Majority of the parents feel totally drained when it comes to pacifier weaning process. They have to put up a lot, like pleading babies as well as their tantrums and tears. Weaning of pacifier, also known as binky, appears to be an impossibly overwhelming job.However, if you decide to do it with planning and understanding, it can become comparatively less hectic. Children may react differently to the pacifier weaning. Some will simply accept what you tell them, other will need a push and a reward to be detached from their oh-so-beloved pacifier.This article will throw light on various methods that may assist you in pacifier weaning. You may select the most appropriate one for you and your baby.
When Can Your Child Wean from Pacifier?
According toexperts and paediatricians, you may wean your child off the pacifier after 12 months, which is the point where the speech development begins. With a pacifier glued to his mouth, you can’t really expect your child to begin babbling and practicing talking skills. Pacifiers often cause speech distortion. However there is no hard and fast rule. A number of children continue to use pacifiers even when they havereached the pre-school age. These children consider pacifiers as some capricious object that helps them in relieving stress and adjusting to new confronting circumstances.
How to Wean from Pacifier
1. Set a Schedule and Time limit
Let your child know that the pacifier has to go. Set out a timed schedule for each day that may include the pacifier use like 1 hour prior to napping. Get rid of the pacifier gradually rather than suddenly.
2. Establish a Pacifier Tree
This will work out really smoothly especially for children who are exposed to daycares. Take a big potted plant and decorate it using new pacifiers. Tell the children, how the big kids put their pacifiers on the tree when they’re ready. Positive reinforcement will be the key to pacifier weaning. Make sure the toddlers understand how once the pacifier is hung, it couldn’t be taken off.
3. A Visit from Fairies
Kids get easily fascinated by magical creatures. Tell the child that a Pacifier Fairy trades books and toys for pacifiers. Once your toddler is ready, make him hide the pacifier under the pillow and once he’s asleep swap it with a book or toy.
4. Increase the Quality Time
Naturally this serves as a major diversion. Reading him a story book or playing a game with him or cuddling him will serve as a comfort zone for your toddler.
5. Sabotage the Pacifier
A damaged pacifier won’t give the same satisfaction while sucking. A pacifier may be deliberately damaged by poking a hole in its tip that’s nearly invisible or by trimming the rubbery part all the way to the core. Poking holes however requires supervision when your toddler is using the pacifier; make sure to check it on the regular basis for any wearing.
6. Hide the Pacifier
It will help in weaning for most of the children. Ask them to search for it with you and when they don’t find it, tell them how sorry you are. This will show them that you care and they’ll believe that it’s gone for good.
7. Introduce an Alternative
Substitute pacifier with a fluffy friend. The toddler may cuddle it or sleep with it by his side.Something non-pacifier may also be selected.
8. Make a Deal
Be sweet parents by making deals with your toddler. Give an outing for pacifier-free duration. Add some new activities to the agenda, telling the toddler that if he goes according to the deal then he might get a trip to zoo or play with his friends in the playground.
9. Formal Farewell
This will do for children who are quite used to kissing things goodbye in the most formal and ceremonial way. Start the preparations early for the big day and let your toddler know how significant the day will be where he will have to kiss his pacifier a final farewell.
10. Smaller Pacifier
Get your toddler a pacifier that’s smaller in size than the one he was used to. The toddler will complain about the pacifier isn’t working for him. Then you must tell your child how he’s too big for the pacifier and that it needs to go away.
11. One Step at a Time
Make sure not to force pacifier weaning on your child at the wrong time. Your toddler may already be tense and overwhelmed with potty-training, moving to a different bed or being introduced to a new family addition. This will make things more difficult and he will do everything to hold on to his pacifier. So try taking one step at a time. A lot of clutter will only add to exhaustion.
12. Go Easy During Terrible Twos
It is certainly not a good idea to force on your toddler to wean pacifier when he’s in the middle of ‘terrible twos’. Pacifier weaning can be delayed under this situation as dentists assure that there’s nothing to worry about until the permanent teeth begin shooting out of the gums.
13. Last Minute Options
Make sure to have full backup plans particularly when you require leaving the house. Remember that distract your kid’s attention is the key point.Always put your friends’ number on speed dial for quick play, and keep update about the local activities such as music groups or library reading.
Watch the video below to find out what a mom has to say about breast and pacifier weaning