When exactly should my child stop using a dummy?

Answer 1

There is no exact time to do it, whenever is best for you and your child - my daughter stopped having hers through the day at 12 months, then stopped having it at naptime/bedtime around 16 months.

However, I know a child who has only just given his 'bedtime' dummy up and he is three years old.

Answer 2

In my observations as a lactation specialist, babies usually become overly attached to pacifiers when parents have used them overly. Giving a pacifer to a young baby who has a strong desire to suck can be helpful at times, especially when the baby can't be nursed or given a clean finger instead (i.e riding in the car, the checkout line, while you care for a sibling's needs) but as a child gets older, that desire to suck wanes and the pacifier should be offered less. As the baby learns to sit and crawl, she should be busy exploring toys with her mouth, and not miss the dummy as long as it hasn't been used as a mommy substitute all along. It shouldn't be given every time the child is strapped in the carseat or every time they are laid down, this would be the parent creating the habit. I've seen some parents thoughtlessly pop the paci just because their baby whas vocalizing! No wonder we sometimes see speech problems in binky loving toddlers.
I kept these things in mind with my first two sons. One gave his up at 9 months, the other 10 months. My 6 month old is already showing that he has better things to do, and so the pacifier spends most of it's time in the diaperbag. Hope this helps

Answer 3

Ideally you shouldn't start but at the end of the day babies have a natural instinct to suckle. Even in ancient times babies were given bits of wood to suckle so there not a new thing.

However, this 'need' isn't present after 6 months of age. So a dummy after that time is a bad habit and the baby has become used to it as a comferter.

It might not be the easiest thing to do but take it away as soon after 6 months as possible.

I hate seeing toddlers talking through dummies and running about with them stuffed in their mouths. Even worse is seeing parents stuff one in a kids mouth the second they moan!

Do yourself a favour and avoid them if possible but if you do need one get rid of it as soon as possible!

I think the British term for them, DUMMIES is more fitting than pacifer!

Answer 4

My little boy still has his dummy when he's tired, he's 2 and I'm in no hurry to take it away from him - he doesn't have it during the day unless he's really upset or not very well. I strongly believe its up to the child they'll give it up when they're ready (maybe with a little encouragement!) Just go with what feels right for you and your family no-one knows any better!! Hope that helps xxx

Answer 5

When they are ready to. Maybe 3 ish as a latest, just before they go to school. You can phase them out too. Only allowing them at night or upset etc. Also once they are old enough you can swap them for more grown up things. We got ours to leave their dummies out for father christmas as a swap for their present. People who made their children do without are very superior and either have nannies, childminders or another form of dummies (blankets etc.)

Answer 6

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule about this, depends on your feelings about it. At whatever point you feel the child is too old then you need to be firm and take it away, maybe gradually, bedtime only for a while, and then not at all for example.

However, personally I agree with a lot of the other answerers - don't give them one in the first place, I think they are horrid things.

Answer 7

There is no one correct answer to that except "When ready". However I think after the baby is weaned the dummie should be discontinued; they're not very good for the mouth and teeth.

Answer 8

Depends on your child. I know some people are totally against their use - but it is a natural comfort mechanism for all babies to want to use the "sucking" reflex. As time goes on it is for parents to be able to provide other comforts that allow their child to move away from them.

My daughter used one occasionally till two and at that point she felt it was only suitable for babies and gave it up. There was about 24 hours of anxiety and then it was forgotten!

Answer 9

my first son got rid of his when he was 5 i really hated him having one it took so long for us to get it off him we just told him that because he was a big boy he did not need to have it any more and our second son never had one its better if they never have one in the first place but they do say its better for them to have a dummy than to suck on there thumb, good luck with taking the dummy away

Answer 10

A child should not still be using a pacifier after the age of 1. Just my opinion, everyone so don't jump all over me. The coninued use of a pacifier will cause problems with tooth alignment.