At what age should a child be weaned off a pacifier? Abrupt or gradual weaning from the pacifier. How to wean a child off a pacifier

Many mothers, when caring for their newborn baby, resort to the help of various gadgets and accessories. An example of this is diapers, skincare products and bottles.

One of the most popular Mom's "helpers" are dummy. However, children grow very quickly and very soon the problem of weaning a child from a pacifier arises.

At the beginning of his life, a baby can really feel the need for this accessory, since in newborns the sucking reflex, but as the baby grows up, he sucks the pacifier out of habit and thereby complicates his socialization. It will become more and more difficult to wean an adult child.

One day, the mother still wonders how to wean her off the pacifier, but the child, as a rule, is not enthusiastic about this idea. He may begin to be capricious, hide the pacifier and even take it away from other children. In general, this is in most cases accompanied by the child’s active dissatisfaction.

How to wean a child off a pacifier? What rules must be followed? This article will provide the most effective measures to overcome the habit of sucking a pacifier.

And yet, how to wean off the pacifier correctly? How avoid common mistakes, what rules should be followed when to start working - at 12 months or at 3 years? The most popular methods of “fighting” the pacifier are presented below.

Reasons for developing the habit

The most important and active reflex of a newborn baby is the sucking reflex; this is a physiological need of the baby. At the birth of a baby pediatrician first checks availability this stereotypical reaction.

If the sucking reflex is well developed, then infant It won’t be difficult to “get” milk for yourself and develop properly.

If it’s bad, then doctors can diagnose the child has a disorder neurological as well as physiological.

A child who is on breastfeeding and feeds on demand, can nurse around the clock. At the same time, he not only satisfies his appetite and sucking reflex, but also feels close to his mother, who calms him down. In such a situation, a pacifier is not only unnecessary, it is contraindicated. There is nothing better for a child, h I eat suck my mother's breast. He doesn't need any "mom substitutes".

But in fact, a woman who has just given birth does not feel very well, to put it mildly. Fatigue makes itself felt and therefore she simply may not be able to constantly put the baby to her breast.

Mom's stress will definitely affect the child, which is not desirable. This is why many mothers resort to using a pacifier.

If we talk about children artificial feeding, then they do not need to make a lot of effort to eat. The milk flows from the bottle in a good stream and there is no need to strain. The baby gets full very quickly, but his sucking reflex remains unsatisfied.

In this situation, a pacifier can simply be an indispensable accessory and assistant for the mother, and for the child - a means of satisfying its physiological needs.

A child does not always need a pacifier; it is not necessary to give it to a child if:

The mother is ready to put the newborn to the breast every time he requires it to satisfy his sucking reflex.
The baby does not agree to put the pacifier in his mouth.
It is easy to calm or distract a child with a game, song, rocking or other method.

Thus, the baby’s habit of sucking a pacifier is both a physiological and psychological need. Thus, he satisfies his newborn reflex and calms down. Moreover, the first always turns into the second and only strengthens this habit.

If the child constantly sucks his fingers or fist, then the approach is a little different and the mother needs to study separate articles about this.

Pros and cons of pacifiers

This accessory has both advantages, and significant disadvantages. Therefore, the mother should take into account the opinions of experts on this matter.

Pros of using a pacifier

Despite the fact that many mothers skeptical about pacifiers, they have several positive qualities highlighted by experts:

The main advantage is that with the help of a pacifier you can very quickly calm the baby. When he cries or is in an excited state, the pacifier relaxes him and brings calm not only to the child, but also to his parents. For many children, a pacifier helps them fall asleep quickly.
It helps to distract the child during unpleasant manipulations, for example, when cleaning a spout or vaccination.
A pacifier will be very useful for those children who need to limit the consumption of milk or adapted milk formula. This may be necessary if the child is overweight.
It helps the baby endure airplane flights more easily and reduces discomfort when pressure changes. Sucking will reduce ear congestion during a flight.
Some babies satisfy their sucking reflex by sucking on a hand, a diaper, or even their toes. In such situation is best to give a pacifier.
There is an opinion that sucking a pacifier reduces the risk of developing the syndrome. sudden death babies due to its design. It is believed that the ring and holes of the pacifier will allow the baby to breathe, even if he buries his face in the pillow.

All these advantages do not mean that immediately after birth the mother must accustom your baby to a pacifier. By nature, a child should only suck on his mother’s breast, or, in extreme cases, a bottle. You can do without a silicone accessory altogether.

