Taking Away a Pacifier, 5 Weaning Strategies

A pacifier is your orthodontist's worst dream, and best money maker. Though they are said to ruin the teeth, as a father with a baby who had colic, I am a big fan... for a while.

I remember watching an episode of 'Super Nanny' where a three and four year old child were using pacifiers, binkies, nooks, or whatever you want to call them obsessively. It got to the point where their mouths had recurring sores on them, and their teeth were becoming horribly malformed. This is the worst case scenario, but it is important to consider how to wean your children off of a pacifier.

The Binky Fairy

Find a fairy or angel stuffed toy, and a small net that you let her 'carry'. Encourage your children to give up their pacifiers for those poor, unfortunate children who don't have them yet. The Binky Fairy worked on super nanny, but there are several other ways to wean your child from using a pacifier.

The Binky Swap Meet

You can use your Binky Fairy as the host for a binky swap meet. Your children are able to use their binkies and pacifiers as currency to 'purchase' some of the toys you have gotten specifically for this purpose. Explain that only big boys and girls are able to shop at the Binky Swap Meet, and that they will be well rewarded for doing so.

Binkies in Heaven

I found this on a parenting forum I frequent, and the idea is cute, but will potentially raise some difficult questions about death, heaven, and children dying. Buy some helium balloons, and tie all of your pacifiers to them. Give them to your child, and explain that the good little babies in heaven (or you can substitute a far away country, city, or state for heaven). Let your child decide to release them, and it will have been their own idea.

Nipping it in the Bud

Some would suggest that cutting a small portion off of your child's binky every night until there is absolutely nothing left to suck on is a good idea, but frankly, it can become a choking hazard. If any of that latex breaks off, your child could potentially choke on it. Frankly, use this one at your own risk.

Cold Turkey

Take them all away cold turkey. You will endure a few days of screaming, but this may be the safest way (and the most honest) to wean your child from a pacifier. Explain to them, even if they don't understand everything yet, that a pacifier is for a baby, and that your toddler is no longer a baby, and so no longer needs them.