How long will it be before my 15 month old forgets about his pacifier?

Question

The last pacifier was lost yesterday, and I don't want to buy another since I feel he should give it up at this age. He cried for almost two hours last night (his first night without it). I don't think either of us can go through that again too many times.

Answer 1

Give it back to him at night and during naps...this is what my pediatrician says. There is no reason to not give it to him/her while they nap. I just took the pacifier away from my son who just turned 15 months during the day. He's doing ok so far. If he's stressed from something scary though I let him have it..he's still very young.

Answer 2

Can Pacifiers Ruin My Baby's Teeth?
Sucking is an innate reflex that babies develop and practice in the womb as they prepare for their first meal. Sucking is so important to a child’s development that it is comforting well into a child’s first years of life — long after he or she no longer needs to get nourishment from a breast or bottle.

While sucking is tailor-made for an infant’s nutrition, most children will also find comfort by sucking on hands, fingers or pacifiers. This "non-nutritive sucking" is soothing, but is it a problem?

Are Pacifiers a Problem?
During a child's first few years, sucking habits are unlikely to cause significant damage to a child's mouth. But persistent and long-term sucking, especially after the permanent teeth begin to come into the mouth around age 6, can cause:

The top front teeth to slant out.
The bottom front teeth to tilt in.
The upper and lower jaws to be misaligned.
The roof of the mouth to be narrowed.

Here are a few things you can do:

If your infant uses a pacifier, buy only products that are constructed as one piece. There shouldn't be any parts that can break off and potentially be swallowed or breathed into the lungs.


Never fasten a pacifier on a strong or necklace around your child's neck. Your baby could accidentally be strangled.


Offer your child a pacifier that is marketed as "orthodontically correct because this type may cause less distortion to the teeth.
Don't try to calm a fussy baby by dipping the pacifier in honey or sugar water.This will increase your child's risk of tooth decay.
Use positive reinforcement to encourage older children to give up the pacifier or thumb.

Answer 3

Just remember who the parent is; he will be just fine. I know it's hard at night with all of the crying but he will eventually realize that he's not going to get it back. I had to take my kids off the pacifier because in the long run your kids teeth will start to form an ugly overbite. Try and stop it now before that happens. I did and I don't regret it. Now they have beautiful straight teeth.

Answer 4

An idea that my friend did was took child's pacifier that was lost and bought one just like it and told the child it was found. Later they went to build a bear workshop and put the pacifier in one of the bears...this way the child does not "have" the pacifier but it is still a part of them in a way...so it is still a comfort item but in a more appropriate form such as teddy bear.

Answer 5

When my son was 15 months old, I bought him a new pacifier as his old one was sticky and smelly. I threw away the old one before checking to see if he would take to the new one (it was same brand, same color). He freaked out. He just kept throwing the new one on the floor. It was difficult for a few days at most, but once he was over it, we never had a problem. It is up to you, you could take this opportunity as a way to wean him off, or get him one and try again later. Although, I have always heard that the longer you wait, and the older they get, the harder it is to wean them off of things.
Good luck!

Answer 6

3 years old is too old. 21/2, may be getting a bit long. 15 months, why take it away ? Still a baby. Sleep is better for you , do what it takes to get sleep. Be thankful something works. Where is the harm ? Just because you'll get frowns from some control freaks ? Who knows best for your baby, you or them ? It is no harder to get them to give up later, it's just that people have been worn down and think it is harder because they have lost their patience and will. Edit: as for wrecking their teeth, are you people serious ? They are baby teeth, they are going to fall out anyway !

Answer 7

DO NOT BUY ANOTHER!!!!! The baby thinks he or she needs it because you may have given it to them every time they cried so that's what there use to that comfort and it's the wrong kind. To be honest it may take a while for him to realize it's gone for good. But if you take it away for a day or two and realize you can't take the noise then it's gonna be like it was all for nothing. Stick to ur guns, toddlers will make you taking something away a nightmare. But don't feel bad cause its for the better. To be honest it may take about a week-n-a half BUT STICK with it PLEASE and don't have ur husband or family members cave in it defeats all ur hard work and night suffering... GOOD LUCK it's not all talk it's experience STICK WITH IT!!!!

Answer 8

Better do just deal with it now and get it over with...My daughter was finally about 2.5 when I stoped with the binkies, and at the same time I decided to take my sons away too, he was about 6months....they both did great...I think the younger they are, the easier....My daughter went a few days still wanting it..But she knew it was better to be a big girl.

Answer 9

It took my kids about 2 weeks to quit asking for it. It is long and tiring, but it is worse the longer you let them have it. And if you give it back it will be twice as bad the next time. I speak from experience, just dont cave, give him his favorite stuffed animal/blanket and keep telling him it is ok.

Answer 10

Poooor baby! Just buy another one. If he sleeps well with it, why ruin that?!?!?!?!?!?! It's not going to damage his teeth at this young an age. There's a very long way to go before you have to worry about those effects. Pick your battles! I got it in my head that my girl needed to stop using her binky at 14 mos. BIG mistake. Now it's back and everyone sleeps....HOORAY!!!!
Now, if he's still sleeping with it the night before his first day of Kindergarten, you've got a problem...