Weaning a baby from a pacifier: Golden tips for every mother to get rid of it quickly

weaning baby About the pacifier, you've probably been really grateful for the help a pacifier has given you. Now that your baby is older, he should be able to soothe himself, day or night, without the help of a pacifier (or thumb sucking for that matter).

Convincing your baby to do this can be difficult, but there are some great methods you can use to say goodbye to the pacifier for good. One warning – no matter which method you use during weaning, just make sure to remove all pacifiers in the house once you think you've finished weaning your baby off the pacifier.

Some babies are known for keeping a secret stash all over their homes that they find throughout the day or week. You don't want your baby to give up their pacifier only to go back to it again because they found an "old friend!"

The pacifier is useful because it satisfies the instinct Breastfeeding For babies, pacifiers provide comfort and distraction, and can help your baby settle and fall asleep. Pacifiers have also been shown to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when used at bedtime between 6 and XNUMX months of age. Regular feedings help keep your baby in a lighter sleep state, reducing the chance of them stopping breathing.

While pacifier use offers many benefits in the early days, as your baby gets older, the risks begin to outweigh the benefits.

After 6 months of age, babies who regularly use pacifiers have a greater chance of developing otitis media than those who do not.

Doctors believe this is because constant suctioning causes pressure changes inside the ears and can prevent fluid from draining, causing it to build up, leading to inflammation.

Using a pacifier for a long period of time after the age of two can also lead to many dental problems, because as your baby grows and matures, their jaw will begin to grow around whatever is constantly being held inside them.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Dental Association (ADA), overuse of a pacifier can lead to improper oral development, poor alignment, and poor oral hygiene. the teeth and changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth.

If your child continues to use a pacifier after the age of two, be sure to mention it to your dentist so they can examine their teeth and jaw. Some experts also believe that long-term pacifier use can hinder speech development.

If your child constantly closes his eyes and mouth, he will not practice babbling or talking much. In addition, it can distort speech and hinder the normal development of the muscles of the tongue and lips.

The best time to wean your baby after 6 months of age is after 6 months of age. A pacifier becomes more of a habit than a benefit. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the AAP, it is best to wean your baby between 12 and XNUMX months of age to avoid middle ear infections, especially if your baby is prone to them.

To avoid delays in speech development, it is best to wean off the pacifier at age 1, as this is the age when important developments in your child's language and language learning occur most rapidly. To avoid "pacifier teeth," it is best to wean off the pacifier at age 2 if you are not able to do so sooner.

While these are just recommendations and not specific rules, it is much easier to wean your baby sooner rather than later. Weaning before they can crawl and walk is best, as they won't be able to search all over the house for their strange milk.

If you're having trouble weaning your child at 2 years old, make sure they use at least an "orthodontist-friendly" pacifier to help reduce the risk of dental problems.

An orthodontic pacifier with a nipple that is flat on the bottom and rounded on top. It flattens in your baby's mouth just like a mother's nipple to provide the most natural sucking action. It also reduces pressure on the gums and developing teeth and supports the shape of your baby's developing palate and jaw.

This isn't the right approach for everyone, but many parents feel that simply taking the pacifier and not returning it is the quickest and cleanest way to get rid of it. Yes, there will be tears and maybe some temper tantrums from the baby, but in the end, once the pacifier is gone, it's gone, and that's it.

Now you still need to explain to your child what's going to happen (and maybe give them some fair warning), but the most important part of this method is to stick to your guns and not give up.

Start setting limits on when the pacifier can be used—not in the car, not in the living room, not after a certain time, etc. Eventually, the hope is that he'll realize he doesn't need it anymore.

Simply tell your preschooler that he or she is now a grown-up. It could be a toy, a trip to the movies, or an ice cream shop—anything your child would be happy to receive as a reward for putting down the pacifier.

For some parents, a stuffed animal or toy is the best option if the child starts complaining about losing the pacifier. However, it is up to you, but common practice is to have your child collect all the pacifiers and leave them on the kitchen table or nightstand before bedtime.

When you wake up in the morning, the pacifier disappears and the reward is in its place. Make the pacifier disappear. Prepare your preschooler to leave pacifiers at home, either by putting them in the trash, sending them into space via balloon or mailing them to “children who need them.”

Try dipping the pacifier in lemon juice or talk to your pediatrician or pharmacist about another safe solution you can put the pacifier in. You can also pierce a small hole (make sure all pieces are removed) in the tip of the nipple, which will make it less pleasant and effective to suck on. (For safety's sake: Note that cutting the tip of the pacifier can be dangerous because a small piece can break off and become a choking hazard. If you go this route, be sure to only give your baby the pacifier when you are present and check it regularly to make sure it is still intact.)

If your child loses their pacifier, don't search all over the house for it, or look but don't look too closely. If your child asks where it is, explain that you can't find it. Let your preschooler decide.

On the first day, Your baby will be upset by the sudden change and it may take them a while to adjust to the big change in their life. To reduce your baby's irritation, tell him that he is old enough to give up the pacifier and continue to talk about this topic daily until he does.

On the second day, The same approach should be repeated in a gentle and understanding tone about giving up the pacifier the next day.

On the third day, All pacifiers should be thrown away, and before doing so, the child should be told that factories will recycle them into toys for older children.

Eventually, believe it or not, your child will let the pacifier go on its own. (Do you know many teens who use them?) Also remember, if you force your child to give up the pacifier and the child isn't ready, you may be able to transfer their affection to something else—nail biting, etc. If they really struggle to let go of the pacifier and it doesn't interfere with their development, give them a break and try again in a month or so.