Weaning off the pacifier

The pacifier is a faithful companion for many children, providing comfort, helping them fall asleep, or simply for sucking to soothe and entertain. Therefore, weaning off it is often all the more difficult and also a real challenge for most parents. In this article, we have tips for you on how to help your child give up the pacifier. Additionally, we will tell you why saying goodbye to the dummy is important and when the right time for it is.

When should I wean my child off the pacifier?

At first, it may seem paradoxical that you are taking something away from your child that they really enjoy and that helps in many situations – but prolonged thumb-sucking can cause various health problems, and saying goodbye is an important step towards "growing up." Pediatricians recommend discontinuing the pacifier from the age of 7 months until approximately the 1st year of life little by little to get used to it. Because from now on, the first ones are growing Milk teeth and the sucking reflex usually diminishes.

But often it is neither an easy process for the children nor for the parents to give up the pacifier. You should not put too much pressure on both of you to go without a pacifier right from the start of weaning. Every child has their own pace when it comes to weaning off the pacifier – let yourself be influenced by Compare with other parents do not be discouraged. It is perfectly okay if early weaning does not succeed immediately. It can be an alternative if you give your little explorer the pacifier from the 1st birthday only offered for falling asleep and in stressful situations, such as when he is ill. However, it should at the latest by the age of 2 years the nipple is no longer needed, since then the Milk dentition is fully developed and the pacifier can lead to dental and jaw misalignments. Also Speech disorders lisping is possible because the tongue does not learn to rest behind the upper palate above the teeth. You can find more about the advantages and disadvantages of a pacifier in our article „ Pacifier: Yes or no? Please provide the text you'd like me to translate from German to English.

Even if the beginning may be difficult: the earlier you start weaning, the easier it usually is. Especially when your child develops more and more independence and is perhaps in the defiance phase, the challenge of giving up the pacifier can be even greater.

Tips for gentle thumb-sucking weaning

With some tips and tricks, the weaning process can be very gentle and hopefully without major dramas. :) When you start weaning your little one from the pacifier, it is important that your little explorer is not currently dealing with other stresses such as the arrival of a or going through other major developmental steps like .

1. Use pacifiers sparingly

The pacifier should not be a "universal weapon" when your child is crying or wants to be occupied, so you should generally use it sparingly. To wean your child off, it helps to gradually stop using the pacifier in everyday life. You can start by taking the pacifier out of their mouth once your little explorer has calmed down or fallen asleep. Then only offer it for falling asleep and gradually phase out its use altogether.

2. Offer a substitute for the pacifier

It becomes especially easy when you start the weaning process between the 7th month and 1 year of age. Since many babies then discover the joy of chewing, teething rings can be an attractive substitute. Now you are probably also starting with the or with the – the ideal time for your little explorer to discover new flavors and textures entirely without a pacifier in their mouth. An alternative for calming or comforting can be a comfort cloth or music.

3. Seek distraction

The is coming up? An opportunity for the pacifier to be forgotten. Often, the many new impressions distract your child, and the pacifier becomes uninteresting. Of course, the opposite can also be true: if you know that your little explorer initially doesn't feel comfortable in new environments, it's better to wait with weaning.

4. Speak - not with a pacifier in the mouth

If your child can already say their first words, you can encourage them to speak without a pacifier in their mouth. Explaining that you won't understand what they are saying otherwise will help your child learn that there are also positive aspects to taking the pacifier out of their mouth. In our article "", you will learn more about the most important milestones in language development.

5. Use picture books as support

There are a variety of picture books for different age groups that tell stories about children in a loving way, such as how they no longer need their pacifier. The protagonists often serve as role models and can thus encourage weaning.

6. Appreciation and praise

During the weaning process, more cuddles can provide comfort and distraction – and of course, they are simply so lovely. :) You are an important support for your child and thus a significant part of the weaning process. Therefore, it is important to praise your little explorer when he reaches for the pacifier less often or manages without it altogether.

7. Include the environment

Your child and you don't have to face the weaning process alone. Support and praise from the entire environment reinforce your little explorer in understanding that he no longer needs the pacifier. Within the family or in care situations, it is crucial that everyone is consistent: for example, even the make no exceptions and offer the pacifier. With toddlers, explanations from the dentist or from can also help explain why the pacifier is no longer beneficial.

8. Use evening rituals to calm down

A particular challenge is often to the Weaning off pacifiers at night . Falling asleep without a pacifier doesn't have to work overnight. Consider the tips in everyday life, then the need for the pacifier usually diminishes on its own – even during the night. You can gradually get your little explorer used to it by skipping the pacifier during naps. In the evening, it can still be used, but you remove it from their mouth after falling asleep. If falling asleep without a pacifier is difficult, various evening rituals such as gentle stroking, music, or a story can help your child settle down. You can learn how to make bedtime easier in our article „ 7 Tips for the Evening Routine with a Toddler ".

Farewell rituals

When the time comes and the weaning has been successful, a farewell ritual can help your little explorer finally say goodbye to the pacifier and associate this step with a positive experience. Here are a few nice ideas for how your child can say goodbye to the pacifier:

• Give away : Whether to friends, newborns in the family or circle of friends, or to another loved one – many children like the idea that the pacifier can help someone and continue to be used. For hygienic reasons, the pacifier should of course only be a symbolic gift.

• Swap : If your child is skilled at negotiating, they might try to convince you of a trade. :) A desired Toy or a joint outing can be an attractive incentive to exchange the pacifier.

• Pacifier Fairy: Similar to the Tooth Fairy, the Pacifier Fairy can also come as a trading partner for the pacifier. You can come up with a nice story around it, and when your child gives their pacifier to the Pacifier Fairy, they will receive a small gift in return.

• Pacifier tree : In many cities, there are so-called pacifier trees in public places where children hang their pacifiers as a farewell. However, this poses some risks to the environment, as most pacifiers are made from materials that cannot be decomposed. This tradition can also be dangerous for wildlife, for example if they accidentally eat the pacifiers or get entangled in them. An environmentally friendly alternative are, for example, branches hanging in the daycare or at the dentist or pediatrician's office, where children can attach their pacifiers as a farewell. At home, you can also "plant" the pacifier: simply bury it in soil, sprinkle flower seeds on top, and in a few weeks, the former comfort provider will bloom.

For some children, saying goodbye is easy; for others, giving up the pacifier is a challenge that requires your support and encouragement. No matter how the weaning from the pacifier unfolds, your gut feeling will surely help you find the right path. We wish you and your little explorer a happy farewell to the pacifier!