Disadvantages of using a pacifier

Some parents may be bewildered and ask a completely logical question: if everything is so wonderful, why bother? wean your baby off sucking pacifiers?

In fact, everything positive sides are equal to zero taking into account negative influence pacifiers for the development of the child with long-term use. Doctors highlight several disadvantages of using a silicone accessory:

Negative impact on bite formation.
Delay speech development and distorted pronunciation of hissing sounds.
Delayed cognitive development.
Insufficient communication skills of the baby in interaction with other children.
Retardation in psychological development.
Infectious diseases oral cavity (thrush, stomatitis), due to improperly antiseptic pacifiers.

Famous children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky says that there is nothing wrong with the nipple. The idea of weaning is imposed on parents by grandmothers, neighbors and just passersby, who strive to give advice to the young mother. More often than not, a baby with a pacifier is more annoying strangers than his relatives.

And yet, many pediatricians advise parting with the pacifier as soon as possible, so as not to affect the baby’s development. An adult child does not need this accessory at all, and the longer it is used, the stronger the bad habit is developed.

When should you wean your baby off the pacifier?

There is a clear pattern in this: what older child, the harder it will be to part with your favorite accessory.

Naturally, the baby will not refuse it on his own, and therefore parents must make a clear decision and choose the one that is suitable for themselves and the child. and a method of combating a bad habit.

What age is Starting point in parting with a pacifier? Many experts are firmly convinced that it is easiest to wean off the pacifier before reaching one year of age. This can be explained by the fact that at the age of one year it will be easier for parents to switch baby's attention to other objects and toys. At the age of two or three years, this will be much more difficult.

The ideal age for weaning is from six to eight months. After six months, newborn reflexes fade away and the sucking reflex is no exception.

During this period, complementary foods are introduced and the child begins to feel new tastes and learns new rules of nutrition. Here parents can distract their baby with bright spoons and plates.

Parting with a pacifier at the age of two to three years is much more difficult for several reasons:

The habit takes root.
A three-year-old crisis sets in, when the baby fulfills all requests the other way around and becomes capricious.

Looking from the other side, three year old child He already understands perfectly well what his mother wants from him and therefore she can find an approach to him and come to an agreement. You can tell the child that he is already an adult, independent and can give his pacifier to some small child.

Is it possible to meet a seven-year-old child in Russia with a pacifier in his mouth? It is hardly possible. Parents are quite capable of coping with their children’s habit by choosing the most appropriate method.

While in Italy, on the street you can meet a five-year-old baby sitting in a stroller, sucking a pacifier. And this does not bother his parents at all. They are not afraid of an incorrect bite or the sidelong glances of others. The conclusion suggests itself.

4 ways to painlessly part with your pacifier

Now there are four methods that will help you successfully wean your child off the pacifier. The choice of a specific method depends on the age of the baby, how ingrained the habit is, as well as the characteristics of the particular baby.

Smooth weaning

This method is good for children under 1.5 years old. It takes several weeks for breaking the habit to be painless. In this case, you need to follow some recommendations:

Hide the pacifier during the day and give it only to your baby at night. And so that the baby does not remember his favorite accessory, you should distract him various games, entertainment and walks.
Don't take your pacifier on walks. If a child starts crying on the street, try to distract him and show him birds, cats and cars. Under no circumstances should you scold a child for being capricious.
Gradually, you need to remove the pacifier before bedtime so that the child learns to fall asleep without it. Read books to your baby, tell stories interesting stories, rock and sing. Constantly invite your baby to give you the pacifier. You can exchange it for a toy or favorite fruit.
Under no circumstances should you forcefully remove a pacifier from your baby’s mouth if he or she objects. Parents will get nothing but prolonged hysteria.

Abrupt refusal

This female method Suitable for children aged two and three years old who already understand the arguments of mom and dad. To avoid harming the baby when using this method, you need to use one of the following options:

Buy a postal envelope and write the addressee on it, for example, “To the little bear in the green forest.” Place the pacifier in an envelope and, after sealing it, give it to your dad so that he can drop the message in the mailbox on his way to work.
Give the pacifier to some small child on the playground or little brother or sister. Naturally, the mother of this child should understand the situation and play along.
You can throw the accessory in the trash or in a pond.

After such rituals, you can arrange a celebration for your child, which will show him that he is an adult. If the baby remembers his favorite item, then you need to remind him that he is an adult and such big children do not need a pacifier.

