When Should You Wean a Baby Off the Pacifier
Think information technology's finally time for your little i to say farewell to the pacifier? Or is your kid then attached that you're wondering how you lot can wean them from it without tantrums and tears?
Pacifiers can be lifesavers for parents with fussy babies and screaming toddlers. They provide neat comfort.
Only as your child gets older, pacifiers become less helpful and more of a nuisance. While most children wean themselves around ages 2 to 4, others need a little actress help maxim cheerio.
We've experienced the reluctance with our own children and take taken the time to detect gentle solutions to brand the process easier on you and your footling 1. In this comprehensive guide, we'll discuss the pros and cons of pacifier use, when the all-time time is to ditch the pacifier, and vii easy steps to assistance your kid interruption the habit.
- Pros of Using A Pacifier
- Risks of Connected Pacifier Utilize
- The Best Time to Stop Using a Pacifier
- How to Wean Off the Pacifier
- Good Tips From Real Moms
- Farewell-Bye Binky!
Pros of Using A Pacifier
Pacifiers can exist beneficial as they satisfy a infant'south natural sucking instinct, provide comfort and distraction, and help your baby soothe and fall comatose. Pacifiers have also been shown to reduce the gamble of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when used at bedtime between age 1 month and half dozen months.
The periodic sucking helps continue your baby in a lighter country of sleep, reducing the chance that they will stop breathing (i).
Risks of Continued Pacifier Use
While pacifier use provides many advantages in the early days, as your baby gets older, the risks offset to outweigh the benefits.
After 6 months of age, babies who regularly use pacifiers accept a college gamble of developing middle ear infections than those who don't. Doctors believe this is because continuous sucking causes pressure changes within the ears and can potentially foreclose fluid drainage, causing it to build upwardly and create an infection.
Prolonged pacifier utilize after the age of 2 can besides pb to dental issues because, as your child grows and matures, their jaw will start to grow around annihilation consistently held inside of it.
Co-ordinate to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Dental Association (ADA), the overuse of a pacifier can atomic number 82 to improper mouth development, misalignment of the teeth, and changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth (2). If your child continues to use a pacifier after age 2, make sure you mention information technology to their dentist and so that they can cheque their teeth and jaw.
Some experts also believe the long-term utilize of pacifiers can hinder speech development. If your child constantly has a binky in their oral cavity, they won't exist practicing blathering or talking as much.
Plus, it tin can distort spoken language and impede the normal development of tongue and lip muscles.
The All-time Fourth dimension to Stop Using a Pacifier
Subsequently 6 months of age, the pacifier becomes more of a habit than helpful. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the AAP, it is best to wean your child between half-dozen to 12 months of age to avert middle ear infections, particularly if your child is decumbent to them (three).
To avoid delays in spoken language development, information technology'south best to end using a pacifier by age 1, as this is when important developments in your kid's speech and language learning are occurring rapidly. And to avert "pacifier teeth," it's all-time to ditch the pacifier by age 2 if y'all oasis't been able to do it sooner (4).
While these are merely recommendations and non set rules, it's much easier to wean your child sooner rather than afterwards. Weaning before they starting time to crawl and walk is best, as they won't exist able to become searching all over the house for their dear binky.
If y'all're having trouble weaning your kid by the age of 2, brand sure you lot're at least using an "orthodontic friendly" pacifier to help limit the risk of dental issues.
An orthodontic pacifier has a nipple that is flattened at the bottom and rounded at the top. They flatten in your baby's mouth just like a mother'south nipple to provide the virtually natural sucking class.
They also reduce pressure on the gums and developing teeth and support the shape of your baby's developing palate and jaw.
How to Wean Off the Pacifier
If it'south time for your kid to ditch the paci, then assist her do so with minimal tantrums and tears by following these seven steps:
one. Timing is Everything
It'due south best not to start weaning around the same fourth dimension as a stressful event, such every bit starting daycare, the arrival of a new sibling, taking a long motorcar ride or a family unit vacation, or moving into a new business firm.
Your child will need to be able to self-soothe during these challenging situations, and until they take another foolproof style to practise so, information technology'south all-time not to take their binky abroad until these events are over.
two. Limit its Utilize
It's easiest to start by limiting your kid'southward pacifier use during the twenty-four hours. Y'all could restrict its use by only letting your child take information technology when you are at habitation.
Piece of work upwards to phasing it out completely during the twenty-four hour period and only offer it at naptime and bedtime. Once that is going well, y'all can eventually phase information technology out of naptime and then bedtime.
