break,try to take it away when he is sleep and see how he reacts. We sometimes put them in their mouth more than they do.

Answer 7

I dont think there is a problem at all. Tell them they have raised thier children and that you will ask for thier advice when needed. He is only a year in a half ! Not 5. Sounds like he uses it for his comfort. Don't listen to them.

Answer 8

find him a nice teddy that he picks out at the store and get him to give up the pacifer and focus on the teddy...to hold in his hand at night

Answer 9

If this is your first child than this may be hard to hear...you need to take it away and maybe give him a sippy cup unstead...eventually he will stop

Answer 10

my son does the same thing its no big deal, but hell actually throw his when hes asleep. your his mom they are not do what you feel is right