When Should My 14Month Old Give up His Pacifier

With each of my kids, I would start about a month before I was getting rid of their bottles, telling them that there was this fairy who came and took them and gave them to children who needed them now. On the day I had picked just after dinner I would gather up their bottles with them helping and we would put them outside in a bag. Come the morning their bottles would be gone and a small present would be given to them for being such nice children to share them with others.

Jenn

I used to think that there was no problem with pacifiers at older ages until I caught my 15 month old son with a dime size chunk of his pacifier nipple in his mouth. Had this been in the middle of the night...he would have choked. Apparently as they age, their jaws and teeth become strong enough to chew through it. Just be careful. When this happened I was able to just throw it out...they don't "work" as well with the top bitten off!

Well since ur little one is only having it during certion parts of the day. I wouldn't be to demanding to have him off it. But have seen children around the age of 5 and still have one. Give ur self an age that u feel will like to see ur little one off it. And work to that goal. My one son had a pacifier till he was between 3-4 and one day we told him that if he wanted them that he had to take care of them. It didn't take long for him to stop them all together.

The neg: of them having them are some times there speech is delayed and then there are the teeth and constant getting sick.

The postive: it is one way that they are comfart. We all have that. teething it helps with. They have something that they have in their mouth, so that they don't chew on other things.

It is just like the bottle, at what age do u stop the child at? It seems like more and more people are making the little ones grow up before their time. U know ur child and u know how u want to bring him up. Go with ur feelings and take all comments with a grain of salt sometimes.

M.,
I don't think there should be any bribery involved, as in the Santa bit. Because he would think that Santa should be right there the instant he gave it up. So....this is what I did with my daughter...I took it away from her and threw them out. She fussed for a few days, but after that, once she realized she wasn't getting it back, she was fine. You just have to stick with it and not give in. Hope this helped a little bit.

I don't think you have any reason to worry or rush it. I would say by three though. The only worry that you have to think about is braces later....

Well, there certainly isn't a good way to wean them off, but if you're thinking that you want to start preparing for life without a pacifier, then I'd start a little now. Like try to keep him from having it at all times, start slow, and don't start with the naps or bedtime. Start getting him used to being without it in the house while playing, or in the car or at the store. I remember one day when I looked back at myself with my son, I realized that it was more me than him with the pacifier. He certainly wouldn't refuse it, but he didn't necessarily ask for it, I'd find myself just randomly giving it to him for no reason in particular. If you find yourself doing that then don't. Also, its easier to not give it to them when they want it if you don't have it. So keep them all in his room for naps and bed only, then when you don't have one in the car to give you'll be forced to distract him otherwise. a kids song CD is great in the car, we have one and mine are now 5yrs and 3 yrs and we still listen to it. and of course I know all the words now, the best is when my husband is in the car and I catch him singing along, very cute!
My goal for both my kids was gone by 2 yrs old and my daughter was fine with that, my son was a little over about 25-26 months. But either way, I always said that I wanted it gone when they looked like they were too old to have it in their mouth. And the longer you wait the harder it is definitely! No doubt! You know your son the best, but it's not as bad as you may think it will be and its a nice relief when its over! Good luck, J.

M.,
Of course every one has different opinions on this matter and you have to make the decision that is right for you and your son. My son is 18 months and he uses it at nap/bed time and for long drives in the car. He does not take it in the store, friends houses, activities..etc.. I do not see anything worng with them having a nuk/pacifier. I never saw a grown man with one or with speech issues due to a pacifier in time they will out grow it. It is a security thing. If it makes you that uncomfortable then when he is old enough to understand then tell him it is going to Santa for the babies, or to the nuk fairy for other babies to use....etc...
Good Luck!
Christina

I would break the habit asap. I never let my son get attached to anything (blanket/bottle/sippy/stuffed toy/pacifier) so I never had to have him give anything up. Suer, he likes some stuffed animals but he has never been dependent on anything for comfort. Its hard to break kids of things after they get really attached and once they do give something up they usually need something else in its place. It will be hard at times and I am sure you will want to pacify him with it but stick with it. you will be much happier now to break him of it then when he is older and has more personality and understands how to fight back. You are gonna have a few bad ones but it will soon get easier.....Good Luck!!!

