How to get my 2yr old off the pacifer?

Question

Does anybody know the best way to wean a toddler off the pacifer?She is very attached to it........Please give good answer!!!

Answer 1

STart by limiting it to the house. Just make it matter of fact, if you go out that door the paci stays behind. Then maybe a month later limit it to only sleep times. Be firm. Then maybe another month later take it away altogether. Again, be firm. You might have a week of fussing but she WILL get over it. I waited way too long to do these things with my now five year old, and her speech was badly affected.

Answer 2

My older two boy had a pacifier until they were about 3 and a half but only when they were sleeping. My dentist said typically there is not permanent tooth damage if it is gone before they are 4. If you take their pacifier way to soon they might start sucking their thumb ( I did and I did not stop until I was in 2nd grade-I had braces on my teeth for 4 years) If you have not limited it just to bed time that is where I would start (hide it during the day if you have to) Keep her busy during the day so she does not think about it. Then when she is a little older give her a date she will understand after a trip away etc that you will take it away and then do it. The first few bedtimes might be hard but it will get easier. Good luck

Answer 3

Honey, I'm right there with you. My son is two years old and also on the pacifier. He was weened down to only at nap or bed. I wouldn't let them out of the bed or crib with it in hand or mouth. Honestly, his birthday is the end of the month and he'll be three. I was told by my pediatrician that it would be easier for him to understand that they were big enough to detach from them at age 3 , because I had waited so long. Personally I am going to tie them to the helium balloons from his birthday party and let him release them on his own. Very much hoping that the presents and such may act as a distraction. At bed time I picked out a bedtime animal for his toddler bed again having faith. I too was on the pacifier until the age of four. Couldn't take my mom's advise, so I'm praying for both of us it works!

Answer 4

My daughter weaned herself off the pacifier but i've heard of people just throwing the pacifiers away and letting their kids cry it out and after a few days they find another self soothing method.

I've also heard of parents giving the child a new toy for a reward if the child throws away the pacifier.

Answer 5

I have a 2 year old son, and in my own experience, he had put it down and misplaced it. I found it first and hid it. When ever he asked for it. I just told him it was all gone. And he was fine. Ocassionally now he will suck on his fingers but not much.
My sister has a 3 year old son who was still on it, and everyday she would cut just a piece of it off until there was nothing left to suck. So when it was unusable she simply said "it's broken, and it has to be thrown away". He is fine without it.
With her almost 2 year old girl, she will only let her use it at nap time and bed time. When she wakes, my sister just tells her that it will be there when she come back to bed.
hope that helps

Answer 6

snip the end off with a pair of sissors. she won't be able to suck it anymore.

3 days and 3 nights will be hell, but afterwhich, she will have learned a new self soothing method. Do not try to replace the item with another item, such as a bear or blankie, this will only pertetuate and prolong an attachment issue. Try putting a small aquarium with a light. (Goldfish are nice...fantails are even more relaxing) in her room for her to be calmed during bedtime, this often is the hardest time to self soothe.

Answer 7

Neither of my children used a pacifer, but my best friends son did. They just let him get rid of it himself. They wouldn't let him take it outside with him. He could only have it while he was in the house. Then one day he was in the car with his dad and he had brought his pacifer with him, and he decided on his own to throw it out the window. He knew that he wanted to the be big boy, so he got rid of it. And that was the last time he used the pacifer. He got rid of it by his 2nd birthday. Talk to her about being a big girl, and let her get rid of it in her own way. Good Luck!!

Answer 8

My daughter loved her pacifier. We weened her off it slowly. First we took it away during the day, and she could only have it at naptime or bed time. A couple days later, we took it away at nap time, and she only had it at night. Finally a couple days later we took it away at night and snipped all the ends so she couldn't sneak. It works. The first couple nights without a pacifier are difficult (for you and your child), but it works. Like I said, we did it slowly, but I can imagine you could skip all the steps and just take the pacifier away cold turkey....either way you are looking at a couple difficult days/nights.

A friend of mine had a "pacifier fairy". Her daughter left her pacifiers on her nightstand, and the pacifier fairy came during the night and left a present and took the pacifiers.

Answer 9

Well both of my girls hated the pacifier so I didn't have to deal w/ that, but my mom said she just took mine and threw it in the trash, the next morning I cried for it , my mom said I lost it and I cried for almost a week, but I only cried at bed time and when my mom dropped me off at day care. Good luck!

Answer 10

this one works every time... on christmas night you take your shild out into the back yeard and tell them u are going to leave thier pacifier under the the tree for santa claus to pick it up and to give to another little boy or girl who is younger than them and who really needs it... you''l find that your toddler will be quite happy to help...!