A newborn baby initially develops a sucking reflex. The baby's need for sucking is very high in the first four months. Many newborns have poor use of their hands, so if you introduce a baby to a pacifier before he learns to suck his thumb, this problem will not arise, since its main cause is an unsatisfied sucking instinct, which varies from child to child. Pediatricians believe that children on breastfeeding, suck their fingers less often. If a child sucks his thumb before feeding, it may be from hunger; if after, it means that his sucking reflex is not fully satisfied, and you should immediately offer him a pacifier. Doctors recommend considering the sucking need, first of all, as having a physiological nature. Most children in the first months of life find themselves sucking on pacifiers or thumb a fairly effective sedative that helps them fall asleep easier and creates a feeling of security and comfort. As the child grows up and gets acquainted with the world, he finds other means of calming down, for example, the participation of his parents; over time, he forgets about the pacifier and uses it only to fall asleep, and then completely abandons it. This usually occurs in the first or second year of life.
Why are pacifiers harmful?
From point of view psychologists There is a fairly strict position: a pacifier disconnects children from the outside world! There is no reliable data to support this theory. Most likely, it is not the pacifier that is to blame, but the parents’ desire to occupy the child with it, instead of paying enough attention to him. By the way, it is the kids who lack communication, care and parental love who feel constant psychological discomfort are much more dependent on pacifiers than their happier peers. On the one hand, of course, with a pacifier in the mouth, a child cannot conduct research, but this is a necessary stage called “everything in the mouth!”: lick, suck, chew - the baby “tastes the world,” thus expanding his horizons. At the same time, children, seemingly unaware of this theory, calmly spit out the pacifier when they need to explore something, and then return it to their mouth.
Here are the opinions speech therapists They were divided: some claim that children begin to speak late because they had a pacifier in their mouth and distracted them from the need to pronounce words and sounds, others, on the contrary, that the pacifier helps train speech muscles. It is extremely difficult to set up an accurate experiment, because there is no way to trace how the speech of the same child develops from birth to school, first with a pacifier and then without it. If mothers stop breastfeeding their children early, then the child does not have time to “pump” the corresponding facial muscles. The fact is that when sucking, the tip of the tongue actively works - the most important participant in the speech process. If, in addition, mothers strive to accustom their children to a cup and spoon as early as possible, then the babies do not have time to properly suck the nipple on the bottle. Sucking is a very important process for a child. Its deficiency can have a variety of negative consequences - both emotional and speech therapy. In addition, children, even after a year, eat more and more crushed food - homogenized purees, instant cereals, yoghurts. That is, for the most part, children do not chew or gnaw, which means they do not train their muscles. The most common opinion about the dangers of a pacifier is that it can interfere with the correct formation of the bite.
Dentists warn that excessive use of a pacifier artificially creates malocclusions: the jaws do not close, as a result, the upper teeth stick out forward, and the lower ones “lie” in the mouth. If you, or rather, your baby, can do without a pacifier, do so. Try not to let the situation get worse. However, for artificial babies, a pacifier is simply necessary if their sucking instinct is not satisfied by sucking on the nipple of a bottle. But, in any case, you should not abuse them. Try not to keep the pacifier in a visible place all the time, otherwise your baby will be tempted to keep it in her mouth all the time. During sleep, it is better to remove the pacifier from the baby's mouth, but leave it nearby on the pillow within reach.
When and how to wean a child off a pacifier?
Third – sixth month of life
The first signs of readiness to give up the pacifier are observed in the child at this time. If a child falls asleep without a pacifier and does not show interest in it until he sees it, it’s time to “seize the moment.” You shouldn't throw away your pacifier on the first day when your baby starts sucking less. His need to suck can't be reduced so dramatically. Following the child's wishes, begin to wean him gradually. Try telling him a bedtime story, singing a lullaby, occupying his attention until he falls asleep. During the day, try to entertain the baby with interesting games, walks, try to distract him as much as possible.
From six months to two years
If you have not been able to wean your baby before one year, do not be tormented by questions like: “Isn’t this harmful for the child? Isn’t it strange that at eight months a baby often asks for a pacifier, and at some moments he won’t part with it at all?” And then the grandmother, wise in life, casually remarks that “in her time, children under one year old did not go with a pacifier,” a friend’s daughter did not recognize the pacifier from the very beginning, she falls asleep on her own. And the kind neighbor Aunt Masha states that she heard somewhere that “this is very harmful for the bite, and for something else.” And so you, having listened to enough advice and wishes, at the same time “twisting” yourself about “why, I don’t care about my child at all,” take away from the child, who does not understand anything, his favorite toy, to which he has been accustomed since birth and thanks to which he falls asleep better . Perhaps the child will tolerate this calmly and simply get used to sleeping without a pacifier. But there is a high probability that the weaning period will be quite long and psychologically difficult for both the child and the parents. Be patient and understand: for the baby, this is the first parting in his life with the usual way of his little world; sucking before bed is a kind of ritual, after which he is used to falling asleep well. Don’t take his reluctance to give up the pacifier as a whim - after all, we adults also don’t like to give up our habits, although we understand that some of them are harmful. The baby still does not understand what is harmful and what is useful, especially since his mother gave him a pacifier. If you feel that your child needs a pacifier, do not pay attention to what neighbors or relatives say. In any case, this is your child, and only you and him know better what he needs now. If you want to wean off the pacifier abruptly, think about whether this will cause psychological trauma for him, because if the baby is attached to his first friend and favorite toy, weaning will in any case become stressful for him. For a child, harshness is incomprehensible; he is accustomed to your care and attention to his every step. So treat this with sensitivity, listen to him and his needs. It would be wrong to take the baby's pacifier by force or pretend that you have lost it at a time when the child is uncomfortable and begs you to give it to him. There is no need to get angry with your child or tease him about this. The baby needs to be helped to “outgrow” this habit. Try not to miss the moment when the child is ready to give up the pacifier himself - this is the best way breakups. This may not be the best moment for you. After all, out of habit, he may begin to sleep worse, it will be more difficult to calm him down while crying, etc. To speed up the process of weaning off the pacifier, psychologists recommend the following:
- If the child first learned to drink from a cup (seven to eight months), food should also be served in a cup (bowl, plate) so that the bottle is forgotten more quickly.
