when exactly should i stop using a pacifier?

Answer 1

It's really up to you and your baby, so let your baby be your guide. Babies love to suck — they've even been photographed sucking their thumbs in utero. A baby who seems to want to nurse or consume another bottle after she's just been fed may need something else to suck on. A pacifier may satisfy her or you can help her to find her thumb.

Pacifiers can soothe a fussy baby, but often reading, singing, or simply cuddling him work just as well. If you don't want your newborn to have a pacifier in the nursery, alert the staff in advance. Although a day or two of use in the hospital won't hook your baby on pacifiers, it simply makes sense not to introduce something you aren't going to use at home.

Some parents don't relish the thought of having a 3-year-old walking around with a "binky" in her mouth. But if used judiciously, and only when your baby really needs it, your child is unlikely to become overly dependent on a pacifier.


t's unlikely that your child will continue sucking her pacifier well into the childhood years, when it might threaten proper dental development. This is because during the years your child is likely to be using a pacifier, she only has her baby teeth; permanent teeth generally don't start appearing until around age 5 or 6.

Answer 2

Honestly, I'd say by 2.

My kids were off the pacifier by then. Yes, you'll have to deal with crying in the stores from time to time, but if people go to the store thinking they aren't going to hear kids occasionally, well... that would be ridiculous.

I think it's good for them too. You can't go wrong not having a kid sucking on something when they have teeth. Maybe a pacifier is not as bad as a thumb, but anything that could cause the teeth to come out misshapen is a no-no for me.

You might want to gradually start substituting something for the pacifier to give your child comfort - like a blanket or a teddy bear. This way you can still offer them something to help them feel better if you are out and about (or even at home) that isn't going to continue the baby phase.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I took the pacifier away from my 2 older children around the age of 7-9 months. It's easier to transition a baby than it is to transition a 2 year old. The bottle, I took away at about 12-14 months. It's really up to you, but personally I find it disgusting when a child has to speak around the pacifier, or take it out to ask for something. I would never have my child do this, and I don't like to see other children do this, but it's up to their parents. I think it's better to take it away early because:
1) It's easier
2) It's better for their developing teeth

I would also wait until the risk of SIDS has decreased with your child's age (as I don't know how old your child is) because they say that pacifiers are helpful in reducing SIDS.

My 5 month old doesn't have much longer with her pacifier, but that's ok, she has mommy to be her soother :)

Answer 4

I hope you mean your child. My own children would never take a pacifier. Most other people let their children keep them till 3 or 4. my feelings too long, not the best for the development/shaping of their incoming teeth, mouth structure changes. Before two sounds like a good age.

Answer 5

Take it when you take the bottle. The previous entries about teeth being affected are true!
replace it with a nice cold teething ring. If your child wont take it cold at first, give it to her/him warm, then cool it down a little more each time you give it to them. It gives them something to put in their mouths and those pacifiers are just not a very good habit to start with.
Good Luck-it will be hard at first if your child really is attached.

Answer 6

Up to about 2 or 3 seems ok bt if i woz u i say d soner u get ur baby off d pacifier d better!!!!!It causes ur teeth 2 stck out more d longer u hav 1!!!!I hav braces!!!

Answer 7

My pediatrician told me that pacifier use can interfere with speech (proper pronunciation, etc.) and recommended weaning off by 1 year.

Answer 8

umm...exactly how old are you?...there is no way that you are a 2-4 year old who can get on yahoo answers and type full word questions with good grammar so i'd say u shoulda stopped using a pacifier a LONG time ago.

Answer 9

When you feel the time is right. My son was about 10 months old when he took it out of his mouth and threw it on the floor and he never wanted it agan. My daughter was about 18 mths - 2 years when we took it away, but then she started to suck her thumb!!Don't just take it away though do it gradually and let him/her have it less and less.

Answer 10

It is recommended to stop by age 2 because they can cause damage to their teeth. My boss' twins are almost 4 and still use them and their teeth are horrible.