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Home › Articles › Your Toddlers › Pacifier Free

Pacifier Free

Creative Ways to Break the Binky Habit

By Shannon McKelden

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However, Suarez knew it wouldn't benefit him in the long run, so she decided to wean him early. "The pacifier is designed by size depending on the age of the baby," she says. "At 5 months, you are supposed to buy a bigger one for a better fit in the baby's palate. That is what I didn't do. I simply did not 'upgrade.' So my son began to reject the pacifier he had because it was just uncomfortably too small. It worked great!" She found with this method that her son let the pacifier go on his own because he disliked it.

Is There a Wrong Time?

There are, of course, times when breaking the pacifier habit should not be attempted.

"Transitions in life are best when they come one at a time rather than a couple heaped on the child," Dr. Baum says. In other words, don't try to take the binky from the child during times of stress, when they need that comfort and soothing ability the pacifier brings them.

If any of the following life-changes are occurring, it's best to let your child keep the pacifier a while longer:

  • A time of parental separation.
  • Moving.
  • Starting a new job and a new schedule for the child.
  • Beginning new childcare arrangements.
  • When a new baby is brought home.
  • Illness.
  • Death.

Dr. Baum recommends that you do not pressure your child. "Trust that it will happen," she says. "One day, sooner than later, your child will be binky free. It will happen, and if your child is intricately involved in the plans, it helps a lot."

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Re: Pacifier Free by Chrystal on 10/15/2008 09:22PM

I don't know what to do. I have four children ages 18, 12, 8, and my only daughter who just turned 2. My boys took pacifiers, but I don't remember having to worry about breaking them from it. My daughter doesn't take her binky all day while at daycare because my provider started removing it early on. However when we pick her up from daycare, it is sing song all night long for the binky. "I binky ..." I managed to not give it to her from 5-8 but couldn't handle the whining saga of "I binky ..." anymore. Any thoughts?

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