- Under no circumstances should you offer your child a pacifier (unless he himself persistently demands it).
- It is also important that the child can satisfy his need to manipulate objects by developing his fingers. He should always have toys at hand so that while playing with them he is distracted from the pacifier.
After two years
You can try telling your baby fairy tale about someone small and defenseless, who now needs a pacifier just as much as he needed it when he was very little. And there is absolutely no place to get a pacifier for a baby from a fairy tale except from your baby. It is necessary to help speed up the process very carefully. For example, one day "lose" pacifier at home and see what happens. If the child is against it, immediately “find” the loss. If you see that your toddler falls asleep without a pacifier, but still does not refuse to take it: start styling him without her. During the day, just try to keep your favorite item out of sight, but if he “discovers it and demands it,” give it back without arguing.
Don't focus your attention on a pacifier, but understand that each of your “punctures” is an extra reminder, which means a step back on the path to getting rid of the habit. Remember that now your baby needs you more than usual. Plan so that spend more time with the baby. Don't forget - there may be times when old friend necessary: for example, if the baby is moping because of a new tooth or after vaccination. Surely the baby has some wish that you can fulfill. Invite him to ask for what he wants Good Wizard, which in exchange for a pacifier, he will fulfill his cherished dream. Perhaps the child will be so happy that he will forget about the pacifier. Try it cut your favorite pacifier scissors, and sympathizing with the baby, explain to the child that old things deteriorate and break when they are no longer needed, that he has already grown up, that’s why the pacifier broke. If the baby does not yet understand that you can buy a new one, he will most likely quickly lose interest in it. Another way: You can “damage” your favorite pacifier, cutting off a small piece from it every day until one ring remains. Answer the questions that probably some mother animal really needed a pacifier for the babies, so she stole a little bit. Perhaps the little one will carry the ring with him for some time or fall asleep with it. There is nothing wrong with this, but the habit will gradually be forgotten. You can tell your baby a touching story about Carlson(bird, bee), who flies in the evenings to get a pacifier for the baby living next door, who cannot sleep without it. And Carlson chose our house because he saw that you were already big and could sleep without a pacifier. In a family where the child has a little brother or sister, you can ask give your youngest your pacifier, since he was lost, and he is already big and, of course, can cope without her. Just don’t forget to hide that “lost” pacifier! If a child lives normally without a pacifier during the day, but only needs it to fall asleep, you can try give him his favorite toy in his crib. And at first let him sleep with both. And then, if enough attention is paid to the toy, carefully take the pacifier away. But return it immediately if the baby asks. You can also ask him give the pacifier to your favorite toy. But the most important thing: if you wean your child at a conscious age, you need to come to an agreement with him. This should be his solution, perhaps suggested by you. Some children do not take a pacifier at all. Some people cannot live without her at all. Some people become independent early, while others take a long time to get used to even a short time to be separated from mom. The child has his own schedule and your task is to help him give up this habit exactly at the moment when the baby is ready for it. The child will definitely understand that he no longer needs a pacifier. Your task is to confirm the correctness of his thoughts. There is no point in forcing your child to give up the pacifier. Your baby will leave her one day anyway. You just need to properly prepare him for this.
How not to wean a child off a pacifier
- Use “old proven” methods like putting mustard on the pacifier. Imagine yourself in the place of a child: you would not have endured this easily!
- “Soak” the pacifier. The danger that he will choke on fragments of it is much worse than the extra months of sucking.
- Yell at the baby.
- Scare a child. All the problems that can arise from a pacifier are much less terrible than psychological trauma leading to neuroses.
- Tease the baby. This will either offend and upset him, or out of spite he will not give up the dummy for even longer.
- Deceive a child. If he catches you cheating at an early age, you may lose his trust.
Sucking a pacifier is an integral part of most babies' lives. But the time comes when parents decide to part with the pacifier. However, many questions arise when solving this problem. How to wean children off pacifiers? When should I start doing this? Is it necessary to wean off the pacifier at all? This article will answer these and many other questions.
Why do children love pacifiers so much?
At natural feeding The baby's need for sucking is satisfied. During this process, a specific muscle group is involved. During breastfeeding, they work correctly, leading to satiety. If the baby is fed with special formulas from bottles, not the entire muscle group works, this is not enough to satisfy the reflex. Then the baby sucks the breast like a pacifier, spending a lot of energy, working his muscles more and more, trying to get enough of the sucking. Without the mother's breast, the baby does not do this well, then he becomes capricious and cries. Usually in such cases, parents offer their baby a pacifier. The child immediately calms down, because he was given the opportunity to satisfy his natural need.