Such an abrupt separation is not approved by all doctors, but this method actually works. This is especially true for adult children.

Cancellation within a week

This method is very popular among parents and is famous for being quick and painless. It is relevant for infants, because the mother will have to breastfeed the baby.

This method includes the following steps:

five days in a row you need to reduce the sucking of the pacifier by half, that is, if earlier child sucked her for 20 minutes, now it should be 10.
for the next two days, the pacifier should be given only for night and day sleep.
Sleeping with a pacifier should be replaced by sleeping with the breast.
If the baby clearly demands a pacifier, then you need to give him the desired object, but after a couple of minutes replace it with the breast.
further, the pacifier is given only in extreme cases, when nothing else helps.

Stop

If the parents have tried all the methods of weaning, but they did not bring results, then there is one more assistant left - vestibular plate made of silicone -"Stop."

This accessory is made from hypoallergenic silicone. It is declared as a method of ridding a child of the habit of sucking a pacifier, as well as correcting a bite.

According to the manufacturer’s descriptions, “Stopi” promotes:

Preventing malocclusion.
Prevention of incorrect position of the lower jaw.
Preventing mouth breathing.

In order for the effect of use to become noticeable, you need to put this plate on your baby for several weeks in a row. At the same time, you need to make sure that the baby does not put his fingers into his mouth.

Wrong methods of fighting the habit

Along with recommendations on how to painlessly wean a child off a pacifier, you should be aware of incorrect methods that not only will not help, but will also harm the child. What is it better to avoid?

You should not wean your baby off the pacifier during illness or adaptation to kindergarten. All this is stress for the baby.
Do not force your baby to give or give away his pacifier. It's better to find another method.
In no case Do not smear the pacifier with mustard or pepper and other unpalatable substances. This is fraught with allergies.
Don't scold your baby. Don't call him a crybaby.
Do not start weaning during teething, as the pacifier may provide pain relief for your baby.
Don't change your mind because of your child's whims. If the decision to part with the pacifier has been made, then you need to go to the end.

When weaning off a pacifier, parents should think only about their child, and not about a neighbor or grandmother who is bothered by his pacifier. Only in this case can you painlessly part with your favorite accessory and not harm the baby’s health.

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For many mothers, a pacifier (pacifier) is the best way out when the child is restless or is bottle-fed. It is easier for the baby to fall asleep with it, and it is also easier to calm him down simply by giving him a pacifier. But children's attachment to a pacifier is very insidious - it is not so easy to wean them off. Here it is necessary to take into account psychophysiological factors, the character of the child and external conditions. This article discusses the basic advice from pediatricians on weaning a baby from a pacifier.

To begin with, it should be said that the age of weaning from a pacifier usually varies from 1.5 to 3 years. At this age, the child has already erupted teeth for chewing and the sucking function has already lost its relevance. In addition, after 3 years of age, with constant pacifier sucking, the child already develops malocclusion and dental anomalies (precisely with constant sucking!). Before this age, of course, there will be no such consequences and the use of a pacifier is often quite justified. For children over 1 year of age, the pacifier must be orthodontic.

Another aspect of getting used to a pacifier is the distraction from the outside world. The baby is so engrossed in the process of sucking the pacifier that much around him goes unnoticed. In addition, at the age of 2 years, the child learns to speak, and the pacifier can slow down this process (but not necessarily!).

In Europe, mothers do not attach such importance to nipples and children can suck on them until they are 5-6 years old.

So, in order to wean yourself off the pacifier, you need to take into account some nuances.

Tips for weaning your child off the pacifier

In the first days of life, you don’t have to accustom your baby to a pacifier.
More communication and interest in the world around you.

sensory games

Provide your child with an adult meal.

positive effect

convenient thing

faster baby

Closer to 7-8 months, you can already leave the pacifier only during sleep. The rest of the time it will be better if it does not catch the child’s eyes.

The pacifier needs to be replaced.

What you should never do

Every parent should think about the fact that not all “grandmother’s ways” and not all advice are worth practicing. Moreover, often weaning methods border on madness, which causes much more harm to the child than the pacifier itself. Here are the tips that you hear in everyday life and advice on what not to do.

