When should parents get rid of pacifiers for sleeping?
Posted on July 7, 2010 under MomsBy Janeen Hayward, parenting expert and counselor of swellbeing
- By the time your baby is a toddler, it is important to limit pacifier use to the crib for sleeping only. Pacifiers can be a great tool for self-soothing and should be encouraged for children who seem to really like them.
- Generally it seems that getting rid of a pacifier too early can have a negative impact on a child’s sleep. Some time between two and four years-old seems to be best.
- Pacifiers should be removed with the child’s awareness. Simply taking them away without a child’s knowledge can be extremely upsetting and unsetting for children, and it’s unnecessary. Children often do well getting rid of pacifiers if there is a ritual and choice about it.
- Be sure not to get rid of a pacifier when there is a big change (developmental or familial).
For more sleep tips and to watch a webbybite video of Janeen, go here.
My son was addicited to his pacifier from the time he was a newborn. Then, when he was about 18 months old he got a bad cold and couldn’t breathe though his nose so couldn’t use the paci! So I hid them all away, and he got better in about 3 days but never asked for them again! I was so psyched!