If parents do not immediately pay attention to the whims, then the baby is forced to look for a replacement himself. mother's breast. As a rule, its role is played by fingers, cheeks, tongue, toys, a blanket, in general, everything that is at hand.
Children become very attached to the pacifier (especially if the child constantly sucks the pacifier), consider it their favorite toy, true friend, simply an irreplaceable thing. Habit is a powerful engine, especially since kids are conservative. Everything should be constant and constant for them. It is difficult for a baby to understand that a pacifier will cause harm when it has helped him calm down or fall asleep all his life. Therefore, the demand for a pacifier is a common desire to return everything to its place.
Is sucking a pacifier harmful for a baby?
Dentists consider sucking a bad habit that must be identified in time and then eliminated, otherwise the child may develop serious malocclusion. Of course, they do not occur in all children receiving artificial feeding, but in most cases, unfortunately, this is so.
While sucking a pacifier, the tongue is in incorrect position. The muscles remember it, if the child sucks the pacifier for a long time, because of this, in the future the baby begins to snore at night.
But this does not mean that you urgently need to take away the baby’s pacifier and never give it to her again. Problems with malocclusion can be avoided by choosing the right pacifier and gradually reducing the time it spends in the baby's mouth.
What should the correct nipple be like?
Modern pacifier manufacturers are seriously concerned about this problem. It was necessary to make a model that would not negatively affect the bite and even help its proper development.
As a result, we developed orthodontic pacifier, which parents who are interested in this issue have probably already heard about.
What is this pacifier? It has a thin neck, which is located in the mouth at the point of contact with the front incisors, and a special step that regulates the interaction of the teeth. The mug of the nipple has holes for air to enter, and the body is closely adjacent to the baby’s cheeks.
This design is currently considered correct, but still does not provide complete protection against malocclusion. Therefore, it is better to start reducing the time the pacifier stays in the mouth in advance than to think later about how to wean your baby off the pacifier.
Selecting a product by age
Usually, on the packaging of a pacifier, the manufacturer indicates in Roman numerals what age it is intended for. Parents should adhere to this marking, because the division by year was not invented for nothing. For small children they make small nipples, for older children - larger ones.
Below is the marking in Roman numerals according to age:
- Ӏ - from 0 to 6 months;
- ӀӀ - from 6 months to 1.5 years;
- ӀӀӀ - from 1.5 years.
Terms of use
1. After purchasing, the pacifier must be washed and disinfected. Boiling for a few minutes will suffice.
2. It is advisable to store the pacifier in a special cap, which is already included with modern models.
3. You cannot lick the pacifier yourself if you are going to give it to your baby later. Often parents are guilty of this.
4. It’s better to get identical nipples in advance. Children often drop them or deliberately throw them on the floor, then ask them to pick them up. It’s good if in such a case there are two identical pacifiers, the dirty one can be hidden and the clean one can be given to the baby. It is clear that you should not give a pacifier from the floor. Otherwise, the child will get used to putting everything dirty in his mouth. And then you will suffer, not knowing how to wean yourself off the pacifier from the floor.
5. If the pacifier falls out of the child’s mouth when he has already fallen asleep, there is no need to give it again; let him sleep without it.
6. There is no need to immediately grab the pacifier if the baby cannot fall asleep for a long time. Otherwise, he will get used to falling asleep only with her, and it will be difficult to wean him off from this later. You should be patient and try to lull the child to sleep yourself.
At what age is it no longer needed?
The use of a pacifier is rational up to one year. Until this age, the sucking reflex is still active, then it gradually fades away. This means that after a year the child does not need a pacifier. The question of how to wean a baby off a pacifier is already relevant.
If after a year the baby cannot part with his favorite thing, then this is no longer a need for a sucking reflex, but simply a habit that must and can be weaned off, but only gradually.
Typically, the first signs that a baby is ready to give up the pacifier can be seen as early as 3 to 6 months of age. Modern doctors believe that you need to wean yourself off the pacifier by six months; the main thing is not to miss this period.
Consequences of not taking the issue seriously
Sometimes parents’ ignorance leads to a situation where their already quite old child (2 years old) sucks a pacifier. This is fundamentally wrong. Above in the article it was mentioned negative consequences such a habit. Most often, a bad bite is formed, in which the front incisor teeth protrude forward, and this is in the best situation. However, this may be followed by a series of other pathologies: mouth breathing or inflammation of the lip border.
There are more advanced cases when a 4-year-old child sucks a pacifier. Here, in addition to malocclusion and other pathologies, psychological dependence from a pacifier. The child constantly sucks the pacifier, especially in stressful situations. Whenever parents try to wean their baby from this habit on their own, he begins to be capricious and cry. Only long-term consultations with a psychologist can help cope with a problem of this nature.
How to wean a child from sucking a pacifier?
During this period, you need to be patient and surround your baby with care. Wean off the pacifier gradually and without drastic actions. It is wrong to forcibly take away a pacifier, because this will only traumatize the baby. If a child sucks a pacifier or fingers instead, there is no need to forbid him to do this, scold him or spank his hands.
