is it too early to remove the pacifier to a two-year old?

Question

I would like to know what is the best moment so that it isn't so hard on him, he is now 23 months.

Answer 1

Yesterday was too late. Now that his teeth are forming in his mouth you are letting them form around that pacifier. My daughter was almost two and one day she was laughing and tilted her head back - I saw her teeth and how they were forming. I immediately took every pacifier and threw it in the trash. It took about a week of her wanting it and then it was over. Let me tell you our life revolved around that pacifier - we couldn't leave or do anything without making sure we had the pacifier - so I understand he is really attached to it - but everyone will live it just won't be fun until he's over it. Maybe you could get him a blanket or new stuffed animal in lieu of the pacifier.

Answer 2

Well the best idea is not to try the pacifier in the first place but 24 months is a perfectly good time to stop the pacifier. One thing to do is to start talking about how they are growing out of the pacifier for the next week. Then make it not available for longer and longer periods of time untill they all get bagged up (can even make this a game) to go to charity or whatever.

Answer 3

Well, whenever you take it away, it will be a bit difficult. But the longer you wait, the worse it could get so any time soon would be good. You don't want to have a 4 year old running around with a pacifier, do you? I couldn't imagine how hard it would be then!!!
Children usually use these for comfort. It will be hard on him for the first few days, but he'll be better off without it. Trust me. I took my daughters away from her when she was 6 months, it wasn't all fun, but I'm sure glad I didn't wait!

Answer 4

Pacifier removal is overdue! Why would anyone let their child suck on one of those things for 2 years? I have 3 small children ages 4,7 and 9, all 3 of them used a pacifier and all 3 of them lost it at 1 year old, when the bottle was taken away. Due your child a favor and yank it now. It may take a week or so for her to get over it, but it will be worth it in the long run.

If she starts sucking her thumb, smack her, or else it will never stop. I have a neice who is 12 years old and still sucks her thumb.... so gross and stupid!

Answer 5

Umm, that's funny. my son was on the little thing so long that freinds and family were saying that he would end up walking down the aisle to marry with it in his mouth!!
He's actually quite old enough to do it now. You need to talk to him for a couple weeks, consistently about what a big boy he is and he doesn't need that "baby" pacifier any longer, right?"

First put the thought, the idea into his head, then start hiding it, so it is not there so much of the time he needs it. He will have to learn to do without it for hours at a time, rather than just have it any time he wants it. When he goes nuts because he can't find it, just change his thought waves by singing or saying you're going for a walk or to the park or outside or something, deter his thoughts from the pacifier. After about a week or so of doing this, you may be down to just nap and bed time giving it to him. If that ends up being the case, then it will be time to lose it all together and this will still be ruff. But, in place of it, as sad as mommy is over the entire situtation of not being able to find it any longer, you can buy him something special to carry around in its place and to sleep with. He can take care of this special item because he's a big boy now and doesn't need the baby pacifier, something like a special really cuddly bear or something.
He may wake up or just whine in his sleep for a while also without it. The most important thing is your consistency here and much much patience with the emotions he will be displaying. Many times it is easier to give in rather to hold firm and feel the "guilt" from depriving your child of something he wants to badly.

Remember to reward him with hugs and words on his being such a big boy, and when the pacifier is there, maybe mom should pick it up and place it in her mouth, and make faces, awful, yuckie, eek....blaa......and toss it, that also helps.

Good luck

Answer 6

It is not too early, in fact it becomes more difficult the older they get. Dip the end of the pacifier in something that is a taste your youngster does not like. Keep doing this until he decides on his own he doesn't want it. It will save you a lot of headache from the crying.
Good luck!

Answer 7

The pacifier is probably his security object. talk to him and try to convince him that maybe the dog needs it. This is how my aunt broke my neice from her religous pacifier addiction. My neice gave the puppy the pacifier and that was that. She never asked about it again, or even acted like she missed it because she knew that the puppy needed it. Replace it with a toy that he my be attached with. Good luck but you should try something soon it's not good for hi teeth.

Answer 8

LOL I haven't read the other responses yet but I bet a lot of them will say the same thing...It Is Way PAST time. You should have done it when he was much younger now he might have a very hard time letting it go. I would suggest the fairy method and dispose of them all at once for the fairy and put them in the trash outside so YOU will not be tempted to get them when he starts to whine.

Answer 9

No it is not too early. I would start taking it away slowly. The last times he should have it are before nap and bed time. Take it away during one of those times at a time.

Or I have heard some say to cut the nipple of the end of the paci a little at a time. They will loose comfort from it and abandon it. My friend did this.

Good Luck

Answer 10

Tell him the pacifier fairy is coming. Every pacifier he leaves out gets replaced with a cool toy.