How to Help Your Toddler Give Up a Pacifier

Giving up a pacifier can be a devastating to a toddler. They depend on it for comfort and relaxation. However, some pediatricians recommend that a child should not be using a pacifier past the age of one. A pacifier used past the age of one can have ill effects on the shape of the teeth, causing a toddler to require orthodontics later in life. Also, it will inhibit speech development since they cannot speak clearly with a pacifier in their mouth. Finally, a toddler will be more prone to dropping a pacifier and putting it back in their mouth even though it may be contaminated with germs. They are able to reach for it better than a baby could so there is nothing stopping them from dropping it on a dirty bathroom floor and then sticking it back in their mouth immediately.

Pacifier Fairy

If your child is old enough to understand the concept of giving up their pacifiers so they can be given to others who do not have them, then this may be a quick and easy option for you to try. Tell your toddler it is time to give their pacifier away to babies who need the pacifiers more than they do. Let them know they are now old enough to go without using one. Explain that you are going to leave the pacifiers for the Pacifier Fairy to pick up and deliver to the babies. Make a big deal out of hunting for all the pacifiers in the house and wrapping them up like a present or put them in a gift bag with tissue paper. Let your toddler say goodbye to the pacifiers before they go to bed. In the morning the pacifiers will be gone but in its place there will be a gift for your child. Include a note with the gift that thanks your child for giving the pacifiers to babies who needed them and sign it from the Pacifier Fairy.

Slow and Easy

Sometimes younger children transition better by gradually getting rid of their pacifier and they are too young to understand the concept of sharing them with others. If they are using their pacifier all the time, try cutting back to only giving it to your child at nap and bedtime. After a few weeks eliminate the naptime pacifier and replace it with a favorite teddy bear. Eventually, when you feel an appropriate amount of time has gone by take away the bedtime pacifier. Don't wait too long to do the final pacifier removal or it may become too significant to the child to have it at bedtime. Expect to have interruptions in sleep during the removal of the pacifiers, however, they will get used to not having it and be able to fall asleep without it eventually.

Cold Turkey

This method is harsh and can cause distress on a daily routine including sleep interruptions and increased tantrums, however, for some this may be the only option. If all other options have been exhausted, removing the pacifier all at one time may save a prolonged struggle. Explain to your child only once that they are not going to use a pacifier any longer and don't bring it up again. The more you talk about it the more the pacifier will

Hints and tips

Don't use it as a bribe or reward for good behavior or when you do take it away for good you may deal with behavior issue that cannot be remedied with anything besides the pacifier.

Don't poke holes in a pacifier or cut the tip off of it to make it less desirable to your toddler. This can be dangerous and cause a choking hazard. Altering a pacifier other than how the manufacturer intended for it to be used it not a safe practice.

Don't show anger toward your child for their frustration that will occur when giving up the pacifier. It is normal for a toddler to exhibit negative behavior when dealing with giving up a pacifier. They don't understand why it is necessary to give it up.