Everything You Need To Know About Pacifiers & How To Eliminate Them
Pacifier, soother, sucky, soos…
No matter what name you call it, there’s a high chance your baby will use one. And sometimes this can come with a feeling of stress as to when you need to get rid of it.
I want to start off by saying that using a pacifier is not such a bad thing… There are actually some great benefits that come along with it!
I am here to help you make an informed decision on introducing the pacifier to your baby, and help you work through any issues that may arise, including when and how you can eliminate it.
What Is The Pacifier Game & How To Avoid It
It is so easy to get trapped in the cycle of replacing your babies pacifier each time it falls out. This is what I like to call The Pacifier Game. It is extremely common before your child learns the skills to be able to do it themselves, and it can be extremely frustrating to parents. Here are some tips on dealing with The Pacifier Game:
Practice, practice, practice. When your baby is young, they do not yet have the skills needed to find their pacifier and replace it themselves when it falls out. Hence why they call out for you to do it…
But! With time and practice, you can help your baby become a master at this skill!
During non-sleep periods in the day, encourage your baby to practice locating their pacifier, picking it up, and putting it in their mouth. At first you may find it helpful to hold your babies hand and guide them in this process, but over time your baby will learn to do it themselves, therefore eliminating the need for you to do it at night!
And once your baby is a pro at replacing it by themselves, you can scatter multiple pacifiers throughout their crib to increase the chances that they will find one during the night. Even better? Try using glow-in-the-dark pacifiers to not only help your child locate it, but also to help you do a quick replacement without turning any lights on if need be.
Eliminating The Pacifier
Some babies will never show an interest in a pacifier, some will naturally wean themselves, and others need a bit of nudging and gentle encouragement to let go of their sacred object. If you are ready to eliminate the pacifier, here are some helpful tips to help make that shift.
It is important to note that for sleep purposes, there is no set rule on when to wean the pacifier from your child. However, for dental purposes this should be done by the age of 4.
For younger babies, it is easiest to cut it cold turkey. You can expect a couple days of sleep disruption but they will adjust fairly quickly. If your child starts showing less of an interest in the pacifier or has done well sleeping without it here and there, use this opportunity to get rid of it!
For toddlers, depending on your child's personality it can be a longer and harder process. But no matter which option you choose, the most important thing is that you exude confidence in your child’s sleep skills and stick with the plan! This is not the time to keep those spare pacifiers “just in case”. Not only are you risking your child finding them, but it’s also easy for parents to give in at the first sign of struggle.
Options:
Cut it cold turkey. Expect sleep disruptions but encourage self soothing in other ways such as cuddling their special stuffy or blanket.
Slowly cut it out by offering it less and less. Start by only offering it for sleep periods (nap and night time), then work towards only offering it at night, before cutting it out completely.
If you have an older child, they may find it helpful to “send” the pacifier to a new baby who needs it.
No matter which option you go with, it is important to remember that this is a big transition for your baby. Have patience and give them grace if they struggle with it. They may need a bit more involvement from you to help soothe them, but be mindful that you are not replacing the need for a pacifier with the need for you!
If your child has struggled with this transition and you need help to get back on track, send me a message here. I am here to help your family get the rest they need, and deserve!
