Is the pacifier bad for toddlers?

Question

My daughter is almost 2 and she still uses her pacifier at bedtime. Some people tell me it's no big deal since she's only using it to sleep and others tell me that it's the worst thing in the world. I get two very different points of view and I'm not sure which is right. Was it terrible to let her go this far with a pacifier? Is the pacifier doing any real damage?
The second her eyes are closed, the paci falls right out of her mouth and she will sleep soundly for the rest of the night without it. But if she doesn't have it initially when she lays down, she will NOT fall asleep no matter how tired she is. My husband and I have spent countless nights trying to get her to sleep without it, but we usually give in somewhere around 3 am when we can't hold our eyes open anymore!

Answer 1

well, my parents took my pacifier away as soon as i started getting teeth in (long before 2, like 13mos or so). And they told me that i wouldn't sleep good either at first, but they had thrown it away (making sure that i was there to see and to say "bye-bye"), and they weren't going to get another one. From what i hear, you just have to stay with it. oNce you take it away, you can't keep giving in. But as far as long term damage, i don't think that that could cause any as long as you don't let her keep it forever (like 3).

Answer 2

Yes- I think it's bad! I hate seeing toddlers with a pacifier! My best friend allowed both her children to have them at least until they were 3 and 4 years old and both of them have buck teeth! One has a severe cross bite and the other one has teeth that looks like they molded around a pacifier!

A pacifier is not crucial to them so there is no harm taking it away! Take it away on a Friday night and by the next Monday she will be over it and sleeping on her own!

Answer 3

Here is some information from a leading brand of pacifiers.
They include a story to help kids get rid of their paci.
I used it with my first daughter at 15 mos.
I'm sure my second will enjoy it when she is big enough.
Here is the link:
http://www.mambaby.com/websystem301/site/index.php?mode=&articleid=186&lid=en&ru=aW5kZXgucGhwP2FydGljbGVpZD0wJm5vZGVpZD0yODQ=


When should a child stop using a pacifier?

There is no strict rule for that. Most children stop to use a pacifier before their third year, while only 1% of children continue to use a pacifier to the age of 5. In the case that your baby does not want to stop using a pacifier by itself, we recommend to reduce usage gradually until the 36th month of life. (See MAM Interactive for "MAMPI" - a pacifier story)


How do I wean my baby off pacifiers?

Normally parents have great imagination when teaching something to their children or making them stop some habit. Invent a story or use our "Weaning-off story" (look at MAM Interactive to find "MAMPI" a pacifier story) with which we would like to help you. You may, of course, alter it or adapt to your child. It is certainly not the absolute and immediate solution, but it has – prepared and used with a lot of patience and love – helped many parents to reach their goal.

Answer 4

AHHHHHH!!!!! Those things are awful for the child great for the parent. the longer you let her have it the more emotionally attached she will get to it. You are lucky she is so good about it right now, most children will scream and be a rec with out it. I would try poking a hole in it with a pin and giving her a book, music and her pacifier when she is really sleepy and leave the room like nothing was different.

Answer 5

the pacifiers may produce some odour when its not cleaned properly , and its not advisable to leave the pacifier all night , since the mouth is dry all night or u dont give water after feeding before going to bed ,the mouth remains viable for the odour producing microbes as a result u get the smell .... try giving warm water after every feeding so that the oral environment is clean ,if the teeth has erupted you can use a paste as recommended by ur doc

Answer 6

No the pacifier is NOT bad for toddlers. Some will INSIST that it "misaligns" the jaw and teeth however that is an old wive's tale. The alignment of the jaw is determined by genetics not what a child sucks on. Eventually the child will give it up on their own...your child will probably not have her's for much longer, my daughter actually threw her's away a little past her 2nd birthday.

Answer 7

Honestly it is good for kids it helps reduce sids. my one year old son loves his nuki. it helps them cope and deal with stress. it in fact does not affect there teeth in any way. i have researched it for my sons sake and i would continue to let her have it. my daughter was like that and when its time to take it away its very hard. it takes about three weeks to adjust but take it away when she can calm herself down. or you could depending on what kind of pacifier cut alittle bit of the end off of it. hope it helps.

Answer 8

i think there is some truth in messing up their teeth, but i think thats mostly for the kids that are 5 and has had it in their mouths since they were born. if she only uses it for a couple minutes before bed, i dont think it's doing any harm. if you ever have another baby, just dont even introduce it to him/her. my son never even seen a paci... so we never had to deal with taking it away... just my thoughts. *jenn*

Answer 9

I don't think its bad, my daughter did the same thing, she only wanted her pacifer for sleep or when she was upset. She gave it up last month, on her own. I wouldn't take it from her until she gets like 3 or 4, right now it's okay. She'll give it up on her own.

Answer 10

Oh dear she isn't even 2 yet, no it's not bad for her.You say she only has it at bed time l see no problem with that at all. It's not like she walks around 24/7 with it.. she will give it up soon but for now don't stress yourselves or her by getting her to give it up before she is ready...