Doctors recommend using a special vestibular plate. Outwardly, it looks like an ordinary pacifier, only without the nipple itself. This design is made of elastic plastic. It is ideal for children over 3 years old. For babies, a pacifier substitute is made with a special silicone lining, which has a beneficial effect on the group of chewing teeth.
Thanks to its correct structure, the vestibular plate not only completely replaces the pacifier, but also produces a therapeutic effect, since it occupies a comfortable position in the oral cavity and forms the correct bite.
Weaning without tears
First you need to prepare your baby to refuse the pacifier before weaning it off. The child who is not at all ready for this step will sleep with a pacifier. Parents need to teach their baby to fall asleep without a pacifier. Until he asks for a pacifier, there is no need to give it when rocking. It is necessary to ensure that the child gets used to falling asleep without his faithful companion. But how to wean children off pacifiers?
There is only one way out - to distract in every possible way before going to bed: sing a song, give a favorite toy, rock in your arms, tell a fairy tale or interesting story. Any action that does not injure the child is good. For example, threats or spanking should definitely not be used.
Some parents simply cannot stand the extra ten minutes, give in to the baby and give him a pacifier. You should not make this mistake, otherwise your child will form the wrong habits. Patience and more patience are the main weapon in the fight against the problem under consideration.
During the day, you also need to minimize the time you spend with your usual product. How to wean yourself off the pacifier while you're awake? To do this, you need to quietly remove it from the baby’s field of vision while playing or walking, that is, when he is passionate about something. Some parents are too busy to notice that their baby is sucking on a pacifier out of boredom.
1. You cannot show or give a pacifier unless the child persistently demands it himself.
2. Play with your baby as often as possible, fill him up free time, keep your hands busy with something (modeling, buttons, cubes), especially since it is very useful for the development of fine motor skills.
3. At 6-9 months, offer your child to drink from a cup, show by your own example that it is fun and convenient.
What not to do
1. You cannot smear the pacifier with something tasteless: pepper, mustard, salt and other substances. This technique is usually used to stop biting nails. But the baby is unlikely to like it. This is an ineffective way. It will not help in solving the problem of how to wean off the pacifier.
2. Don't be intimidating. Some parents come up with all sorts of horror stories or tell the truth that malocclusion may develop. You shouldn’t do this, don’t develop fears in your child! Only adults are the cause of children's worries.
3. Do not scream or scold your baby for sucking a pacifier. No one has ever liked a raised voice.
4. Do not tease for sucking a pacifier and do not allow others to do it. “You are so big, and still with a pacifier, just like a little one!” - such expressions are often used, although this is undesirable.
How to wean children off pacifiers: psychological tricks
1. Fulfillment of a cherished desire in exchange for a pacifier. Tell your child that there is not only a tooth fairy, but also a sorceress who gives gifts. If you put the pacifier in a corner (under the bed, under the pillow, in a drawer), she will take it away, and in return she will bring what the child dreams of. This way, the baby will not associate you with parting with the pacifier and hold a grudge against you; after all, he himself will decide to give up the pacifier.
2. Replace the pacifier with a toy. This trick is suitable if the child is used to falling asleep in bed with a pacifier. First, put your baby to bed with a pacifier and a favorite toy. This will take some time: for some it takes a few days, for others it takes a couple of weeks. Then you can offer to give the pacifier to the toy; usually at this age children do not mind sharing. After some time, invite the child to fall asleep only with the toy (without a pacifier). Give arguments, tell a story. You can always come to an agreement with children.
3. A fairy tale with the participation of a child. All children love to listen to interesting stories, especially about themselves. Tell your child that one day a brave toddler (say his name, so he will imagine that the fairy tale is about him) saved little children by giving them his own pacifier.
4. A tale of old things. Tell your child an interesting story about how things become unusable over time, after which they need to be thrown away. For clarity, you can cut the pacifier. When you find it, sympathize with the baby and tell a story about old things, explain that he is already big and can live without a broken pacifier. Some kids quickly lose interest in damaged things because they do not yet understand that they can buy new ones. However, the technique of cutting the pacifier should be used very carefully and should not be used on children who react sharply to everything.
5. The Tale of Animals and the Dummy. Cut a small part from the nipple. When your baby finds it, tell the story that the animals are taking the pieces for their babies. They can't buy new pacifiers, so they take small parts from children who are already grown and can live without it. Invisibly cut pieces from the pacifier until only one ring remains. Perhaps the baby will keep it, but will soon lose interest in it.
You can come up with as many similar tales as you like if you have a well-developed imagination. The main thing is that they are instructive, and the child understands what they want to convey to him.
It is important not to miss the period most favorable for weaning from sucking a pacifier. IN otherwise The child may form a habit. And as everyone knows, habits are very difficult to get rid of, especially bad ones. It's difficult, but it's possible. Sooner or later the baby will understand that he no longer needs a pacifier. The child must make this difficult decision himself, and the parents’ task is only to competently push him to this step.
How to wean a child off a pacifier? A lifebuoy, an oasis in the middle of the desert, a lifesaver... As soon as mothers do not call a baby pacifier.
After all, it is not as empty as its name seems, and brings many benefits to both children and parents. However, there comes a time when the child must be weaned off the pacifier.
How to do it, so as not to damage the baby’s psyche and the nerves of his mother?
