How old is to old to still have a pacifier?

Question

I was at Wall-Mart the other day and I seen a lady coming in with a little girl she had to be at least 3 or 4. She was walking around with a pacifier in her mouth. I think that once the kids are able to talk very well that they shouldn't need a pacifier. What is everyone else's opinions on this?

Well put prodigy that's exactly what i'm talking about. The girl looked very fine and content just walking with and staying around her mother as they waited at the counter.

Answer 1

Young babies have need to suck on something(completely separate from their need to eat). It helps comfort them and sooth. Pacifiers are most needed in the first few months when the need to suck is at its peak.

Pacifiers should be gone by one year old(except for sleep) and completely gone by 2(not even for sleep). Many parents use them so they don't have to deal with their children's crying. Pop the pacifier in, and the kid shuts up. I can't stand it when I see a 2,3,4... year old with a pacifier in their face, they do not need it. There is no need to have a pacifier in a perfectly calm and quiets child's mouth, much less a calm and quiet toddler.

Answer 2

I do agree that's it looks strange for an older toddler to have a pacifier but that's my problem. I don't know these people, I have no idea why that child's parents still chooses to allow that child to have a pacifier nor do I judge. Being a parent of a 3 year old myself it would irritate me to know end when a total stranger would comment or actually have the gall to remove the pacifier from my son's mouth. Granted, we had to go cold turkey on the pacifier due to a surgery he had at age 2 but I saw no problems with him having it at home or in bed to sooth himself. I will say that once the child starts talking, I think it could hinder speech development so I agree that they need to be weened from it but better a pacifier than the thumb. You can't take away a thumb.

AND, my son always looked a lot older than he was so people assumed he was like 2 when he was only 18 months so try not to judge people - you really don't know the situation.

Answer 3

I don't think a child that age should be walking around with a paci in her mouth all the time, but I'm really not against it on a limited basis, for instance, the child needs it to fall asleep. You really don't know the situation this mother was in. Maybe the child was cranky and the mother gave the child a paci as a temporary way to avoid a meltdown in the middle of the store? I think too many people judge other people in public without knowing the whole situation.

Answer 4

I have a friend who's hus is in the Army. He's in Iraq about every 30 to 45 days. Her son is VERY big for his age. SO, at 25 months, he looks at least 4. She has had several people be VERY rude to her because every time daddy goes back to the field, he regresses and wants his paci a few days. I see nothing wrong with him having it. I guess what I'm saying is that we don't know the situation and we shouldn't judge. Each child is different.
I think you should allow a child to have a paci at night as long as they are asking for it. We all have things that we use to go to sleep, warm milk, reading, comfy pjs, hot cocoa. Why shouldn't a child also have something to comfort them at night? I believe you should treat your child like a human being. We control SO many things in their life, this is one thing they should control. I'm not saying a parent should keep stuffing it in their mouth, but if they are ASKING for it, you should let them have a paci.
As for the "it hurts their teeth" theory, that doesn't work for me. I took a paci for a long time and my teeth are great. My hus never took a paci and neither did his brother and sister. They ALL have terribly crooked teeth.
Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 5

my first 2 kids were broke of the pacifier at 6 months, im letting my 3 rd baby (hes 7 months now) keep it until 1 year of age because i read that a pacifier can reduce the risk of SIDS in the first year, something about when they suck on it while sleeping it keeps the air ways open. i am 7 weeks preg with our 4th and i will let it keep the paci till one year also. absolutely no longer. its not that hard to break the habit, you just have to be willing to deal with a little more fussiness for about 3 days

Answer 6

Why do people put an expiration date on comfort items? Because society says so? I'd say let them (as long as it's not causing any dental issues) for as long as they want to. Same with diapers, and stuffed animals. Why we "outgrow" some things is beyond me, some are practical. For instance, Pajama's with the feet on them are comfortable, warm, and good for the environment (I have them, and I can turn my heat down further at night saving energy). Another thing I think would be practical are those shirts that babies wear that snap at the crotch. As an adult, I would wear one to bed because nothings more annoying than (in summer) having your shirt come up while you're sleeping.. (I toss around a lot) Not to mention during the day your undershirt wouldn't come untucked! :-P Some things just make sense!

Answer 7

I think after the first birthday it's time to say bye bye to the bottle and the pacifier.

Answer 8

I'd say by 1.5 years of age the child should no longer be using a pacifier.
I'd prefer my children to never get attached a pacifier because it can be horrible getting them to stop.

Answer 9

I don't think a child at any age should have a pacifier. Every time you turn around they're dropping them on the ground and I've seen people pick the pacifier up off the ground and/or floor and plop right in the baby's mouth.

Answer 10

I think it's too old even when the child talks a little bit. I can understand using it for comfort, in the house, at bedtimes and such, for a young toddler.

But I can't stand it when kids walk around with it shoved in their mouth, dropping it in the dust and sticking it back in, and having to repeat what they said with drool dripping out of their mouths because I can't understand them.