Dark ever seems to be the about hard, and then it may be helpful to start a new bedtime routine. That may consist of a bath, a bedtime book, some singing, and rocking your little one to sleep. Try out a few things, and run across what works best.
3. Offer a Transitional Object
Offer your child a transitional object in place of the binky. A transitional object, much like a pacifier, will help relieve stress and help your kid adapt to new or challenging situations.
These are usually known as security items and could be a new toy or stuffed animal or a favorite coating. Ideally, you'll want something they can sleep with safely then they can self-soothe at night.
4. Don't Utilize it as Your First Line of Defense
Information technology can be so easy just to cave in and give your child the paci during a meltdown. While at that place are many reasons your baby could exist crying, effort your best to not plough to the pacifier first.
Check their diaper and see if they're hungry. Hold your child, sing to them or play soft music, read to them, stone them, or distract them with toys or activities.
Try to proceed your kid busy and moving then they are less likely to think near their binky.
v. Praise Your Child When They Choose Not to Use The Paci
Let your child know how awesome they are doing when they cull not to utilize their pacifier.
Complement them by telling them, "You're getting and so big!" and "I'm then proud of you!" Offer fun little rewards, like stickers, stamps, play dough, or a favorite healthy snack.
Keep It Positive
Be sure non ever to punish, scold, or use any negative reinforcement if your child resorts back to the pacifier. Negative reinforcement will create fear, stress, and distrust, often leading to regression.
6. Make information technology Unappealing
You lot could also endeavour to make your child's pacifier less appealing if they accept a hard time giving it upwards. You could dip information technology in white vinegar or lemon juice to go far distasteful.
Your child will probably spit information technology out right away and soon want zip to practise with information technology.
Beware Of Some Methods
Some mothers also like to cut the tip off or pierce the nipple to reduce the sucking satisfaction, but this could potentially crusade a choking risk. If y'all do this, information technology is all-time but to testify the child that the paci broke and throw it away together.
seven. Take a Special Farewell Anniversary
When your child is finally ready to say bye to the binky for practiced, gloat by having a special farewell ceremony. This works especially well for older children.
Take your child shopping, let them pick out a new toy, and let them to "pay" for their new toy with their pacifier. You lot could also throw a bye-bye binky political party complete with party hats, balloons, and tasty treats.
An Alternative Method: Going Cold Turkey
Going common cold turkey tin exist an effective method for some children, simply information technology may crave a petty actress patience and creativity on your part.
If yous cull to become this route, explain to your child that pacifiers are for babies, and it'due south time to say goodbye to their binky because they are becoming "a big kid." Go on the chat by telling them all the fun things big kids get to do.
With the cold turkey road, you could "accidentally" forget your child'south paci on a big trip, or yous could do an epic farewell event.
You could have your child aid you bury their paci with a constitute seed, so they can lookout man the establish grow as they grow, or you could have your kid leave it for the "binky fairy" and replace it with that brand new toy they've been wanting.
It Won't Be Piece of cake
Keep in mind that going cold turkey will be difficult for both you and your kid, no matter how quondam they are. Expect some tears, tantrums, and possibly some slumber disruptions.
Expert Tips From Existent Moms
Getting rid of the pacifier is an epic and challenging event. And while not all things that piece of work for one family unit volition work for some other, it's always nice to get some tips and encouragement from other moms.
- Out of sight, out of mind: Simply removing all pacifiers from your kid's reach and sight may help them forget about it.
- Read a "bye-bye binky" book: Find a volume that volition help your kid prepare for the parting of their paci, and read it to them every day. Some mom favorites include "Bye-Bye Binky: Big Kid Ability," "Pacifiers are Not Forever," and "Bea Gives Up Her Pacifier."
- Give yourself a break: This can be a stressful fourth dimension for both you and your child, but remember that a little determination and patience will go a long way toward breaking the habit. Many other parents are going through the same matter, so give yourself some grace.
- You've got this: You're doing awesome, Mama! That paci will be gone earlier y'all know it, even if it doesn't feel that way yet.
Goodbye-Bye Binky!
Weaning your child from the pacifier can exist gummy and challenging, but information technology's of import to avoid long-term employ to reduce the risks of ear infections, dental issues, and speech issues. Make it like shooting fish in a barrel on your child and yourself by weaning gradually with the steps mentioned in a higher place.
You could besides implement the cold turkey method if these gradual steps simply aren't working. If you're still struggling to get your child to wean, it might not be a bad thought to talk to your child's doctor or dentist for some aid.
Source: https://momlovesbest.com/stop-using-pacifier
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