Smear the pacifier with mustard or other spicy and bitter products. IN last years, the percentage of children with allergic diseases is growing and spices can cause Quincke's edema, that is, swelling of the throat and spasm, leading to difficulty breathing.
Cut the pacifier like a chamomile. Children’s milk teeth are sharp and may well bite off the gum from the pacifier, and in best case scenario the child will simply swallow it. At worst, the gum can stick to the mucous membrane in your throat and cause choking.
Raise your voice at your baby when he asks for a pacifier. The pacifier is his “soothe”, so his whims will only increase if the child also encounters pressure from the outside.
There is no need to take away the baby's pacifier during teething or other painful conditions of the baby, otherwise the baby's recovery process may be delayed without the baby's usual environment.

Methods for weaning a child off a pacifier

If parents have decided that it is time for the baby to wean off the pacifier, then there are several options for solving this problem. So, it is possible to gradually form the habit of going without a pacifier over a few weeks. This method is suitable for children under 1 year old, or a little older. Here it is necessary to exclude the use of a pacifier during the daytime, not to take it for a walk, and to distract the child more with games. In addition, you should make it a rule to use a drinking cup. Next, it is worth removing the pacifier from the nightly diet, offering the child a replacement - a toy for sleeping together, your company, an evening story, etc. In addition, it makes sense to wait until the child falls asleep.

If the child is more than 1.5 years old, then this technique is not relevant for him. Here a more radical approach will be required. The baby is already able to understand what is happening around him, and the mother can always come to an agreement with her child. We are talking about informing the baby about refusing the pacifier. Moreover, he must understand that he is abandoning her once and for all.

So, you can invite your child to give his “favorite” to another child or an imaginary friend, or to an animal (bunny, mouse, etc.). It is possible to simply throw away the pacifier with a preliminary farewell ceremony (jokingly, of course). The main thing is to convey to the child not only the importance and finality of the decision being made, but also so that he understands this action as a stage in his growing up. In response to his willpower, you can give the baby a gift.

Of course, you will have to endure vagaries for a couple of days, especially at night. But, in this matter, the main thing is not to give up and stand your ground. The pacifier is gone. There are, of course, exceptions - when the whims continue for more than 10 days. In this case, you can return the pacifier and postpone weaning for a while.

Most children wean themselves off the pacifier by the age of 3, so the main thing for parents is to not force it on their child out of habit and to catch this moment of refusal.

One of effective ways- weaning off the pacifier on vacation when your whole family goes away and changes your environment. Discuss with your child that you are going on vacation, but the pacifier remains at home (for children 2-3 years old). Positive emotions and a new place will help the child forget about the habit. Not for everyone, of course; for some, a new place is a lot of stress and it’s better to do it at home.

The most important task is not just to take the pacifier away from the child, but to wait for the right moment when the child himself is ready and the environment is favorable.

Pacifier for babies - excellent sedative. It improves sleep, and with the correct form, it improves the bite. In addition, a pacifier dulls pain and distracts from the discomfort of any disease or problem. At the same time, the pacifier can harm the baby, especially when breastfeeding.

Using a pacifier impairs lactation, often leading to a decrease in milk supply and premature termination of breastfeeding. Frequent and prolonged sucking causes middle ear infection and disruption of the oral structure, and the wrong choice of pacifier leads to bite defects.

But subject to hygiene standards and pacifier use, infrequent and short-term use of the pacifier will help avoid the above problems. Whether the baby needs a pacifier is up to the parents to decide for themselves. If you use a pacifier, be prepared for the difficulty of weaning your baby off.

At what age to wean

First of all, you need to determine when to wean your baby. Many doctors recommend starting to give up pacifiers before the age of one year. Indeed, the older the child, the more difficult it is to wean him from his favorite habit. However, the time of weaning is individual and depends on the mental and physical development baby.

Some children can give up the pacifier themselves at 3-4 months, when the babies' colic goes away. Abdominal pain no longer torments and there is no need for relief pain. Other babies can nurse until they are two and sometimes three years old. You can start weaning as early as 6-9 months.

Many children at 1.5 years old give up the pacifier on their own, which makes the parent’s life much easier. Don't forget that babies start teething at 6 months. During this period, children suffer from pain, discomfort, and sometimes fever. Therefore, you should not refuse to use a pacifier at this time; it will calm the baby and reduce pain.

But how to wean a child off a pacifier if he refuses to do it on his own? There is a sharp and smooth method of failure. Please note that a harsh method can harm the baby’s psyche.

Gradual or abrupt failure?

