Ready to figure out how to get rid of the pacifier?
A lotta parents want to make it happen, but don’t know how.
After all, we’re talking about removing a special lovey from your child’s life…
Not an easy task.
At all.
So the MOST important thing to know is there are 3 steps:
Weaning, reducing the time during the day, and your kid having a meltdown down, screaming, and running around the house like an angry wild monkey.
(We’re kidding lol; this is exactly what we’re trying to avoid).
More:
Why is figuring out how to get rid of the pacifier so frustrating?
If you’ve ever considered taking the pacifier away…
There isn’t a simple solution that’ll comfort your child and prevent a long-term habit from developing.
Now, a lot of that research, like this article, is helpful and provides a scientific view of the physical challenges.
But in our opinion?
These recommendations for how to get rid of the pacifier ignore the emotional attachment the child has to their lovey.
You see, much of the common advice doesn’t acknowledge the deep bond that kids have with their plush toys.
So it falls short when it comes to how to get rid of the pacifier.
Because the strategies don’t acknowledge the emotional connection.
For example, a lot of the advice tells you to do a FAST break – like taking the pacifier away, tossing it in the garbage, or something to that effect.
Now we don’t know about you…
But it doesn’t seem like the emotional attachment of the child is acknowledged by those giving advice like this. And this makes figuring out how to get rid of the pacifier trickier.
You see…
He SUPER loves his pacifier. Taking it away abruptly would break his heart.
He’d be devastated if we used this pacifier-weaning strategy.
And anyway, is that even weaning?
Plus, between working, keeping the house clean, managing different schedules, and everything else that happens in life, it’s hard to find a good time to make these kinds of transitions happen.
That’s why…
we’ve cooked up a few ideas to help both us and you (if you’re reading this) get through this transition.
Cause if you go read the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Let’s get into it:
Idea #1 Reevaluate Your Kid’s Bedtime Routines
…When was the last time you thought about your bedtime routine?
After all:
It can be so easy to do the same thing over and over every night.
But if you’re like us, you might not have thought about your bedtime routine since your toddler was a baby.
When starting pacifier weaning, it’s good to look at what’s working and what’s not.
For example, when we reflected on ours recently, we realized we were rocking him longer than he wanted to be rocked.
So when you’re looking at transitioning away from big things like a pacifier: Think about your routine as a whole, and whether or not it’s working for you.
Because sometimes, what worked in the past doesn’t work anymore.
Or even if it is working, it might not be the most optimal routine, especially if you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of the pacifier…
You don’t have to keep doing the same thing over and over just because it’s your routine. By making small adjustments now, you can make it easier for yourself later when you finally take away the pacifier for good.
OK let’s talk about the next idea.
Idea #2: Reduce Evening TV Time
Ok, now, of course, this isn’t some revolutionary idea for how to get rid of the pacifier
But hear me out because we’ve got our take on this. Now you might be wondering:
What’s this got to do with a pacifier?
Well, consider a few ways that too much TV time can throw off your bedtime routine for your toddler:
- It can get everybody worked up
- it shifts the energy level
- Depending on the show, it could wind up your child’s brain
And when they get thrown off?
The meltdowns start.
And if a child has a meltdown…they’re going to want the pacifier.
Plus, a lot of research that we’ve seen indicates that blue light is NOT good for us (and negatively affects our sleep routines).
TV time can be a HUGE time suck during an already very short evening.
Rather than watching TV, consider if there are other activities you can do with your toddler that help her wind down before bed. Things like reading, doing simple breathing exercises, or singing can help them relax.
Regardless of which activity you chose:
Try to spend some time on activities that won’t wind them up, so they don’t have a meltdown and don’t want to rely on a pacifier to calm down.
Now, we’re not saying don’t watch TV.
All we’re saying is that instead of an hour of TV, watch 30 minutes and then use your new free time for other winding-down activities.
OK let’s keep going.
Idea #3 Limit Pacifier Time During The Day
When we first read about this, we thought it was a great tip for how to get rid of the pacifier.
Because our little guy loves his pacifier so much, he would grab it anytime he found it laying around.
So to start pacifier weaning, we had to fix this habit!
And after a while, once his teeth started coming in, we realized that letting him have it during the day was a problem.
We started thinking about times during the day when we could shift away from constantly using a pacifier.
We started by limiting the time he was allowed to use it in the car and house during the day.
We were pleasantly surprised…
He adapted faster than We thought. We started by throwing his pacifier in his crib we when first got up in the morning.
Then he was allowed to have it again close to bedtime. And you know what? That simple strategy seemed to do the trick!
And this approach has had a couple of benefits…
It’s set some boundaries and habits for when it’s appropriate to use the pacifier.
