When to Wean from the Pacifier

Hi A.,
My son only used his bink at nap time and bedtime too. We just got rid of it this last Easter (the bunny took the bink from the basket and left presents). I built it up for about a month so he knew it was coming. He wasn't happy about it and it took a few days/nights but he's fine now. At Easter time he was 2 years 2 months old. I know others may disagree, but I agree with Dianna in that it won't really do anything to their teeth, especially if it's gone by age 3. The sooner you take it away, the easier it will probably be. Only you can judge that. You may have a few nights of uneasy rest. Good luck!

you can try and get rid of it now....binki fairy...but as long as he's not speaking with it in his mouth and it stays in the bed for the appropriate use then he will probably give it up on his own....kids who run around with it all day have more speech delays and more of the attachment issues...if you restrict its usage to bedtime only, he'll most likely get rid of it himself.

I waited until my kids understood the concept of all gone. Once they understood I took every bottle and pacifier out of the house and threw them in the garbage under everything else. When the kid would ask where the bottle was I'd say 'gee I'm not sure. Where did you leave it?' and we'd look everywhere for the lost bottle. When they grew tired of looking I'd announce I guess it's all gone and they'd agree. Was rocky for a few days but there's no turning back.

After age 2 there should be no pacifier.

I am struggling with this too. My pediatrician said they like to get rid of the pacifier and bottle by 15 months. As of right now she doesn't do the sippy cups but I am not stressing yet. The pacifier I also started taking from her except at bedtime and naptime as well and she doesn't really mind but I know she loves it at those particular times. The dentist told me that when you take it away if you see them going for their thumbs to give it back for a while. I don't know how your son reacts to teething but I know my daughter really liked her pacifier when her teeth were coming in if he only has two teeth you may want to see what happens when he teeths or if you can get rid of it before that they you can give him something else when he's teething. Good luck. Wish me the same cause I feel like I may need it.lol

It's really not bad for the formation of his teeth as these are only going to fall out. My son totally outgrew it on his own at 3. We tried to take it away once it was horrible. And his teeth are perfectly fine.

Hi A.,

Will is a good age to wean from the pacifier. I am a speech language pathologist and I counsel parents to "lose" the pacifier around 1 year of age. It sounds like Will is tossing it out of his crib on his own, If you keep using the pacifier it can have a negative impact on his teeth as well as his languge deveopment. A pet peeve of mine is when toddlers are walking around with a pacifier in their mouth, with a string clipped to their clothes, and their speech is impacted. I tell parents, try to talk with a sizeable object in your mouth!

Good luck! I know that little ones get attached to their pacifier:)

I was in the same boat last week... until my daughter came down with strep throat...Had to go "cold turkey", but it was the best thing to do.
My daughter is 21 months old and was a premie - barely 3lbs at birth. The pacifier was essential for her, but unfortunately she became strongly attached to it. I hated seeing the binkie cover her beautiful face, but couldn't bare to hear her cry, so I didn't force the issue. I figured, "In time, this too will pass." Somehow, she came down with strep throat last week. It's very unusual for kids less than 2yrs old to get strep, but most likely she got it from the germs my 7 year old son brings home from school. I immediately threw all "binkies" away, just like we do with toothbrushes when a child gets strep. (There, I can justify it now!) Two days of pure torture (for me & hubby that is)& it was like she never had one.
Be strong. Throw them out!! They're germ infested anyway.