A pacifier can be a lifeline to new parents in day-to-day life. Many parents use them to soothe fussy babies in a public setting. Some swear they help babies who are having issues falling and staying asleep. However, as babies transition from the infant stage to toddlerhood, the negatives of pacifier use begin to outweigh the positives. No matter how much your child loves their pacifier, getting rid of it will become necessary.
Pacifiers can be great for non-nutritive sucking, a normal part of development. And pacifiers have some proven benefits, such as being protective against SIDS.1 While pacifiers can be helpful, they have a time limit (as do many things your infant will use at birth!). So when should you try to wean your child from their pacifier? And how?
Getting Rid of the Pacifier: When To Do It
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that habits such as thumb sucking and pacifier sucking should be stopped by age three.2 One could argue that the pacifier is preferred over the thumb because you can’t take away your child’s thumb, but you can take away their pacifier.
Start the Weaning Process Slowly
As a pediatric dentist, my first visit with a patient typically occurs around the time the child is one year old. We talk about habits and whether the child is using a pacifier. At this point, I usually advise parents to keep the pacifier limited to naptime and bedtime. I also recommend that the child only have access to the pacifier in their crib (or a long car ride, plane ride, etc.). This way, you are gearing the child up to quit when the time comes. If your three-year-old is accustomed to having their pacifier all day, breaking the habit can be much more challenging than if they only have access to it in their crib.
Every child is different, and there are many ways to break the habit when the time comes. But if your child is used to using their pacifier only when they sleep, they will likely have an easier time quitting. Sometimes, once a child turns three, they are usually in preschool and may have dropped their afternoon nap or be ready to drop their naps entirely soon. At this point, when they go to sleep at night, they are so tired that sometimes they fall asleep without realizing if the pacifier is still in their mouth. They may just naturally become increasingly independent of their pacifier!
Another great reason to quit at three is that most children will have developed the necessary developmental maturity to understand the concept of quitting. They may even want to quit! I always tell parents (and children) that it is easier to break a habit if the child is on board with stopping.
Related: Pacifiers and Breastfeeding: What Experts Want You To Know
Tips for Getting Rid of the Pacifier
There are endless tips and tricks for weaning your child from the pacifier. Every child is different, but these tried-and-true techniques can make the transition easier for both you and your little one.
1. Go Cold Turkey
This is typically more suitable for children under one year old. At one year old, children develop object permanence — meaning when you take something away, they know it still exists in the world. If you wait past the age of one, you can still do it, but it will be more challenging!
2. Cut the Tip Off Gradually
Progressively cut a small amount of the nipple off the pacifier every few nights until nothing remains for baby to suck on. FridaBaby has a product that mimics cutting the tip, but with a more gradual process.
3. Use a Sticker Chart for Motivation
If your child is around three years old, you might want to try a sticker chart. Each day/night your child doesn’t use their pacifier, offer them a sticker to place on that day. At the end of each week, let your child pick out a small prize, and at the end of the month, let them pick out a big prize.
4. Throw a “Bye-Bye Paci” Party
Collect all the remaining pacifiers and throw a “bye-bye paci party.” You can decorate a box to put the pacifiers in and make a big production out of it. Make it a celebration for everyone to enjoy!
5. Donate the Pacifier to a Baby in Need
Give the pacifiers to another baby, such as a cousin or friend who has a new baby.
6. Read Books About Quitting the Pacifier
Read books about quitting the pacifier, and have lots of positive conversations about how great your child is for no longer using the pacifier. The more excited they see you are, the more excited they’ll be. Some great books for this topic are “Pacifiers Are Not Forever” by Elizabeth Verdick and “Bye-Bye Binky” by Maria van Lieshout.
7. Offer a Lovey as an Alternative
Offer a “lovey” or something similar as an alternative to the pacifier. Sometimes, all your child needs is a comfort item to help them sleep.
Getting rid of the pacifier can be stressful for both parents and babies, but it’s also a meaningful milestone in your child’s growth. Hopefully, one or more of these tips will help ease the process. You can combine or adjust these ideas to fit what works best for your family. With patience, consistency, and a little creativity, your child will learn to self-soothe in new ways, and you’ll both feel proud of the progress.