Gradual weaning will help avoid stress for the baby. The drastic way They are used only at the age when the child begins to understand and be aware of actions, which happens at 1.5-2.5 years.

Gradual pacifier abandonment begins after six months. At this time, the pacifier is replaced with other methods of comfort. When the baby is naughty or crying, the baby is not given a pacifier, but is picked up and rocked, applied to the breast, or distracted with games.

If the baby does not calm down without a pacifier, take the pacifier away carefully and discreetly when the baby calms down or falls asleep. Reduce the time you use your pacifier. Create maximum conditions to distract the child. These are games and reading, chewing special teethers during the appearance of the first teeth.

The sharp refusal method is used when children are already 1.5-2 years old. First of all, limit your use of the pacifier. Do not take your pacifier for walks or use your pacifier during the day. Give only at night before bed. By the way, the famous pediatrician Komarovsky recommends using a pacifier for fully breastfed children only at night to fall asleep. This will preserve lactation longer.

Don’t forget that you can always explain some phenomenon or action to your child using a game. Organize a farewell to the pacifier in game form. Offer your child a gift or surprise for refusing the pacifier. Tell various legends that the pacifier was lost or the pacifier was stolen by the dog. Or you can simply give a pacifier to a mouse.

Talk and play with your baby during the day. Reduce the frequency and time of pacifier use during the day;
From 6-7 months, teach your baby to drink from a cup. How earlier baby learns to swallow, the sooner he says goodbye to the pacifier and bottle;
After 7 months, give the pacifier only at night when the baby should be falling asleep. During the day, especially during walks, remove the pacifier so that the baby does not see it;
During weaning, you should not smear the pacifier with bitter substances (mustard, garlic, etc.). By the way, many mothers use a similar method to wean their baby and smear the nipples with bitter compounds. But this is also not recommended! This is a lot of stress for infant. In addition, such substances can cause allergies in the baby. How and when to wean your baby, read here /;
Do not cut the pacifier into pieces, as many people advise. This is unsafe as the baby may bite off and swallow some of the latex or other material from which the pacifier is made. You can carefully cut off the tip of the product. to create discomfort when sucking. However, the mother must carefully monitor the process, as uneven edges can injure the tongue!;
Don't yell at your baby, because he doesn't understand why mom or dad is angry. This will lead to stress and even greater whims;
Do not deprive your baby of a pacifier during periods of illness, poor health and teething. Don't forget that a pacifier eases cramps and distracts you from pain. It will speed up the healing process;

Regularly distract your child from the pacifier with various games and conversations. This process will take about two months. However, if you start the process at 7-8 months, then by the age of one year the child will easily do without a pacifier;
When artificial or mixed feeding, do not use bottles. Then it is easier to give up the pacifier. Bottles are addictive and make feeding easier. Therefore, in the future, the child often does not take the breast. Instead of bottles, use a syringe and a teaspoon, and after six months - a cup. Read more about the rules of supplementary feeding and mixed feeding read ;
Today, special silicone plates are produced that promote weaning from the pacifier. In addition, such devices improve speech, strengthen the muscles of the oral cavity and eliminate bite defects;
If a child under one year old cries without a pacifier for two or three weeks, he is not yet ready to part with the pacifier. Postpone weaning for a while.

Some parents do not attach importance to the use of a pacifier and delay the process of abandonment. That’s why babies continue to use a pacifier at 2 and 3 years old. Remember that too much sucking will lead to malocclusion and problems in the jaw structure!

However, at 2-3 years old it is much easier to explain to a child that a pacifier cannot be used. In this case, a sharp refusal method is used, not giving the baby a pacifier even at night. Soothe your baby yourself with fairy tales and rocking. Regularly explain to your child that he is an adult and does not need a pacifier. Sometimes you just have to go through one or two tantrums of a baby without a pacifier, and he will no longer remember his favorite habit.

The baby begins to suck his finger while still in his mother’s belly. In the first months and years of a child's life, the sucking reflex is very strong. Over time, this need weakens, but does not disappear completely. There comes a time when it is necessary to stop this practice, and then the question arises: how to wean a child from a pacifier (pacifier)?

The easiest way is not to accustom your baby to a pacifier at all. For a baby who is being fed mother's milk, a pacifier is practically not needed, even if he is fed not on demand, but by the hour. But for a bottle-fed baby, a pacifier is simply necessary, because drinking artificial mixture from a bottle is easier than milk from a mother's breast. The artificial baby needs a pacifier in order to develop motor skills of the facial muscles, so that he can learn to speak.