If you are breastfeeding, you may not need a pacifier. When babies are latched on demand, the sucking reflex is almost completely satisfied, and the remaining urges can be solved with a lamb, carrot or apple.
On artificial feeding Children are more often looking for something to suck on, and the pacifier becomes a salvation for mothers. It also brings benefits by training the kids’ muscles!
As the baby approaches a year, the sucking reflex subsides, and the pacifier can be removed from life without difficulty. Slowly but surely. But the life of a young mother also changes when the pacifier leaves.
If earlier child He fell asleep quietly and quickly, sucking on his silicone friend, but now demands attention, rocking, songs, bottles and other things. Some people get so used to sleeping with it that they toss and turn at night without it until they are completely tired.
And so, parents, not ready for such changes, return the already forgotten pacifier as a lifeline. And everyone sleeps peacefully again. However, by doing so, mothers miss the moment when it was easy to wean their child off the pacifier, and they embark on the warpath with this orthodontic accessory. 
After a year, the child loves the pacifier consciously: he replaces her breast during breastfeeding, he scratches his teeth on her, he loves her tenderly and faithfully and is not at all embarrassed by his relatives shaming him. It seems as if he is ready to walk with her even until he is three or four years old!
However It is advisable to start using a pacifier for up to two years, otherwise you will hear a lot of unpleasant words from the pediatrician about bite and developmental delay.
From the age of one and a half, when weaning off the pacifier, it is customary to negotiate with children. They understand perfectly well how many pacifiers there are in the house, where they are and how to ask their mother for them. But if they suddenly consciously give their pacifier to a friend in the sandbox or find out that the cat took it away, then they will be able to cope with the separation more easily.
To avoid saying goodbye to the pacifier as a cause of stress, give your child as much time as possible during this period. Switch his attention to tasty solid foods - bananas, apples, peaches.
Exchange your pacifier for a new long-awaited toy(let him, as it were, buy it himself in exchange for a dummy). Walk outside a lot, then the baby won’t remember about his silicone girlfriend.
If your baby refuses to fall asleep without a pacifier, leave him with these nighttime sucks for a while. But during the day - no, no! And at night, carefully remove it from your mouth (usually babies themselves spit out unnecessary objects).
The main thing is not to abruptly wean children who are not ready for this from the pacifier - this can lead to stress and an unsatisfied sucking reflex.
The baby, having lost his beloved antidepressant, will begin to procrastinate on everything and everyone - from dirty road stones to his mother's festive dress. And he won’t take his hands out of his mouth at all!
You need to wean off the pacifier gradually,reducing the amount of sucking per day and removing the unit at night from the mouth sleeping baby. Many people try to do everything quickly and efficiently under the influence of neighbors' gossip. Like, “colleagues” in the maternity department look askance and tell horror stories about malocclusions and childhood autism.
Listen to your baby: if you see that he is not ready yet and needs a pacifier right now (teeth cutting, adaptation to moving, family squabbles) - do not deprive him of calm with a familiar object in his mouth.
For weaning children over two years old from pacifiers, results are achieved. Tell your child about a kind but lonely animal who cannot sleep without a pacifier. But in his tiny world, no one sells a pacifier, and he lost his own (or maybe an evil wolf stole it?).
Invite your child to do a good deed and leave the animal a gift - your pacifier. After all, an adult Vassenka no longer needs a pacifier, but a destitute character in a fairy tale will find it very useful. 
Place the pacifier in a visible place, and in the morning you will find that an animal (mouse, kitten, brownie) has taken it away! Or maybe he will leave your baby a toy or sweets as a sign of gratitude?
Another An effective way to wean your baby off the pacifier - "spoil" her. Yes, yes, all things break over time, so your trusty pacifier has become leaky. Cut off a tiny piece from it, invisible to the eye. Tomorrow - another one. The day after tomorrow - more.
After a while, the child will feel uncomfortable sucking it, and you will explain that the pacifier is broken. And then he himself, voluntarily and consciously, will give up the pacifier!
A small child is not only the all-encompassing joy and boundless happiness of parents, but also a lot of worries and troubles that take up almost all their free time. Feed, put to bed, take a walk, entertain, console - your head is spinning! Therefore, often, in order for the baby to give parents the opportunity to rest a little, they choose an ordinary pacifier, popularly called a pacifier, as an “ally”.
Days and months go by, the child happily puts the pacifier in his mouth day and night, throwing tantrums about its absence, and the mother finally understands: the time has come to wean the child off the pacifier. But how can this be done if the baby actively protests against such a “bad” proposal? Of course, he spent days and nights with her, and now they want to deprive him of such a sweet and pleasant-tasting friend.
And here the real war begins! Mom scolds her child, trying to wean the child off the pacifier, and tells him scary tales: they say, if he doesn’t stop doing this, his teeth will grow as sparse as a fence, and the terrible Barmaley will bite him on the nose. But the child “listens and eats,” or rather, sucks, and is not going to end his friendship with the pacifier.
Moreover, he not only hides it under the pillow and in the stroller, but also “steals” the pacifier in the yard from other kids. Seeing this, mothers clutch their heads, but still can’t do anything!
So when should you wean your child off the pacifier so that such problems do not arise? How to do this correctly? What mistakes should not be made during the weaning process, and what tricks, on the contrary, can help mothers on this difficult path? About this and much more in our article today.
