Should I wean my 14 month old from his pacifier?

Question

At our last doctor appointment, the doctor recommended taking the pacifier away before 15 months, since I am having another baby. My son will be 18 months old by the time the new baby is born and the doctor thinks he will have time to "forget" the binky and will not want to steal his baby brothers, if we wean him in time. I just don't know. He doesn't use the pacifier alot, only for sleeping and occasionally in the car, but he really loves it and wants it if he sees it during the day. He won't sleep without it, and that's why I hesitate to take it away. Any advice?

Answer 1

Well, on one hand he could just forget about it and not want his baby brother's binky -or- he could keep his and when his baby brother is born he will see that binkies are for babies and he'll wean himself from it naturally. That's a tough decision. Also, he could forget about it for now and later see his brother's and want it back.

Answer 2

My daughter is 22 months and still uses her pacifier. My son is 6 months and will not take one at all. If your only reason for getting rid of the pacifier is because you do not want him to take the younger child. That is not a good reason. Your son will need some sense of normality when the new baby arrives and the pacifier will be just that.

Answer 3

My girl pretty much rejected the pacifier, which I wasnt too sad about as I dont have to deal with trying to get her to stop that she's almost a yr. I actually offered her one the other day after running across it hidden in a cupboard, and she looked so cute with it! She lost interest in a minute or two... My 4 little cousins really loved their pacifiers though, and the youngest who is now 2 1/2 still has hers. To get them to give them up, their mother had them 'donate' all of their pacifiers to children less fortunate. It was a ruse, of course, as no one recycles pacifiers, but it worked. If it doesnt work out that you can get your son to stop before the birth of your new baby, you could try that approach. Ask him to 'donate' his pacifiers to his little brother/sister. He might be too young for it though, as my cousins were around 3 when their mother decided it was time to say goodbye to the binky.

Answer 4

My kids only used it in the car and for sleeping as well. I took my son's away from him about 6 months before the baby was born. I only took it away because he started chewing on it and there were holes in it. I didn't want him choking on it. He just "quit cold turkey". I had 2 nights of crying that only lasted a couple of minutes. I went out and bought him a stuffed bear and told him it was his binky bear. Ever since then he was fine without the binky. The only time he ever tried to use a binky after the baby was born was when his grandmother gave him one (for no reason) I was furious. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I am a mother and a nanny. My sons never took pacifiers but 2 of the little ones I watch did. They both have younger siblings and they never had an issue with their pacifiers. If he's only taking it at night, I wouldn't stress over it. If you are ready for him to give them up then go for it. One of my mothers had the lil one put all their pacifiers in a bag for the Paci Fairy who was going to pick them up and take them to the new babies who needed them, since they were now so big and didn't need them as badly anymore. She had them set the bag by the front door. In the morning the Fairy had left a new toy for them and a note telling them how happy she was that they were such a big, loving lil one that would want to share with all the other babies. She never heard another word about it!!

Good luck!!!

Answer 6

Well first off to another answer how the he// is taking a pacifier away torture??? Anyways my advice is to throw them in the garbage!! Since he is only using them for sleep there really is no point to wean, just go cold turkey! Dont just take them away though, THROW THEM IN THE GARBAGE. If you take them away but still have them around YOU will be tempted to give into him and give him one when he gets fussy. Thats what i had to do with my son to cut him off of his bottles at 16 months, he used his sippy but only wanted his bottle before naps and bedtime. Another answer said to wait and he will give it up when hes ready.... I think thats stupid... Sure its great if they self wean at that age but if they dont it should be taken away. I think it is absolutely RIDICULOUS to see 3 and 4 year olds still with pacifiers and bottles. Yes he WILL be fussy for a few days but he will get over it, just try to distract him as much as you can when he starts fussing over it. Also what ever the pacifier is called, soother, suckie etc.. dont say that word, and ignore when he says it, it will help him forget about it. Good luck!

Answer 7

I have three children and they all used pacifiers my oldest had teeth problems due to the pacifier which was corrected by braces. I would suggest once all of your son's teeth come in its very important to do your best in trying to seperate him from the pacifer. This will save you big bucks in the end, but watch him carefully many time if you take away a pacifier they resort to their thumbs which is much much more difficult to deal with.

Answer 8

It is my opinion that a 14 month is still baby, and who cares if a baby has a pacifier. If he likes it and it is not hurting anyone let him keep it. If you take it away and he starts to suck his thumb that is going to be way worse for you. Don't sweat the small stuff he will eventually give it up on his own when he is ready. Tell the Dr. to mind his own business if they are pushing you to take it away.

Answer 9

Yes, I think a 14 month old should be weaned from the pacifier. I would suggest a gradual approach.

Answer 10

There is a lot of controversy over this question. All three of my kids gave it up on their own before the age of 3. I don't know what all the controversy is about. It's not like they are going to walk down the aisle to say I do while still sucking a pacifier.