He is not too young to get rid of it. I got rid of my daughter's pacifier around the same time. I appreciated that it comforted her, but wanted to stop the habit before she had a name for for it and could ask. I had a hard time with pacifiers because both of my girls played with and lost them all the time. We bought our last pack and they disappeared by evening. I gave up. We went through a few days of crying, restless nights, and no naps. It was hard in the car too, but only for a week. She could not ask for it by name and I think that helped. She definitely turned to us more for comfort after that. It was also nice not having to tell her any stories to coax her into giving it up. Just remember you are the adult and are doing this for his own good (not out of meanness, which is how you will feel). Best of luck.

M.,
My daughter actually lost hers in the house somewhere. It was maybe a week before she turned 2!!! We'd been wanting to get rid of it, but did not know what to do first. After she lost it, we had maybe 2 rough days and nights, and then she was fine. I've let her get attached to things such as her binkie, and now a bear blankie that we call "mr. bear" and I personally think it's good for them to have that special 'something' to soothe them. I also explained to her that other babies needed it, and that she's a big girl now, not a baby! It broke my heart to tell her that, but now, 7 mos. later...she's fine, and never asks for it! I think if you try the 'babies need it' thing it may work! considering that he understands that! which at 14 mos, he may not!
i'd give him some more time and see what happens, then try!
Good Luck, as you will need it!
~C.

I agree with you, I think this is too young of an age to explain why they have to give it up. My daughter is 18 mos and also uses her pacifier at naptime, bedtime, and in the car. Of course she tries to get it at other times or if she finds one mysteriously hidden somewhere, I have to ask her to give it to me. And sometimes she will! But not always and I think it's like a kid carrying around that special blanket or toy. I plan on taking it away when she is talking really well and has the ability to understand that it is time for another baby to have it (I saw that on Jon & Kate plus 8!) or give it to Santa or something, not sure what I'll do yet. But I have a friend who has 3 girls, 2 of whom used a pacifier and she sets the limit at age 3. Her girls know well in advance that on their 3rd birthday the pacifier goes in the trash. I think 3 is too long personally but it works for her! You'll figure out what works for you and your son. But right now I cannot imagine a car ride with my daughter WITHOUT the pacifier!
Good luck,
A.

My son used his pacifier until he was in kindergarten. As the years went by he used it less and less. By the time he was 3 he used it only at home or on long card trips. I really believe he'll give it up when he's ready. Some kids really need to suck. I never let peer pressure interfer with raising my 2 sons. Let me assure you he won't go to college with the pacifier and he won't get married with it. My son didn't and he's a great well adjusted young man of 34. Let your child be your guide.

My son is 2 and we don't allow the pacifier (fire) out of his bed. He doesn't ask for it any other time. That's how we decided to start. Small steps!

My mother would tell you that I packed my pacifier for college! LOL
Generally I would do it as soon as you can--the longer you wait the more attached he'll be. If he's so young that he's oblivious--even better for you! Try substiting something else when you can and then just ditch it O. day. Try not to make a big deal in front of him. I seriously think that there transitions are harder on us than the kids. Believe me--my son got on the Kindergarten bus on Monday for the first day of school without batting an eye and I was ready for a therapist!

I'm the one who started all the dialog on pacifiers! I would say that I should have gotten rid of my son's "paco" at about 18 months (your son may be different) b/c it was at that point that he started to identify it - ask for it, look for it, need it. Before then, it was a great tool to use to calm him, but if he got cranky he didn't think to reach for it or ask for it (even though he couldn't talk, I knew he was starting to identify that it was something that made him feel better). I would just start now and see how it goes. Its a lot better for you and him if you don't have to go through a major going away ceremony. And, my dentist confirmed that my son's teeth aren't allowed to close all the way when there is a pacifier wedged in there for all the hours he sleeps and naps.

Good luck!

Hi M.,

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Hope this helps. D.

I would suggest somewhere around age 2. That's when I did it with my children. Try to limit it now though to strictly nap and bedtime. I could interfere with his speech development by delaying it if you don't limit it to only at naps and bedtime like it did with my son.