Why does pacifier addiction occur?
First, let's figure out why a child becomes so attached to a simple pacifier. The fact is that the sucking reflex is one of the main reflexes of a newborn, which is checked by pediatricians immediately after the baby is born. After all, it is in the sucking reflex that the baby’s further ability to develop correctly and even eat well and with appetite lies!
Most babies satisfy it when they are attached to the breast, and therefore calmly do without a pacifier. But other children cannot control the reflex and begin to behave restlessly, putting into their mouths everything that comes to hand: the edge of a blanket, a toy, and even their own finger, thereby increasing the risk of contracting some nasty infection.
Which babies are the most difficult to wean off the pacifier?
It’s impossible not to mention that category of children whose weaning from pacifiers is not only difficult, but simply impossible! Let's look at them in detail.
"Underfed"
"Flukes"
Let's say right away that there are few such children - somewhere around 2-3%. Their peculiarity is that they taste the world: either they put a rattle in their mouth, or a bear’s paw, or a piece of paper. This is not a whim, but a natural need that they satisfy.
"Survivors of Trauma"
After a long illness, the baby may become very attached to the nipple. In difficult times, she calmed him down, so after solving the “problems” she remains a loyal friend to him.
Is a pacifier harmful to a baby?
Some mothers are afraid that a baby who does not part with a pacifier will face speech problems in the future, as he will pronounce letters incorrectly. Also, many of them assume that the child’s teeth will grow crooked and ugly because of this.
What do doctors say about this?
They do not confirm the original theory, but they warn parents about something else: a child accustomed to a pacifier is not very interested in what is happening around him, and therefore can grow up to be a rather reserved person.
Doctors also say that a simple and harmless-looking pacifier can seriously ruin a baby’s bite. Therefore, the mother should wean the child not only from the pacifier, but also from the desire to push his fingers into the mouth and suck them (and this is sometimes much more difficult than fighting the pacifier).
When should weaning start?
As a rule, many children stop sucking a pacifier on their own when they are one or two years old. However, you should not be happy about this, because it is necessary to wean your baby off the pacifier much earlier: from 3 months to a year.
Moreover, most children are completely ready to part with the pacifier from 3 to 6 months of life, only mothers do not notice this. And, most importantly, during this period, weaning from the pacifier is less traumatic for the child.
Therefore, if you notice that the child has ceased to be actively interested in the pacifier, switching his attention to something more entertaining, but not harmful to his health, support his “decision” and hide the pacifier away.
Four methods of giving up pacifiers
Today there are several effective ways wean your baby off the pacifier.
Smooth withdrawal: for children up to 1-1.5 years old
Smooth withdrawal involves getting rid of the pacifier over a few weeks.
According to this method, it is necessary:
- do not take the pacifier with you outside;
- hide the pacifier away during the day;
- teach your child to drink from his favorite cup;
- keep your child busy with exciting games;
- put a favorite toy in the child’s bed so that he feels protected;
- You should not leave the room until the baby falls asleep.
After some time, after taking the above measures, the baby will forget about his not so long ago beloved “friend”.
Abrupt refusal: for children aged 1.5 years and older
Abrupt refusal is a way to get rid of the pacifier for babies who already understand their parents well.
For it to work, you must select one of the following options:
- solemnly present the pacifier to the newborn baby. Since your child already realizes that he has become an “adult,” it will not be difficult for him to give a girlfriend to a baby who needs her more;
- send the pacifier on a long voyage: a small fish or a little gray bunny needs it so much! After all, only a pacifier can protect them in the dark forest from Barmaley;
- Throw the pacifier out the window or trash. True, this one option will do not to all children, but only to the calmest and most flexible ones.
After saying goodbye to the pacifier, you need to give your child something very good, and be sure to note that only independent children play with such valuable toys.
Cancellation within a week - is it possible?
Some mothers share their stories on forums about how to wean their child off a pacifier in just a week.
We cannot help but tell you about this method. However, only practice will show how effective and applicable it is for you.
Action plan:
- Give your child a pacifier for 5 days, 2 times less than usual (not for 30 minutes, but for 15, not for an hour, but for half an hour).
- For the next 2-3 days, offer the pacifier only at night. In this case, it is better to give it for a few minutes, and then replace it with breasts.
At the same time, do not “push” a pacifier into the child’s mouth just like that, but only when he really needs it.
STOPPI for children from two years old
Modern medicine has come up with another effective way weaning from the pacifier, which is simply called: “STOPPI” (STOPPI). This is a special orthodontic plate that must be given to the child instead of a pacifier.
Manufacturers claim that just a few weeks of using this plate can wean your baby off the pacifier forever (the use of “traditional” pacifiers during this period is not allowed).
A small disadvantage of “Stoppie” is that it can only be purchased in pharmacies, and it is only suitable for older children (2 years of age or older).
All children are different, and therefore there is no single recipe for weaning a child from a pacifier. However, thanks to the observation of mothers and the experience of doctors, this is much easier to do today than 50 years ago.
So, general advice on this matter would be:
Don't force a pacifier if you don't need it
If your child feels wonderful without a pacifier from the first days of life, does not put his finger in his mouth and falls asleep well, you should not impose it on your baby at all.