From this article you will learn:

The pacifier offers many benefits for babies and parents. Here they are:

When Small child sucks something (a finger or a pacifier), he experiences a state of happiness and calm.
The pacifier helps the baby fall asleep.
The pacifier distracts the baby during unpleasant procedures, such as vaccinations.
Using a pacifier significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Sucking a pacifier distracts the baby during the flight, calms him and reduces discomfort caused by changes in air pressure. The process of sucking can relieve ear congestion.
It is much easier to wean a child from sucking a pacifier than from sucking his own finger, because the pacifier can be taken away, hidden, cut up and thrown away.

Why a pacifier can be dangerous

Although it has already been scientifically proven that the pacifier cannot cause any harm to the child’s health, and the crooked teeth are not at all related to whether the child sucks on a pacifier or not, there is a negative aspect of this phenomenon that those who are wondering how to wean their baby from nipples.

In the seventh month of a baby's life, the sucking reflex naturally fades away. Until this age, a child simply needs to suck in order to eat, but for an older baby, sucking a finger or a pacifier is already a bad habit. But parting with the pacifier is difficult because the process is reminiscent of mother’s care and evokes a feeling of security. It is very difficult to say goodbye to this, but the child needs to gradually grow up.

Children who cannot refuse a pacifier for a long time are socialized later - they begin to talk later than their peers. A pacifier in a baby’s mouth prevents him from repeating the sounds and words that adults pronounce. Lack of development of speech and communication skills leads to underdevelopment of thinking.

Very often, too busy parents who do not spend enough time with their child are “saved” by pacifiers. Such a child grows up infantile, lethargic, and is not interested in anything. In this case, sucking helps the baby compensate for the deficiency. parental love and attention, because the child feels forgotten and unwanted.

The best time for babies to be weaned off the pacifier is around eight to nine months. Of course, nothing bad will happen if the baby continues to suck a pacifier even until he is two or three years old, but it is advisable to wean him off as early as possible. To understand how to wean a child off a pacifier (pacifier), you need to understand why the baby is attached to this habit.

False Beliefs About the Pacifier

Excessive attachment to a pacifier is not an addiction that is extremely difficult to get rid of. This is simply one of the myths. The practice of using this item is replete with false ideas. Here are some of them:

Every baby needs to use a pacifier. A newborn baby begins to be accustomed to a pacifier immediately after returning from maternity hospital, but the baby constantly spits it out. Don't force your baby to put a pacifier in his mouth - if he doesn't want to suck on the pacifier, leave him alone.
When teething, a pacifier is a must. In fact, it is better to use special rings with coolant inside. They ease the child's suffering and massage the gums.
It is completely contraindicated to “disinfect” a baby’s pacifier with parental saliva. In the mouth of even a completely healthy adult with absolutely healthy teeth and gums there are many bacteria that can harm the delicate body of a baby. If the pacifier falls on the floor, it is best to sterilize it and give the baby a new pacifier.
In order to quickly wean a child off the pacifier, you need to smear it with something bitter, mustard, for example. This should under no circumstances be done. An unusual and unpleasant taste can cause severe stress in the baby, which in the future can even lead to digestive disorders.

There are painless and non-traumatic ways to wean your baby off the pacifier.

How to wean yourself off the pacifier without psychological trauma

It is advisable for the child part with the pacifier for up to a year because then the stress will be low. In two days, the baby will completely calmly forget about his favorite object. At the age of one and a half to two years, it is already necessary to “agree” with the child: to “exchange” the pacifier for new toy, “give it” to a dog or squirrel, say that a mouse stole the pacifier, etc.

In this situation, the most important thing is to be firm - the pacifier is no longer there, there won’t be any more, and there is no way to buy another one. You can use a little trick - gradually cut off small pieces from the pacifier until it becomes completely unusable and the child refuses it himself. Just don’t cut off half the nipple at once, otherwise a scandal is guaranteed.

The sucking reflex fades away between the eighth month of life and one year, and its place is taken by the chewing reflex. You need to take advantage of this - offer your child a crust of bread or a dryer instead of a pacifier. When the teeth begin to erupt, food can be given in pieces. Gradually limit the time you use the pacifier.

You can occupy your child’s mouth with something else - let him learn to play the pipe, whistle, sing or blow bubble. You can leave a pacifier only in extreme cases - when the child cannot calm down or fall asleep. But then you still need to carefully remove the pacifier from the baby’s mouth.

