used pacifier

Ashley - posted on 08/07/2010

My daughter refused the pacifier at about 3 months. She wouldn't take it for anything and before that we called it the "lifeline". So when she wouldn't take it, we did away with it, never to be seen again.

Erin - posted on 08/07/2010

My son uses a pacifier. I only let him have it at night, I can't stand seeing toddlers walking around with them. But when he is tired and doesn't have it he puts his hands in his mouth. So I don't think he is ready yet. I can't take his hands away so for a while longer I will let him keep it. Also he does have a few more teeth coming in and I think it helps him with the pain.
When the time comes I have read that cutting a hole in it changes the way it feels and they won't want it anymore.

Amanda - posted on 08/02/2010

My daughter still takes hers and I have asked a few doctors about this. They say that it is actually not bad for their teeth until about the age of three. Pacifiers these days are made to better fit the mouth so that they dont push the teeth out like they used to.

Erin - posted on 08/01/2010

My son is 19 months and still takes a pacifier or what his refers to as his bink. He only takes it when he is going to sleep whether it be at night or just a nap. He doesn't want it any other time and if he finds one he just chews on it. I put a few in the freezer and when he is teething (which he is getting his bottom canines and first molars in right now at the same time 4 teeth at once) and give them to him to chew on. He has thrown a few away and sometimes he won't even take one to sleep. He has a blanket and a giraffe that he sleeps with. My pediatrician said as long as it wasn't affecting his teeth, which it isn't, then not to worry about it. Most babies give them up on their own. We have a binky box and every morning and after naps he we go and put them in there. He gets really excited to do this. Then he puts it in the box and we clap and cheer. If he hasn't given it up on his own by 2-2 1/2 we have a binky party planned. We want to make a big deal of giving the binky up and let him know how proud we are of him. We tell him almost everyday that one day he will have to give his binky to the Binky Fairy so she can give them to all the new little babies who need them. He smiles and claps. If she's having a hard time sleeping without it try finding something she likes and can use in place of the pacifier, because I am sure it's just a comfort thing for her. Like a cute little blanket, little stuffed animal, a shirt that smells like you, or something that will still make her feel safe and comfortable.

Tarina - posted on 07/28/2010

My son is 19 months old and likes to chew on his pacifier sideways in his mouth, it helps him to relieve the pain of the last couple teeth coming in. He uses it some nights to sleep, and some nights he is tired enough that he doesnt remember he wants it. Each person has their own preference of when a child is "too old" for one, but dont let that influence you at all. People judge every aspect of your parenting, I have no idea why but they do (try searching these forums for topics like harnesses/leashes) - As long as she's only using it to sleep, I really dont see any harm in it. I know people who still put their 19month old to bed with a bottle, which is WAY worse for a child's teeth at this age. When she hits closer to 2, you can try switching out for something else as a comfort thing, but... that will just create the same problem later on you will have to go through it all over, to decide when she's too old to carry around a blankie... Basically my advice is to just get her alittle more tired out before you try to put her to bed, and sit with her so she doesnt feel the need for a comfort object, which is what it sounds like she's using it as.

Marlana - posted on 07/28/2010

Im not sure if this would work or not, i never gave my daughter one, but its most likely a security thing for her. You could maybe take it away and try replacing it with something else like a special stuffed animal to take with her to bedtime/naptime. If you can you could even take her to the store with her to pick it out.

Jackie - posted on 07/28/2010

Once you do it yes...you DEF. can't give it back. Just b/c you take away a pacifier doesn't mean they will suck there thumb, my daughter never did.

You can't "reason' with a 19 mo. old though...telling her it'll affect her teeth means nothing to her. Best approach is cold turkey and just pick a long weekend or something for everyone to adjust.

I, like Katrina, cant' stand the sight of older toddlers with pacifiers so I would be doing it sooner rather than later if she still has it at all due to my view on them.

Judy - posted on 07/28/2010

We waited until about 2 to take away our son's pacifier. He only had it for getting to sleep so I didn't have to worry about him walking around with it in his mouth. Thumb sucking is much worse for their teeth, infact a soft pacifier really shouldn't do any damage to her teeth at all. You will just have to make the decision, once you have taken it away though, you cannot give it back. I waited because I wanted my son to have a bit more understanding than they do at 18months.

Katrina - posted on 07/28/2010

our first daughter had a pacifier when sleeping but as she got closer to 18 mo etc. my husband and I wanted to get rid of it (honestly can't stand the sight of 3 or 4yo walking around with one permanently - even 2yo is pushing it for us - but that is personal opinion).
The way we handled it was to wait until my husband was on holidays (so that I had some assistance) and just got rid of them all - went "cold turkey" - it took 2 or 3 days of controlled crying at night and it was no longer a problem.
At 19 mo they are not able to make the decision but need to be shown that they will survive if they don't have it.
It can be tough to do it but if you can stay strong for the few days or week that it takes to condition her, it will be well worth it.
Good luck