Communication is the mother of unlearning
If you communicate with your baby throughout the day, demonstrating the beauty of the world around you and its features, he simply will not have time left for friendship with the pacifier.
Drinking is not harmful to health
If you teach your child to drink from a mug at about six months, he will quickly master swallowing reflex and will lose the need for bottles and pacifiers.
Bedtime story - problem solving
If you tell your child fairy tales before bed, then by the age of one year the pacifier can be replaced with a whole series of exciting stories.
Day games are so much fun!
If a child plays with blocks and pyramids throughout the day, he will not be distracted by simple sucking.
Out of sight, out of mind
If you yourself do not persistently offer the pacifier to your child and begin to remind him of its existence, he may well forget about it in a couple of days.
What should you not do during the weaning process?
Some mothers make a lot of unforgivable mistakes on the way to getting rid of the pacifier. So, what should you not do during the weaning process?
Damage the pacifier
Under no circumstances should the pacifier be cut. Imagine what will happen if the baby takes a bite from this “chamomile”? It will either get into his stomach or cause a spasm in his throat.
Lubricate it with food preparations
Do not put mustard on the pacifier. Not every adult can withstand this “muck” in his mouth, let alone small child! Plus, it’s not entirely safe, since mustard causes swelling and spasms in the throat in children.
Also, under no circumstances should you put syrup on your pacifier, since sweets not only damage your teeth, but are also highly addictive.
Yell at a child
Under no circumstances should you yell at your baby if he insists on asking for a pacifier. The child does not understand why his mother is so angry with him and begins to be even more mischievous.
Start weaning while sick
Finally, do not deprive your baby of a pacifier or begin the weaning process when he is sick or teething.
What to do in case of a “relapse”?
When you get rid of the pacifier, be prepared for the fact that the child may be naughty for several days and miss his “girlfriend” again. Perhaps he will even wake up at night and demand that she be returned “to her homeland.”
If the whims continue for a very long time (more than 10 days), and you notice that psychological condition the baby becomes restless, just buy the child a new pacifier and after a while repeat the “weaning” procedure.
Don’t be afraid that your child will live with a pacifier until retirement: almost all children by the age of 3 completely forget about the pacifier.
In what cases is emergency pacifier withdrawal necessary?
Excessive attachment to the pacifier
Sometimes it happens that a fairly adult baby does not let go of the pacifier from his mouth: day and night he chews on it and screams loudly if he suddenly loses the pacifier somewhere. In this case, an emergency response is necessary: you should not wait for the “suitable” period, it is better to start weaning right now.
So, how to act if time is lost, but something still needs to be done?
Explain the situation
Tell your child what harm the pacifier does to him: it spoils his teeth, interferes with talking, makes him drool... Anything, just so that the baby understands you! Just don’t scold him or laugh at him by pointing your finger at the child.
"Lose" the pacifier
Hide the pacifier. Yes, it’s as simple as that – put it out of sight and that’s it. Go visit your grandmother and leave her at home. Won't the baby run after her through forests and fields?
“Spoil” the pacifier
Cut off most of the nipple (just don't cut it all!). The baby, having taken the “Lala” in his mouth, will spit out the pacifier in bewilderment: why did it become so full of holes? If the child asks about what happened, explain: a big bear came from the forest, wanted to try the pacifier, but accidentally bit it off.
Hearing or speech defects
Also, you should not wait for the moment when the baby solemnly puts the pacifier in your hand and refuses it if he has problems with hearing or speech.
It is better to solve the problem once and for all, enduring a river of tears and a week of sleepless nights, than to later reap the fruits of your “compassionate” maternal labor.
Summing up
Weaning your baby off the pacifier is that easy. Some 1-year-old children easily find new interests and forget about the pacifier after a week or two, while others are still looking for a pacifier months later, throwing regular tantrums at their parents.
Therefore, the age at which you will wean your child off the pacifier is individual not only for each baby, but also for each family. Even cultural values and traditions play a big role in this: if in Italy a four-year-old child with a pacifier in his mouth will not surprise anyone, here in Russia they will look askance at his mother.
However, when thinking about how to wean your child off a pacifier, you must remember: you should not rely on the advice of neighbors and relatives in this matter. It’s better to do everything so carefully and correctly that the baby will give up the pacifier on his own and feel just amazing!
For some mothers, a pacifier is a lifesaver at first. However, after a while, parents begin to be seriously concerned about how long the child will use the pacifier.
At what age and how to wean a child from a pacifier, when to wean and when to wait, what should and should not be done during weaning from a pacifier, read more in this article. Practical advice and recommendations for parents and more.
No mother can answer this question for you. After all, every child is unique and individual. Each child has his own mental and emotional development. And only a mother, a mother who is with her baby the most, a mother who understands her child at a glance, such a mother will be able to recognize best time to wean a child off a pacifier.
Neither grandmothers, nor neighbors, nor mothers from the yard can impose their position on the situation on you and your family. You make all the decisions regarding your child, and let them take care of their children.
Of course, there is no need to take advice with hostility. Listen to everyone, but make your own decision, weighing and evaluating all the pros and cons.
Do you know why a child needs a pacifier?
The baby needs a pacifier to satisfy the sucking reflex. While still in his mother's tummy, the baby was sucking his finger. Sucking helps the baby calm down, helps cope with stress, feel protected and relaxed. Because of this, the child becomes dependent on the pacifier.
