Thinking about getting rid of pacifier, binky, soother, dummy baby implements or whatever that thing is called? If so, then it might be time to prepare for battle.<\/p>\n
When it comes to getting rid of the pacifier at night, nothing beats consistency, good timing and maybe even a good story line. So, if you\u2019ve been wondering how to get your toddler to sleep without a pacifier, you\u2019ve come to the right place!<\/p>\n
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Generally speaking, the pacifier can be good for both you and baby, at a certain age. Studies have shown that pacifiers can reduce the risk of SIDS, can give mom and dad a break, and can, well…pacify your baby!<\/p>\n
But, despite their many benefits, there is going to be a time when you\u2019ll have to start thinking about getting rid of the paci. But when should you take away the pacifier?<\/p>\n
Experts seem to agree: The earlier, the better.<\/p>\n
Once your child hits that independent, \u201cYou can\u2019t tell me what to do!\u201d phase, you may be up the creek. That\u2019s not to say that it can\u2019t be done, just that you\u2019ll likely have a more difficult time getting rid of binky now, than if you had done so earlier.<\/p>\n
The ideal age to start thinking about taking away the pacifier is typically between 5-6 months old. By that time, your little one may have finally settled into a sleeping routine, and you can slowly begin to remove the pacifier by implementing whatever method you prefer.<\/p>\n
With a baby this age, though you may have to suffer a few nights of loud wails and unrelenting protests, he or she will likely forget about it over time, and things can get back to normal again.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re already past that point, however, don\u2019t panic. We\u2019ve got a few suggestions that\u2019ll hopefully help with getting rid of the pacifier at night, for good!<\/p>\n
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There are a couple of different ways you can go about getting rid of the dummy. Depending on the age of your child, some techniques may work better than others.<\/p>\n
One technique is called the \u201cpull-out\u201d or \u201cPantley\u201d method. This involves you allowing your child to fall asleep with the pacifier, then, ever so gently, pulling it back out of his or her mouth once they are asleep.<\/p>\n
As time goes on, you\u2019ll begin to do this while your child is \u201cdrowsy but awake\u201d. The idea is that, eventually, your child will learn to fall asleep on his or her own without needing the pacifier.<\/p>\n
Another technique is to transition your toddler towards getting rid of the pacifier at night by providing him or her with a replacement object. The goal is that your child becomes so distracted by what you have given them, that they eventually forget all about that silly old binky.<\/p>\n
Note: A word of caution here.<\/strong> Be sure that whatever you give your kiddo as a replacement for his or her pacifier is safe and age-appropriate. If implementing this technique, you should not place any objects, stuffed animals, toys, blankets or the like in a crib with infants under the age of 1.<\/p>\n One final technique we recommend you try, is to tell your children that other babies \u201cneed\u201d the pacifiers they currently have.<\/p>\n Make this fun! Have your child gather up all of the pacifiers around the house in a bag. You can even have them decorate their bag. Then, take the bag outside and set it on the porch. Do this close to bedtime, so that they aren\u2019t seeing the bag on the porch throughout the day. Remove the bag while they are sleeping, and throw those pacifiers away!<\/p>\n Whoo hoo, you did it!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now, are we saying that any of these methods are fool-proof? No.<\/p>\n Are we saying that they\u2019ll absolutely work? No.<\/p>\n What we are saying, however, is that if you use these methods, you\u2019ll likely have better luck with getting rid of the dummy than if you had not.<\/p>\n But what if your toddler won\u2019t sleep without a pacifier at night? Then, what?<\/p>\n The best thing to do when your toddler won\u2019t sleep without a pacifier at night is to remain consistent and to prepare yourself mentally ahead of time. Although the aforementioned techniques have proven helpful to many mamas, the truth is that you may have to cross over hell and high water at night to get to where you want to be. And that\u2019s okay!<\/p>\n In addition to the methods provided, it is also recommended that you talk to your toddler a few nights prior to prepare them for what is about to take place. Tell them you think they are getting older, \u201cbigger\u201d, wiser, more mature…whatever it is that you think will give them the confidence to give paci the boot. Then, choose one or two of those methods and brace yourself.<\/p>\n It won\u2019t be easy, but getting your toddler to sleep without the pacifier will totally be worth it!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If your toddler won’t sleep without a pacifier no matter what you do, you may wish to try these techniques.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Many will ask, \u201cShould a 2 year old still have a pacifier?\u201d.<\/p>\n Of course, our answer to that is no.<\/p>\n But how should you go about taking a pacifier away from a 2-year-old or an 18-month-old?<\/p>\n It probably goes without saying, but this won\u2019t be easy. Two-year-old children are well-known for their outlandish behavior, all of which is understandable, albeit frustrating. At this age, your child is exploring his or her newfound independence, and may be flexing their oppositional muscles quite often. As such, you can expect that a pacifier for a 2-year-old won\u2019t be given up easily, and you\u2019ll likely be met with tears, tantrums and screams.<\/p>\n As frustrating as it may sound, don\u2019t give up. If you give in to your 2-year-old\u2019s tantrum, you are likely to be met with the same tantrum over and over again. Over time, it\u2019ll wear you down.<\/p>\n Instead, pick a method for trashing pacifiers for 2-year-olds, and stick to it. Empathize with your child\u2019s emotions, but don\u2019t cave in. As time goes on, you\u2019ll find that your toddler has forgotten all about their beloved binky, and will likely have moved on to the next big thing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Okay parents, now it\u2019s really time to put your foot down!<\/p>\n Pacifier weaning for a 3-year-old is crucial, as he or she will soon be entering preschool. At this point, you can expect the removal of the pacifier to be heart-breaking and emotional for your child, but not impossible.<\/p>\n For this age, try tapping into your 3-year-old\u2019s desire to take responsibility and try new things. Tell your child that he or she is \u201cso big now\u201d and can begin to do things they don\u2019t normally do! Have this pep talk a few days before you attempt any removal methods.<\/p>\n Then, purchase your child an item or two that will help bolster a sense of responsibility such as a brand new hairbrush set<\/a><\/strong>, a new toothbrush, or simply give them new tasks to do with you around the house.! They\u2019ll likely gladly trade-in that pacifier for all of the new items and activities they\u2019re being introduced to.<\/p>\n It\u2019s certainly worth a shot!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All in all , getting rid of pacifier at night is no easy feat. Pick a method suitable for your little one, their age and their circumstance. Though annoying to you, try to understand that this is something that your child has grown accustomed to. As a result, getting rid of the dummy is bound to be a little stressful. But, who knows? With a little effort, you may be pleasantly surprised at the ease of the process!<\/p>\n Wondering if you should even start your child on a dummy in the first place? Take a peek at this article to determine if the introduction of the dummy to your baby is the right option for you<\/a>.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve got this, mama! Be strong and carry on!<\/p>\nHow Do I Get Rid of the Pacifier at Night?<\/h2>\n
How to Get Toddler to Sleep Without a Pacifier<\/h2>\n
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Dummies For 2-Year-Olds<\/h2>\n
Should a 3-Year-Old Still Have a Pacifier?<\/h2>\n
Our Best Tips for Getting Rid of the Pacifier<\/h2>\n
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The Breakdown<\/h2>\n