Pacifier to Sleep

taraleanne · December 2013

I need to give my DS a pacifier to help him fall asleep (on his own in his crib). I remember reading somewhere (and where this was I can't remember) that you need to start weening them by 6 months. This can't be right? I see a ton of babies and toddlers with pacifiers still at 2+ years! My girlfriend told me that eventually they give it up on their own. I even had one as a baby/todder for sleepy times and the car and my mom said that she told me when I was about 2.5 that once it broke, that was it, there was no more. It broke soon after, and apparently I never looked back and didn't shed a tear. So what's the deal? I could try to ween him of it but is that really necessary? He eventually spits it out and rarely wakes in the middle of the night for it. I think he still needs it to gear down for the day (or naps) He only has it at sleep times or the car.

Thoughts?

steelerbaby29 · December 2013

My son is only a couple days older than your son and he also uses a pacifier to fall asleep at times and occasionally in the car and I've had to use it when we are out and about. He used to be a lot more dependent on it to fall asleep but most of the time I give it to him, he ends up spitting it out within a few seconds. I have noticed the past week especially he hasn't seem to keep it in very long. Maybe I am just lucky and he is starting to ween himself from it. I did a lot of research when he was really dependent on it and most of what I read said to get rid of the paci by 12 months. I personally am going to try very hard to not have the pacifier by the time he is 1.

PepperBug · December 2013

It becomes harder to break the habit after six months because an emotional attachment develops. And if they use one too long, my understanding is that it can mess up their teeth. Neither of my kids used them past 6 months so I don't know what it's like to wean a toddler from a pacifier.

luvmygirlss · December 2013

if he's not waking for it in the middle of the night, then there's no need to wean. Most pedi's will tell you he has to be off of it by 18mos because it's bad for oral development, so you have a ways to go:)