When to stop the pacifier?

Question

I have been reading so much and talking to different mom's about their experience. Some mom's make me guilty and say "well, you are addicted to chocolate or caffine, it is her addiction"...which makes me nervous actually because I don't want her to have a habbit or addiction to a pacifier. Other mom's say they stopped cold turkey at 1 year, others at 6 months and let their babies cry it out for a few nights. I just am torn.
My daughter, Emma, has been the best sleeper. I have had a problem lately trying to decide if I am going to stop the pacifier cold turkey. If it pops out, it is the only reason she wakes up. While falling asleep, if she pops it out, then she has to cry and start all over again. I have read that it is better to stop sooner than later, before they become really attached and more aware of the sudden change. She only uses it to sleep, not during the day at all, which I think is good! Any thoughts on what to do? Thanks!!!

I am also worried about giving her a blanket or a stuffed animal, what if she puts it over her face and can't breathe?

I have tried to let her cry it out without her pacifier at night. She screams bloody murder for it! Once I put it in, she falls right to sleep! So, it makes me want to give it to her so she will sleep because I know she was so tired and just wanted it in her mouth. How long does it go on, crying I mean, if I take it away??

oops, I forgot to say she is 5 months old :-)

Answer 1

It is a lovey. Don't jack with her about it. Dr. Brazelton says so.
My daughter sucked a binky til she was six. I hated people butting in and trying to give her a complex about it. I took her to an orthodontist when she was two and he said she would be fine.
She works for him now. She was inclined to putting things in her mouth,(a warning sign for choking and poisoning potential ) and her binky kept her from wanting metal taste. The main thing is it comforts her and for goodness sakes, at night only!! That is great.
My girl only did it at night from age 4-6. Gave it up because she got weaned from hiding it from her wierd Dad.
Roy Hutchins...my daughter was eloquent from the age of seven months. That is a family thing.

Answer 2

Well, the pacifier is actually a good thing because studies have shown that it helps prevent SIDS. My son used one until he was about 4 months old and he just quit on his own. I wouldn't worry to much just yet. I'm guessing she's not a year old yet? I didn't catch her age if you put it... If she's not 1 then just let her use it for now as long as it helps her sleep. It's not an addiction! It helps soothe her to sleep. Nothing wrong with that. You can give her blankets and stuffed animals when they are a year old. Well, don't feel guilty about it. Do what feels right for you guys. You know your baby better than anyone else. There is no average age to do things like stopping the pacifier. It's an individual deal. Good luck.

Answer 3

Obviously some of the people who answered this did not ask a dentist about the effects a pacifier has on teeth. My son cried like that too when I tried to take his too soon. He used it at night mostly too. I asked my sons dentist at his 1st visit when he turned 1 and he said that he would recommend for it to be completely gone before 3 because AFTER that it can cause problems in there teeth. I waited until I noticed that he would go to sleep some with out it and didn't mind, then I took them one day and told him the fairy came and got them to give to another baby that needed it and he was fine. He was a little over 2. I would have done the cold turkey thing earlier but he would cry until he was about to vomit. When he cried like that I thought " great I will never get this thing away from him" but I just gave him time and it was really easier on both of us.

I do know people that let their kids have it until 3 or 4 and they are big enough then to understand that those are for babies. My son could comprehend that at 2.

It is your baby and you need to do what you are both going to be ok with. Take her to the dentist and ask for yourself. I know mine said it was fine. You never said how old she is? Well good luck. I hope that all goes well in what ever you decide.

Answer 4

When do you take the pacifer away? When your child can no longer fall asleep without the pacifer in their mouth. Nap time or bedtime. And if they wake up and cry if the pacifer falls at of their mouth. For my son this was about 6 months. Really, it's not that big of a deal. If you don't want to cut them off cold-turkey you could try buying them a new pacifer. Find one they don't like. Then they won't want it anymore. My son fussed about it for a day. The next day he would just toss the pacifer if you handed it to him. But it is better to get them off the pacifer at an early age. Defintitely by a year old, but I would recommend no later than 8-9 months old. Also, try replacing the pacifer with a favorite toy or stuff animal. If you think the pacifer stage is fun you'll just love the bottle stage. :)

Answer 5

My pediatrician always told me to stop the bottle and pacifier at age 1. That worked for my first child. My second never took the binky! My third, fourth, and fifth, I just kindof played it by ear ... I waited until my baby seemed ready to let it go. I have never let any of them have the pacifier passed age 2, though. My little guy kept losing his binkys when he was about 8 months old, so i just gave up on buying him new ones. I don't think he really cares. He's a happy, beautiful, playful little guy age 20 months now. I actually HAD to give him a pacifier as he was born tongue-twisted. My doc said the more he sucks, the better it is for him to fix his tongue. (Just a note to those who think pacifiers have no place in society!)

As a mom, you will have so many things to worry about, a pacifier really isn't a big deal. You will know when your baby is ready to move on. Let her be a baby for as long as she can.

PS My third daughter's name is also Emma!!

Answer 6

The best time to stop would be before they reach the age of two. Having a child use a pacifier beyond that could cause them to have problems with their teeth and possibly their speech (my cousin's daugher stopped using a pacifier when she was nearly 5 and was hard to understand when speaking until she was around 8).

Answer 7

I used those NUK pacifiers, and what I did to wean my son off of them was to cut the ends off of all of his a little bit at a time. It took about two to three weeks, but he was completely over them by then. I know I'll probably get a thumbs down on this response; however, it did work, and I felt it too cruel to just stop the pacifier cold turkey. My son wouldn't have understood. Good luck in whatever you try!

Answer 8

in case you opt to do it, do it now, simply by fact later it is going to likely be harder. My oldest boy (now 15) drop the pacifier at 6 months previous by himself, at some point he only desperate he did not choose it anymore, now my youngest little guy or woman who's 13 months previous, there is not any way i might desire to take that pacifier away, he starts searching for it if it falls, and he has lost it some cases and that i might desire to hurry to the keep to purchase one precisely like the only he lost, otherwise he wont take it. So the faster the extra sensible. solid success!

Answer 9

Most kids will give their pacifiers up on their own when they are ready to. My daughter began "weaning" herself. She would only use her's when she wasn't feeling well or sleepy after her 1st birtday. Just before she turned three she threw her's away herself. It was a source of comfort to her and I wasn't about to take comfort away from my child.

Answer 10

I planned on taking my daughters pacifier from her at 1 when I take her bottles away but luckily for me my daughter decided for herself that she no longer wants a pacifier(she is 5 months old) one day she just stopped taking it. Good Luck!!!!