It is also worth distinguishing between breastfed and bottle-fed babies. Breasts satisfy their sucking reflex by eating mother's milk. And if the child was breastfed on demand for the first six months, then his sucking reflex gradually fades away. He can easily do without a pacifier (of course, there are exceptions everywhere). But babies who are bottle-fed take longer to show interest in the pacifier. They only eat from the bottle, and with the help of the pacifier they calm down and fall asleep.
Cases when it is necessary to wean a child off a pacifier:
- If your child constantly sucks on a pacifier. Doesn't hold it in the mouth, but rather sucks.
- If your child has problems with speech or hearing.
- If the child at all.
Cases when you do not need to start weaning off the pacifier:
- If the child is sick;
- If your child is teething;
- If you have moved or are planning to move to another place;
- If you decide to potty train your child;
- In any stressful situations,
Regarding whether sucking a pacifier is harmful, I will say this. The pacifier will not affect the baby's permanent teeth in any way. The bite can be ruined if you constantly intensively suck a pacifier or finger.
Let's consider several options for when to wean a child from a pacifier.
How to wean a child off a pacifier or methods of weaning
There are two different ways. Let's take a closer look at each of them.
- Gradually
- Sharply or quickly
Gradual weaning from the pacifier. How? Where to start and what to do?
The very word “gradually” tells us that weaning off the pacifier needs to be done smoothly and slowly. At the same time, have a lot of patience and endurance.
You can start weaning this way at about 6-9 months.
It's easy to wean off. Has your baby started to act up?
Distract with a toy, for example, you can build towers from cubes or build a wall from plastic cups, kids love drilling such structures. You can pick him up, cuddle him, and recite a funny rhyme. If not at all, then give him a pacifier.
That is, the point of gradually weaning off the pacifier is to gradually reduce the time you use the pacifier. Now it is much more interesting to play than to suck a pacifier.
It should be remembered that if you want to wean your child off the pacifier, you will have to sacrifice your free time. If the child is crying, you need to distract him; if he is naughty, he needs to be hugged or carried in his arms. A baby needs a pacifier to calm him down. Perhaps this is the only way he knows. Show him other options. Help him. And after a while the dummy will fade into the background.
If your child drops a pacifier, place it out of sight. If he really asks, give it.
What can help with gradual weaning from the pacifier?
- Teach your child to use a cup instead of the usual bottle.
- A child must explore this world with the help of his fingers. Play with your baby finger games, give it to him various toys in shape, size and structure.
- There is no need to offer your child a pacifier. If he asks, then give it.
Abrupt weaning from the pacifier - what is it like? What needs to be done and who is suitable?
This type of weaning can be used for children aged 1.5-3 years. Children at this age already understand a lot and you can try to come to an agreement with them.
How to wean a child off a pacifier using this method?
- You can limit the time you use the pacifier to a minimum.
- You can play a fun game about saying goodbye to your pacifier. Let magic fairy after a while he will fly to get a pacifier for the little girl, and bring your baby a gift.
- You can try losing the pacifier and see how the baby reacts. And then act based on the situation.
- Think about a small kitten who feels very bad without a pacifier (it’s good that you saw such a kitten together the day before). So, the kitten really needs a pacifier, but he doesn’t know where to get it. Maybe one kind boy (girl) will help him. After all, he/she no longer needs a pacifier. Because he/she is so mature and independent. Perhaps your child will take pity on the kitten and give him his pacifier. Only with the child’s consent, “give” a pacifier to the kitten. And remember that this tale will have to be repeated every time your child looks for his pacifier. Very important point. If the child has changed after 10-14 days without a pacifier: sleep has been disturbed, nervousness has appeared. The pacifier should be given to the baby.
Most often, a child needs a pacifier as a means of calming and. When falling asleep, try gradually replacing the pacifier with your favorite one. soft toy. Let him initially sleep with both a pacifier and a toy. Don't leave the bedroom right away, stay close to your child.
You need to keep your child occupied with something in all his free time, for example, reading fairy tales, drawing, walking in nature, building castles. Then your baby will be less likely to remember his pacifier.
All these methods are reminiscent of methods
And now about what not to do while weaning off the pacifier
- You should not smear the pacifier with anything bitter or sour, be it mustard or something else. Firstly, the child may have allergies. Secondly, the child learns about the world by licking and tasting various items. And then one of these items (a very favorite one) suddenly changed its taste. Where is the guarantee that other familiar objects have not changed? It seems to me that there is no need to once again expose the baby to incomprehensible experiences.
- Do not soak the pacifier. After all, a particularly stubborn child may choke on a piece of it. Extra unjustified risk.
- You can't yell at a child.
- You can't tease a child. It won’t help; on the contrary, it may provoke a backlash. A child may not part with a pacifier out of resentment.
- You can't deceive a child.
- You can't scare.
And also ask yourself: “why is my pacifier bothering me?” And only after answering this question honestly, start weaning if you are sure that your little man ready for this mentally and physically.
If you think that your child still needs a pacifier, do not listen to anyone from the outside. If it's time to wean off the pacifier. Act according to your child's personal characteristics. And this article will help you. And may everything work out for you!
What methods did you use to wean yourself off the pacifier? How old was your baby at the time of weaning? How did you cope? We are waiting for your comments, maybe your comment will help someone find the right way.
