At what age should you wean your toddler from the binkie/pacifier?

Question

And what techniques have you used to simplify the transition?

My son is 17 months and still uses the binkie when he is at home; not during the day at school. He sucked his thumb as an infant, but I broke him of that by using the binkie. I'm concerned that when I take away his binkie he will try to suck his thumb and I can't take his thumb away.

Answer 1

I know I am going to get a lot of thumbs down but oh well. My son did not get off of it till he was 3 but after 2 he only got it at nap and bed time. It is a soother for kids and the easiest way is to find something else for them to soothe themselves with. My thought is as long as they don't go to school with it all is well. There is a little girl who is 6 and still sucks her thumb so make sure the thumb doesn't go in when the paci comes out.

Answer 2

I would try to ween them from the binky by their first birthday, if they still need it after that it would only be used for naps and bed time. There is nothing worse than going out in public and see a 2 or 3 year old with a binky hanging out of their mouths and trying to tell their moms what they want. If your child is old enough to talk it is time to leave the binky for naps people. They make older kids look ugly in public.

Answer 3

They are all different, some need it for just a while and others carry that sucking need up into toddler hood or even preschool years. As long as they are weaned by the time they are going to start getting permanent teeth, it's fine. Take it much sooner, if possible, after age 2 they usually get even attached but if you take it before the child is ready, they will usually just pick up another habit like sucking the thumb which is much harder to break. Go by what that certain child needs.
the best way is to wean & distract them from it, start during the day. keep their hands busy. using it to fall asleep is fine, just pop it out of their mouth when they fall asleep & they wont be really sucking it that much.
good luck

Answer 4

the younger they are, the easier it is. but different kids have vastly different attachments to it. 3 of my kids were off the pacifier no problem before they turned one. the fourth was way more attached to it as an infant and still uses it at bedtime (only -- and he mostly holds it, like a stuffed animal, rather than sucking on it) even though he just turned two. (okay, it's on my list of things to deal with, but i'm waiting for a few days when i don't need much sleep, lol).

i'd say it's easiest to first limit it only to bedtime, then throw the thing out and expect a few nights of crying.

Answer 5

My little cousin has just hung hers on the tree for santa at xmas!

her mum told her now thats she is a big girl santa needs to take the pacifier away and he will leave his presents if she does.

She is 17 months and it worked a treat. She hasnt even asked for them since and she was happy because she thought santa had took them away and replaced them with her gifts!

Answer 6

we took the pacifier away when my nephew was 20 months old. it was during the summer time so it was easier. we just told him that if he wanted to go out side and play that he had to give the pacifier up for the day. He was so busy playing that he totally forgot about it. we still let him have it at bed time until he turned 2. then after that we threw them away and told him that big boys dont need pacifiers any more. at night he would cry until he fell asleep but after about 3 days he eventually forgot.

Answer 7

My ped said to have them done with a binkie by 18 months.

Answer 8

My answer is...it is already too late. Pacifiers are to stimulate and satisfy the sucking motion that all newborns make. They suck because it is instinct. The pacifier is to satisfy their need for sucking without feeding them. Beyond the newborn stage, there is no need for a pacifier. Your pediatrician and any decent child rearing book should have given you this information.

How to do it...throw it away and don't look back. The bigger deal you make it, the bigger deal the child will make it. Tell your child "You are a big girl/boy now. This is for babies. We need to throw it away because you are not a baby." Then do it and don't look back.

Answer 9

Toddler? Ahhh scary! I weaned my daughter by 6 months so that I didn't really have to wean. i think she may have also been younger, But for sure by six months.
My friends kid was a nook nut! At 18 months she started to wean and basically pulled it other then at nap time and bed time. Then pulled nap time and finally threw them all out... but it wasnt easy.

Answer 10

do no longer provide her the alternative. in case you do no longer positioned drinks in it, she will't drink from it. don't be shocked if she's no longer too keen in this concept, although. Or, attempt purely water interior the sippy cups. My 4-twelve months-old son has no venture eating from commonly used cups, yet he nevertheless drinks water from a sippy cup (Nuby, plastic spout) with the aid of fact he drinks water all day long and that i'm no longer silly adequate to bypass away cups of water the place they could spill. that's purely like a water bottle for him.