Feeling guilty about the pacy at 14 months

Kelly - posted on 01/18/2010

my lo suffers severe gastric reflux and a pacifer has been a god send when she in agony from a bout of reflux acid its a comfort and the sucking stops the acid refluxing so much also the reflux causes excess mucus in the back of her throat so sucking helps her swallow this to say a pacy should be stopped at six months is ridiculous how is a baby of that age suppose to undestand why its beening taken away its cruel i think from around 18 months when they have more of a level of understanding gradually reducing the use is far more humane explaining to your child its for naps an sleep then just nightimes then something fun eventually to get rid totally like burying it in the garden for the faries and a liitle gift appearing of the faries the next morning to say thank you or leaving it out for santa on xmas eve these are more at a childs level and will help them my daughter never had one an her bottom teeth are wonky my son did and he has perfect teeth so there we go dont worry do it when it feels right for both of you.xx

Heidi - posted on 01/18/2010

Personally I hate pacifiers.I despise the factory produced artificial nipple. There is no replacement for a mother's comfort. I also find it so sad when a child is trying to smile while clenching his/her teeth together so as not to lose the paci. And it is my personal (unfounded) opinion that children who suck on a paci for for too long end up with MORE of an oral fixation (thumb sucking, etc.), not less.
That said, if your son is only using it at bed time, then I wouldn't worry. If he is not hanging out all day with it stuck in his mouth then let him have the comfort. As a mother you will surely instinctively feel when it is the right time to take it away... (or cut off the tip).

Kelly - posted on 01/17/2010

My 14 month old son still takes his paci and honestly don't plan on taking it for a couple of more months. When my daughter was on the paci, her pediatrician recommended that we try to get rid of it by 20 months and I think she was about 18 or 19 months when she got rid of it. It helps soothe and comfort them and then both of mine chew on it when teething. Hope this helps...

Cinda - posted on 01/06/2010

My children didn't/don't use pacifiers. I (or my husband) was/is the one who gave comfort. Six months old really should be the cutoff if one chooses to use a pacifier. If you child is unsettled, try holding and snuggling he/she more often during the day. It really does work and you both will love it!
As for the mother who suggested that their teeth are not affected as long as they are in is incorrect. One of the little girls who I used to care for had teeth in the shape of a pacifier and had issues with her speech because of it. Of course, her grandmother allowed her to have it in her mouth almost all of the time, but the fact is, they can and do affect teeth growth.

Christina - posted on 01/06/2010

The way i'm told is pretty much that until you have to pack it in his lunchbox. If its comforting to him to fall asleep, its no big deal! His happiness is what matters:)

Briana - posted on 01/05/2010

Mine is almost 15 months, its his comfort when he is in strange new situations, once hes comfortable he spits it out at me, he takes it to bed or nap and thats it otherwise he is so busy during the day he forgets about it!!! He spits out when hes sleeping so I don't worry. My uncle is our dentist and he says not to worry, so I won't.

Tara - posted on 01/05/2010

Well, I haven't even thought about it! Opps .. my little one still has his- kind of the same situation as you. He has to have it to sleep and usually just when he's cranky or teething. I'm not to worried about it but you might ask your Pedi for their input. I guess I should start working on that now too!

Angel - posted on 01/05/2010

My son has his pacy while he is sleeping in his crib and that's it. I let my daughter have hers until she was almost 2. We cut the tip right before she turned 2 and she just held them in her hand for a while. It took one week of fussing at bedtime and then it was over. I wouldn't worry about it. As long as they have their baby teeth in the pacy doesn't harm their bite and he's only using it in his room so who's it hurting? (Usually just the mom) :)

Hope - posted on 01/05/2010

I wouldn't worry about .My son also still takes his Binky and also teething.He just got his top teeth so he only has 4 .I ask my Dr. if he needed it taken away and he told me no that he was fine.Mine also takes it to sleep .I say as long as he isn't taking until 7 like my brother did he's fine

Natalie - posted on 01/05/2010

I spoke with my doctor about this recently and he said it is age appropriate at this point to still have a pacifier. He suggested to me, exactly what you are already doing, and as long as it isn't all day your fine.

