Pacifiers

numbersgirl08 · November 2013

2nd post of the day! Thanks for putting up with me!

I'm curious what everyone's opinions on pacifiers is. I'm kind of torn. N LOVES her pacifier and it is very soothing for her - which is great. But she also likes to take it out and can't put it back in, and needs one to fall asleep, so she's kind of dependent on it. I've read somewhere that it's best to wean them from the paci around 5-6 months, because that's the easiest time to do it, and so it isn't a sleep prop forever (and you won't have to constantly be in and out of their room to replace the paci). But I've also heard that you want to keep them taking the paci as much as possible to avoid thumb or hand sucking (for future teeth issues). AND, if it's soothing to her, I don't want to take it away unnecessarily.

I'm not sure what to do about it going forward. Does anyone else have plans to paci wean? Or is everyone sticking with giving their baby the paci when they want it?

Beaslejl · November 2013

I never gave them in the beginning because she was laid back I never "had" to. But she is now a thumb sucker and won't take a paci. Wishing she wanted paci's now.

GraceInCA · November 2013

DD seems to be following in DS's footsteps. She likes it but doesn't need it to sleep. Just before he turned 1 we threw them all out, and he didn't care one bit.

momofcatan · November 2013

I am also a little torn about what to do with he pacifier. I had nap time issues for so long that I don't want to go back there, so I'm sticking with the pacifier. I don't love the idea of needing to constantly go and replug, but it should only be for a couple of months before she learns to put it in herself so hopefully I'll just get through it. I have stared to swaddle with one arm out and I will be ok if she chooses to suck her fingers, but so far she only uses that had to pull out the paci like your DD. I always said there are pros and cons to both pacifier and finger sucking and whichever works for my kid I'll let them do.

LiLi23 · November 2013

With M, she had hers whenever she wanted until about a year old. DH & I said we'd take it away then, but she battled sleep with us for a bit and the binky soothed her. So we only let her have it at nap and nighttime. We just took it away completely at 2. We waited because we were moving/introducing a sibling and I didn't want to shake her world up by taking away something that soothed her at night.

Not sure how this one's going to be. He seems to like it ok so far, but sometimes clamps his mouth shut like, 'no mom I don't want it!' So we'll see what happens.

KellenHi21 · November 2013

I never had to give him one... It really just never came up.

needanustart · November 2013

I had no strong opinion either way but we started using them pretty early with G as he was a serious comfort nurser and I never got a break. He loved it and then we changed it to only when he was falling asleep around 8 or 8 months then we just got rid of it completely around 16 months. Now This little guy won't really take one and I wish he would. He's always on the boob! I think generally parents get more concerned about kids getting attached and weaning from things than it ends up being for the child. With every transition he's made we've been all nervous and worried about how he'd adapt and within 24 hours things are usually same as always. That was definitely how both introducing and getting rid of the paci were for us.

momofcatan · November 2013

@stackie16 4 years is nothing! I think I sucked my thumb until I was about 12. I still think what I did was rare and if I have a thumb sucker I won't freak out (until they are 20 and still doing it

)

nikel13 · November 2013

I kind of figure she will tell me when she is ready to get rid of it. She's been pretty vocal up to this point.

llbta85 · November 2013

DS used one until he was around a year. At that point I cut the tip of it off and he gave it up. So weaning isn't something I am/was terribly concerned with. I wish DD would take one, I feel like everyone would be a lot happier. She has started sucking her thumb so that has helped, but if she would take a pacifier right now I certainly wouldn't be trying to wean.

HeartLikeMine3 · November 2013

My LO has never took a paci, but he has his fingers/thumb in his mouth at all times. We tried to give him one but he never learned to suck on it and keep it in he also hates bottles.

PinkPuffyHeart2 · November 2013

My LO likes her thumb. She only takes a paci in the car. I'm fine with it...

skio · November 2013

I'm torn, too.

We made a mistake with DD1. We didn't take it away early enough and she got more and more dependent on it. She wasn't allowed to have it outside of the house, but she NEEDED it for sleep. When she turned 2, we tried the cut-the-tip-off-slowly method. Uhh...she STILL puts these sad little butts of a pacifier in her teeth for sleep. She can't suck them anymore, but still wants it in her teeth for sleep. We are still cutting them little by little at 2y7m. I keep waiting for the day when she gets frustrated and doesn't want it anymore.

I want to take A's away around 6m, but not sure. Maybe between 6m and 1y. But I don't want her to get more attached. It's such a hard decision! I guess for now, our plan is to let her have it for sleep until she establishes a good, regular nighttime sleeping habit. Them we'll ruin it by taking it away, lol.

phishgirl29 · November 2013

He used to love his wubbanub but now he love just sucking on the frog's legs instead of pacifier part

FunkyPhoenix · November 2013

H

FunkyPhoenix · November 2013

Try this again...

Honestly I really wish my LO would take a paci and keep it in his mouth. He's never really been able to keep them in and now he just doesn't like them or anything plastic for that matter. I sometimes dream that I will find the perfect paci that he will love-and it will help soothe him and help him eat less during the night so maybe he will STTN. Sigh... A girl can dream right?

CindyRelluh · November 2013

Dd is almost 2.5 and still uses it at bed time. We have started poking holes in them so they slowly lose suction, but honestly if it helps then why add stress by taking it away? Stop reading google, and do what you feel is best. Dd hates the potty, but we will train when ready and she has it available. Also, she JUST started climbing out of her crib, so we are transitioning. No rush, just because something or someone says that's how it should be.

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