my 6 month old has to have his pacifier to go to sleep every night, any suggestions on breaking this habit?

Answer 1

He is very young for you to think about breaking a habit.

pacifier may soothe a fussy baby. Some babies are happiest when they're sucking on something.
Pacifiers offer temporary distraction. When your baby's hungry, a pacifier may buy you a few minutes to prepare a bottle or find a comfortable spot to nurse. A pacifier also may come in handy during shots, blood tests or other procedures.
A pacifier may help your baby go to sleep. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick.
A pacifier may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers have found an association between pacifier use at nap time and bedtime and a reduced risk of SIDS.
They're disposable. When it's time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your baby prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it may be more difficult to break the habit.

I didn't list the con's because one of the most important reason to use the pacifier that struck me was the SIDs rate. Having had friends who have dealt with SIDs, not once but three different times in my life, I know the devastation it can cause.
If you want to look up the 'cons' I've listed my source.

Answer 2

Beleive me that you DO NOT have a problem to deal with. As many other answerers have said, 6 months is too young to break this habit. A 6 month old does not yet understand. The REAL problem will be if he/she starts to suck his/her thumb. That is a VERY DIFFICULT habit to break I have a very mature 6th grader that stills sucks her thumb. It is like breaking a cigarette habit. My humble suggestion is do not worry about this pacifier for right now until the baby is at least 1 - 1 1/2. Good luck and enjoy a good nights sleep.

Answer 3

This answer just reinforces all the others. You should not try to forcibly remove the pacifier until he learns other methods of self-relaxation. You can begin to start to encourage these other methods even at age 6 months. For instance, when he's old enough to drop the pacifier in the middle of the night, roll over and grab his teddy bear without crying, and go back to sleep, then he's old enough to sleep without the pacifier. Even so, expect 3-7 terrible nights when you stop cold turkey (and stopping cold turkey, while harder on you, is the easiest and fastest way for him to learn.)

Answer 4

Congrats on your baby! As a mom of three sons I have different times with each of them that i got rid of the paci.
I have heard that a baby has a need for sucking until 8 months old. Once your baby reaches about 9 months old I would limit the time he/she has it. I used to put a ton of binkies in the crib but they would fall out through the cracks. Once he was old enough to ask for them I knew I was in trouble of getting rid of them. I simply "gave it to the easter bunny" and that was that he asked a few times, a couple (not many) sleepless nights and it was over!
My second son had it to long that I believe it disrupted his speech. By the time my third boy came along I "simply" took it away one day and just got him into another routine, bath, reading a book and falling asleep by himself. It wasnt easy but it was worth the week or so of trouble. One hint though THROW THEM OUT! dont put them in a drawer or just away because when he/she is screaming it will be the easy way out and you will go for it! just chuck em! Good luck!
BUT..for now, enjoy and relax..you still have a few months to start worrying about this.
Hope this helped..not just a ramble! lol

Answer 5

Just don't give it to him. He will cry and cry at first, but they learn to soothe themselves. The only thing you have to worry about is that he may start sucking his thumb in the absence of a pacifier.

Answer 6

I agree with the others that he is a bit young to take it away. Every child needs a comfort item. If you are getting frustrated with having to give it back to him then try tossing 4 or 5 of them in his crib & he'll figure out how to get them when he needs them. If you are insistant on getting rid of it you can put them in a sack & give them to the binky fairy & give him a cool gift in return but he's still too young to 'get' that.

Answer 7

Well, he is kind of young still. Babies do have a need to suck (I would be grateful he goes to sleep every night!). At this age, he would probably start sucking his thumb if you took it away. I wouldn't worry about it until he gets to be about a year and a half. Pacis are easier to take away than thumbs!

Answer 8

Try breast-feeding. Studies show that children addicted to pacifiers are only because they lack the security of breast-feeding.

Answer 9

6 months is alittle young to already take a binky away if you have allowed him to have one.this young i am not sure of a good way other then just not given him one....there are lots of ways for children old enough to understand...but at 6 months he clearly wont.
the above is great for a older child...he is only 6 months..he is not going to understand any of that!

Answer 10

I agree with another poster that it's too early for you to start worrying about it. Unless it's causing a problem like a yeast infection in his mouth.

there are no quick-tricks. You just have to deal with the pain of a easily-waking baby for a few days till he gets used to not having it. be patient.