So later, if he’s asking for it, we reiterate that the pacifier is for sleeping and that’s why we have him put it in the crib.
So far, this seems to be an effective strategy for how to get rid of the pacifier.
So consider this strategy if you’re looking for a way to gradually transition away from using a pacifier all the time.
The benefit here is that it’s not an all-or-nothing approach. It’s a more humane strategy that works well if you have a sensitive child attached to his pacifier.
Idea #4 Don’t Forget This Potential Health Consideration
And it’s the one that we found most helpful for how to get rid of the pacifier…
Because it stems from one of the biggest problems that we were having that let us want to get away from letting our son uses a pacifier.
Specifically:
We started to get concerned about how the pacifier would affect his teeth.
Now it didn’t become a concern until several of his front teeth started to come in.
It was then we realize that continuing to use his pacifier could affect the alignment of his teeth.
So I felt a sense of urgency in figuring out a new approach.
I did some research online and found an intermediate pacifier option we could try since he’s sooo attached to his.
It’s just designed a little bit differently for a toddler with teeth.
After thinking about it we realized that nowadays he only sucks on the pacifier for a few minutes at bedtime.
For most of the night the pacifier falls out and then he’s just sleeping with it cuddled up.
With the transition pacifier, it gradually phases out into smaller and smaller pieces on the part the child sucks on.
Plus it has a similar look and feel to the pacifier he used to have.
It’s helped us make this transition in a way that we feel it’s more humane than throwing it away entirely.
Idea #5 Keep The Pacifier In This Special Place
If it’s time for the lovey to go, you gotta limit where they take it.
A good way to start is to set physical boundaries.
Here’s how: You can make a simple rule:
The pacifier stays in your bedroom.
Be firm with it, and you’ll cut down on daytime use dramatically.
No more will they be allowed to have it with them at all hours of the day.
Whenever they take it out of the room?
You simply say: “Pacifier, stays in your bedroom” and have them take it back.
By making this simple change, you’ll reduce the amount of time they are spending sucking on their pacifier right off the bat.
This is an important step towards getting rid of it altogether!
Idea #6 If They’re Still Using It, Don’t Do This
Our biggest takeaway from the NIH article mentioned above surprised us.
It runs counter-intuitive to a lot of parenting advice these days.
And yet in hindsight, we wondered why he hadn’t thought of this tip ourselves.
One reason we didn’t think of it as first is this:
Our son would have a meltdown every time we tried to take it away, so it didn’t feel like we were in control.
But the NIH article reminded us that:
Letting your child use a pacifier is the parent’s choice.
That’s right. You read that correctly!
So if you are choosing to let your child use one…
Remember, that when it comes to how to get rid of a pacifier, you’re in the driver’s seat!
And if it doesn’t happen overnight?
Don’t go around also beating yourself up!
Cut yourself some slack.
Especially in times like these, we are living through unprecedented challenges. The pacifier might be giving the comfort your child needs.
On the other hand…
If you are feeling like you want to start the process of weaning them off of it, remember that you are in control of the situation! That doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly be able to take it away cold turkey…
And that isn’t to say you don’t want them to stop using it eventually, only that if they don’t do it overnight then we don’t think you should beat yourself up.
Ok, next tip. (We’re almost done with our tips on how to get rid of a pacifier).
Idea #7 Start Saving for This Future Expense
This tip is a bit tongue in cheek, and a bit not…
Do you know the average cost of braces in the United States?
According to U.S. News and World Report, it can be $5,000-$6,000.
Not to stress you out…
But you can take away two lessons from this reality.
These just might motivate you if you’re feeling a sense of ennui about how to get rid of a pacifier.
#1 You’re going to get your child to wean off of the pacifier eventually
You don’t see a lot of college kids walking around and still using a pacifier.
There’s a reason for that. They’ll quit eventually, so you can relax about that.,,
#2. It doesn’t hurt to start saving for the future today
Time has a way of flying by.
Whether you start saving today for this or another big goal…
A little bit to start can pay off handsomely in the future!
And on top of that, forcing yourself to start saving for future braces, might be the motivational kick in the butt you need to wean them off the pacifier.
Conclusion: How To Get Rid of The Pacifier
Pacifiers are as old as civilization itself!
You’re not the first parent to have to figure this out.
But it’s important to be strategic to get your kid to wean off of it.
And yet there are benefits to letting them use it…
So if it doesn’t happen overnight, don’t fret!
Be patient, try these tips, and you’ll be on your way to helping them quit the pacifier.
We wish you the best with healthy helping your little one transition away from using a pacifier.
Take heart, and know you’ll get there eventually.
P.s. If you have a strong-willed child when you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of a pacifier, you might end up with one of these later.
What strategies do you find helpful for how to get rid of the pacifier?
