My son just turned 8 months old - and he is already starting to get his 8th tooth! He hasn't really had ANY problem with teething so far (thank goodness!)... but I'm concerned that with all these teeth he's getting - if still having his "binky" will cause a problem with his teeth later. He really loves his Binky! We haven't had any problems with him chewing holes in it or anything like that. When I was younger I had braces and so did my husband - I've heard that this could be an indication as to whether or not our son will likely need them - and then other places I've seen say that it has no bearing on him. It wouldn't be too horrible if our son had to get them at some point, but if keeping his binky will contribute to needing them, I'd rather do what we can to avoid it. We don't know anyone that has a little one with as many teeth as our son, LOL!
Thanks mamas!!
Thank you all so much for your responses! It's so nice to have such a great group of people to talk to! For right now we're going to let him hang on to his binky - he seems to be limiting himself on his own as he gets older, so maybe we'll be lucky and he'll 'give it up' on his own!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
None at all! As long as you cut use to naptime and bedtime by 18-months or a year and he isn't using it when his adult teeth come in you don't need to worry about it:)
It's more important that he has the comfort of the binky now than that you may have to spend some money on braces later. There are no guarantees with teeth -- let him have the binky.
My son kept his until he was more than twice your sons age. I had braces too. Even had to have 4 permanent teeth pulled because of overcrowding. My teeth still aren't perfect. My son is in his twenties and DID not need braces. I think it is okay.
My 10 month old loves his binky, we let him have it when he wants it which is usually in the car, nap time & bed time. Once he is asleep I remove his bink slowly, so that he doesn't sleep with it in his mouth (slowly, so we don't wake him up). He does also use it to chew on when he is cutting a new tooth. Our oed dentist said this is fine and should not cause a problem- same as the run-of-the-mill teething toys out there.
I say "let him keep it" Hope this helps :-)
Both of my kids had binkies and their teeth are fine. It was at about 6-8 months that we started limiting it to nap time and bed time.
You're a smart mom for thinking ahead and caring about your boy, but let him keep it, he'll be fine!!
My son is 21 months old and loves his paci! It's been so helpful while he teethes so I don't plan on taking his away until all of his teeth have come in. He only has his two year molars left to come in (four more teeth). Then, maybe, I will start limiting it to naptime and bedtime. Until then, I am fine with him having it.
i really really don't think that binkies cause braces. if you're not having any problems, don't borrow 'em!
khairete
S.
Hi, E.:
What is the purpose of the Binky?
It will affect his teeth alignment. It is
habit forming as well.
It really is your decsion how long you want the baby
to suck on it.
Good luck. D.
A lot of people think the binky is the devil. My son had his until he was 3. I started limiting it to naps and bedtime at 18 months. His baby teeth are fine. Who knows if it will affect anything when he's older, it could, but I sucked my thumb forever and I didn't need braces at all. I think it is so funny that we want our babies to find ways to comfort themselves and then when they do, we need to take them away. I say don't worry about it. Start limiting it if you think you need too, but 8 months is still so little.
Hi, E.,
My 4-year-old just gave her binky up to the pacifier fairy - it was a huge soothie for her. Plus, when she was 1 and 2, I noticed if she didn't have the bink in her mouth, something else was in it, like her fingers or her thumb...
We made a calculated choice to let her keep it for a long time in order to avoid having her find her thumb, which never goes away. (I sucked my own thumb till I was 8 and would have gone longer if not for braces!) But we did restrict it to bed and occasionally the car by the time she was 18 months or 2.
Good luck!
H. S.
My daughter was totally addicted to her binky and had it in her mouth almost 24/7. By the age of two, I noticed that her front two teeth were starting to jut out slightly from the binky. That's when the binky fairy visited our house and whisked them away to "another baby who needs them." She's now 5 and her front teeth are back where they should be. Just some perspective...
The pacifier won't cause problems with tooth development, although you are at that point when you can take it away without much notice. My pediatrician recommended taking it away at 6 months. My son looked for it a little, but really did just fine. It is SO HARD for some kids to give up later. Just an idea!
My son is 2 and has all of his teeth. He still uses his 'paci' to go to sleep at nap and bed times. His teeth are not at all crooked. I talked to the pediatrician about this and he said there is no need to deny him his 'paci' for reasons of crooked teeth.
