When do you usually ween a child off of a pacifier?

The best age to start weaning your child from their pacifier is around 18 months. Of course each child is different and you definitely should not just go cold turkey and take your child's pacifier away. It is best to gradually ween them off little by little. Maybe start only allowing their pacifier at bedtime and eventually move on to making them go without a pacifier. Reward and praise them for every length of time that they go without their pacifier. To ensure that they keep up with their positive behavioral changes be sure to consistently give them positive praise for not using their pacifier.

This is a great answer. I completly agree! - mrstcrutcher 3/2/2010 3:59:09 PM | Flag

Answered by babs6219 {138}
3/1/2010 9:47:13 PM

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I'm actually curious about this. My kids all loved their binkies, and I was the mom that when I was PG with the next one, the pacifier fairy came, after weaning them off it for a while, to take the binky to the next one. That's also why my first 3 took different binkies. They were all around 2 at the time, but I know they were too old. That is so hard!

Answered by MomUv5 {113}
3/4/2010 8:07:33 PM

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My oldest son had a pacifier and at the age of 16 months, he lost it. We never did find it. He cried for it for a couple of days and then it was forgotten. I decided I was not going to replace it. To be honest, I am not sure if he could have been weaned off of it slowly. I seized an opportunity and never looked back. (My younger children never had a pacifier in their mouths even one time as I didn't want to go through it again.)

My son never used one, and it saved me a lot of trouble. I have a cousin that still had one until she was 16 and it ruined her teeth horribly! If you can completely avoid it, I say dont' even give them one. - Ramage13 3/14/2010 5:45:29 PM | Flag

Answered by shanesmama {105}
3/10/2010 5:00:53 PM

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I agree with the others- about a year and a half, give or take a couple of months.

Answered by HeavenlyMommy {656}
http://www.heavenlymommy.com
3/11/2010 1:23:13 AM

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When my son was about 9 months old, I gave him his pacifier when he went to bed and then never gave it back to him. He cried that morning for it, but then never again.

I did the same thing with his bottles. I just made a decision to get rid of them, threw them in the trash, and that was it. I waited until 16 months to get rid of the bottles, only because it was the last thing that made him a baby and I didn't want to give them up! Ha, ha!

For my son, cold turkey worked. I know some kids are stubborn though, so you need to do what works for you. All I have to say is, Don't give in! Just because the baby/toddler starts crying, you don't have to rush over and hand them a bottle or pacifier. Give them time to work it out on their own and adjust. I also think the longer you wait, the harder it is for them to give something up. I thought my son was a lot cuter without the pacifier hanging out of his mouth! Good luck ladies :)

Answered by monique {167}
4/20/2010 4:35:27 PM

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About sixteen months is what my sister has told me. I have also seen children with pacifiers who are way too old. I dont think a child should have one past two.