Christy - posted on 01/05/2010

My son is also 14mos & only uses his pacy to fall asleep, or if he's really sleepy. I've read and been told by my doctor to try to have him off it by 18mos. Apparently it starts effecting the development of their mouth around 2 21/2 years. I'm not sure how I'm going to tackle it yet either. But I've decided not to feel guilty about it JUST YET. :)

Diandra - posted on 01/04/2010

My son still sucks on his paci and he is going onto 14mths old, i feel bad because everyone thinks it looks bad and he shouldnt have it he is too old, but he does not have any other comforter i have tried blankets stuffed toys, nothing else works with him if he has his paci when he goes to bed he is set. I am sure he will give it to the dog one day as he is already throwing it out there, but atleast he wont be a six year old sucking there thumb or fingers like i have witnessed myself!

Tiffany - posted on 01/04/2010

my 14 month old daughter still uses hers to chew on when shes teething, and when shes tired. its better to suck on a binky than a bottle when she falls asleep so she doesnt get baby bottle rot on her teeth. i say when shes ready to give it up, she will. but i'll start trying to take it away before shes 2!

Celina - posted on 01/04/2010

I wouldn't worry about, as long as not he's walking around with it all day long in his mouth as this can cause his teeth to push forward. My 14 month old daughter has it at nap times and bed times and it stays in her crib. She is my 3rd child and my other 2 would not take a pacifer, so this is new to me. I think we will wait until she understands all about the binkie fairy!

Deanna - posted on 01/03/2010

I agree with Sharon. After 2 yrs is when researchers believe that the pacifier begins to alter the childs speech. I would imagine that those babies in the studies used them more than just at night. Lose the guilt, after all they are still babies, right? :) Good Luck!

Sharon - posted on 01/03/2010

I agree to give him time to stop using it on his own. My son (almost 15 mos)still uses his pacy at night, and I was wondering about it too. I just read about this in Touchpoints (great book about children's developmental stages) which states that during the second year of life (12-24 mos)is probably not the best time to take it away, as the child goes through so many changes (and learning to cope with new found independence from newly found motor and communication skills) that having that extra bit of comfort is a good thing, not a bad one. The book said after 24 months, the child is likely to give it up eventually on his own, and because after a point the child will not feel his independence/decision making is threatened, it will not be considered encroaching on the childs ability to develop independence (one of the big developmental stages of this age group), so it will not be such a battle/ traumatic for the child or the parent.

Lena - posted on 01/03/2010

my oldest son loved his and wldnt fall asleep or anything without it finally to break him off it i just cut a little bit of the tip off and gave it to him, he didnt like it after that and threw it away himself lol just a suggestion if u want to get rid of it now or maybe try putting something sour on the end like lemon juice.. hope this helps :)

Sheila - posted on 01/03/2010

You could be talking about my son, the stories are that similar! At our house his soother is only allowed upstairs, so when he's sleeping or just getting up or getting ready to go to bed. I don't worry about it because it gives him so much comfort and really signals to him that it's sleepy time. He always spits it out when he has fallen asleep. I think that by 2 he needs to be done with it but for now it's ok.

Christine - posted on 01/02/2010

I wouldn't get yourself too worried about it. My son is almost 15mos and occasionally uses his soother (only in his bedroom). I read that they should give it up by 6mos, but my son started using it at 6mos (when he started to get his teeth). I think they will naturally give it up when they're ready. I also think it doesn't look right watching a 3yr toddle around with a soother but you said he only uses it at night so that's great!!! I totally agree with you it can't hurt and trust me he won't be 16 with a soother at bedtime :) Good luck!

Tiffany - posted on 01/02/2010

My daughter never used a bottle. She's been using sippy cups since 6 months and has been using one with a hard spout for a few months now. She was breastfed only. But she loves her pacifier. I can't take it away. It's become like her security blanket. I figure when she's ready to give it up she will. If she can use it to self soothe instead of screaming for me at night when she wakes up, I'm all for it lol!

Melissa - posted on 01/01/2010

my daughter never took a pacy, and i cant get her to switch to a sippy yet either. I wouldnt feel guilty...give him a little more time, its comforting to him. then one day when he starts setting it down alot then u can take it.. thats what i would do