Pacifiers soothe babies, help them sleep and minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, once your child turns 4, pacifiers can provoke serious dental problems, such as a misaligned bite, explains "American Baby" magazine. Even during babyhood, well before age 4, pacifier use can interfere with breastfeeding and cause ear infections, the Mayo Clinic adds. To avoid these problems, you may want to break your child’s pacifier habit while he is still young.
Step 1
Warn your baby that her pacifier days are drawing to an end. This helps your child prepare for the transition, which makes the process smoother and less traumatic. Explain it in an authoritative manner; present the upcoming change as a fact, not an option. Even if your baby seems too young to understand, talk to her about it. Babies understand spoken language better than they communicate, and they improve linguistic comprehension by listening to you talk, explains the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Step 2
Scale back your baby’s pacifier use gradually. Start by only giving him a pacifier during stressful times. Since pacifiers help your baby sleep well and avoid SIDS, the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families advises also allowing the pacifier at bedtime. This transition stage helps your baby adjust slowly so that he needn’t cope with a sudden, drastic change.
Step 3
Tell your baby that the pacifiers need to stay in the house, "American Baby" advises. This helps minimize the time your baby spends using the pacifier. When you’re out in the world, the new sights and sounds can help distract her from needing the pacifier for entertainment.
Step 4
Distract your baby when he wants the pacifier; "American Baby" explains that a baby must learn to cope with sadness and boredom in other ways. To accomplish this, comfort your baby personally and help him develop alternative self-soothing skills. The National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families notes that talking, cuddling or reading a book with your baby can distract from his desire for a pacifier. Encourage your baby to hug or play with a toy, stuffed animal, doll or soft blanket; this gives him a comforting, physical item to replace the pacifier.
Step 5
Get rid of the pacifier in a constructive way and with the involvement of your baby. This helps your child comprehend the pacifier’s termination, rather than expecting it to return or feeling confused by its absence. Tell your baby that she should recycle the pacifier so that machines can turn it into a new toy. This method adds meaning and purpose to discarding the beloved pacifier. More directly, your baby can trade the pacifier for a toy, "American Baby" proposes. Go to a toy store, let your child select a toy and then accept the pacifier in exchange. In the future, when she asks for her pacifier, show her the toy, and remind her of the swap.
Tips and Warnings
- Stay firm. "American Baby" warns that most babies will feel upset for a few days; but if you give in to your child’s crying, then you will only prolong the pacifier-weaning process. After a few days, he will adjust.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Pacifiers: Are They Good for Your Baby?
- Parents: "American Baby"; Bye-Bye Binky: Ending the Pacifier Habit; Marguerite Lamb; August 2005
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development
- National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families: Farewell to the Pacifier
- Parenting: Ask Dr. Sears: Weaning Off Pacifier
