How To Help Your Baby Give Up Pacifiers
In this Article
Pacifiers are a great relief for parents and an awesome soother for babies. Many pediatrics and psychologists believe that giving pacifier is absolutely alright to your baby till a certain age. Basically, the recommended maximum age till when you can give pacifier to your baby is till 2 years.
Babies are born with an innate need to suck. The need for sucking is mainly as a means of having food, however along with that it also helps baby soothe itself. Pacifiers are great baby soothers. If not a pacifier, babies will suck their thumb or sometimes a piece of cloth as well. So pacifiers are not as evil as we think. It is important to note that pacifiers should not be introduced until a comfortable feeding relationship is established between the mother and baby.
Another positive aspect of using pacifiers is that it decreases the chance of cavities which can be caused by sucking an empty bottle of milk. If the baby sleeps with an empty bottle of milk in the mouth at night, he is likely to develop cavities at an early age.
Tips To Help Your Baby Give Up Pacifiers
1. The Earlier The Better
Taking the pacifier away at a young age leads to less struggle between the parent and the child. The younger the child is the less displeasure it expresses while giving up any habit.
2. Be Strong and Just Say No
Sometimes the best option is to be emotionally strong and just say no to your baby and do not give up into your baby’s weaning and wailing for the pacifier. After a couple of days your baby will get accustomed to soothe himself without the pacifier.
3. Put a Bad Tasting Paste on it
The role of a pacifier is to soothe baby and help him feel better. If a bitter tasting food is put on the pacifier like bitter gourd paste, then the pacifier will no longer serve the purpose it was meant for! ||
4. Prepare Your Baby
Before you actually start taking pacifier away from your baby, prepare your baby by telling him that – “Now you are growing up and grown up kids do not use pacifiers”. Prepare your baby a week in advance before you take action.
5. Give Examples
If you have an elder kid or any other child in your nearby area, take your child to those grown up kids and show him that these kids do not use pacifiers. Now that your baby is also growing up and will start to go to play group, nursery, etc. he also needs to stop pacifiers.
A gradual and long term approach will be useful while you are in this process. It cannot be an overnight mission. Your baby needs some time to adjust to stay to this new phase of life of staying without a pacifier. One very important thing to remember, no matter whichever method you choose, is to be ready for 2 to 7 nights of wailing and whining! If at this stage you give the pacifier back to the child, you will only help solidify this behavior. Your baby will know that crying will get him his pacifier back. So, be strong and all the best!