Organize a ritual of “farewell” to the pacifier. Tell your child that in a few days the fairy will come with a gift, but for the gift you will need to give a pacifier. The baby will have enough time to prepare for this sad event, a gift from a fairy will smooth out the bitterness of “parting.”

The baby reaches for the pacifier when he is stressed and negative emotions– sadness, fatigue, boredom, so try to find something for him interesting activity, let him hold his favorite toy, read a book, stay with him for a while. Take your baby for a walk, organize games and meetings with friends on the street and at home.

Let the child be busy with pleasant and useful things. If a child's social circle expands, he will see that many of his peers no longer use a pacifier. This will help him break his old habit. New interests and hobbies will displace the usual pacifier from the baby’s life.

Psychological Causes of Rejection Difficulties

To understand how you can wean a child off a pacifier, you need to analyze psychological reasons, which prevent you from quickly getting rid of this habit. The most common of them are:

The baby needs extra care and attention. The pacifier is associated for a child with mother's breast, with the feeding process, with a feeling of security and serenity. Children with a deficiency of this need can be recognized by their lack of sociability and passivity. How to wean a child from a pacifier in this situation? Spend more time interacting with your baby and joint games. If you cannot devote a lot of time to your child various reasons, then try to fill your short time together with bright emotions and worries, and devote all your attention exclusively to the baby.
The child does not want to grow up. Tell your child how interesting it is to be an adult, that adults know and can do a lot. Convince the baby that he has already grown up, become big, and adults do not use pacifiers. Instead of using a pacifier, create an “adult” activity for your child.
The child returned to the pacifier again when he went to kindergarten. This peculiar reaction to stress caused by a new environment and unusual surroundings. In this situation, the pacifier reminds him of the familiar, stable and safe - home and mother. How to wean your baby off the pacifier in this situation? Give him another “piece of home” with you, such as his favorite toys. Every day you can give your child a box in kindergarten with a surprise from mom and dad, which he can open after breakfast. This will remind your baby of home and make him feel better.

Parents still give their baby liquid formula and bottled drinks. To wean your baby off the pacifier, stop using it completely and let your child drink from a mug or cup. Of course, it will be a children's room plastic dishes, but in this way you can show the child that he is already an adult and behaves like adults who also drink from mugs and cups. Be patient with your baby spilling drinks and getting the table dirty - baby's motor skills will develop and positive results won't keep you waiting long.

The biggest mistake is to shame a child for sucking a pacifier “like a little one.” This method can only lead to psychological trauma. On the contrary, praise the baby for not sucking the pacifier for a long time. During this period, try not to burden him with new tasks, for example, potty training, because the abundance of new tasks can lead to stress for the child. And the reaction to stress can be a return to the pacifier.

When exactly to wean your child off a pacifier is up to you; some wean after their first birthday, others before going to kindergarten or before going on a long trip. We hope our advice will help in this difficult matter!

Reason for baby sucking pacifier

The need for sucking is most pronounced in children for the first time 3-4 months of age. Then the need for sucking begins to gradually fade away and develops into bad habit which prevents the child from developing properly. As the baby develops, he must remember information, develop vision, learn new abilities, and while sucking, the brain and body reflexes are relaxed. Accordingly, the child’s attention is scattered, and he will not be as active as without a pacifier in his mouth.

How to wean your baby off the pacifier

If you see that your baby calmly falls asleep without a pacifier, then you can try to reduce the use of the pacifier to a minimum, and gradually, over time, completely abandon it. But parents sometimes miss this point; here you need to understand that after a year, children become very attached to the pacifier and it will be much more difficult to wean the baby off it. It is necessary to wean the baby during a calm period of his life, since this is a lot of stress for the child.

Your task at this time is to pay maximum attention to the baby - sing songs, read fairy tales, rock him in your arms - most importantly, be constantly nearby. The continuous presence of the mother will distract the child from thoughts about sucking and calm him down.
If your baby is only used to falling asleep with a pacifier, then it can be replaced with a toy. Moreover, at the first stage, leave both the pacifier and the toy, and then remove the pacifier at the appropriate moment.
Sometimes parents choose the cutting method - cut the length of the pacifier every day, the baby will become uncomfortable sucking on it and will gradually give up on it over time.
There are cases when “accidental” weaning from the pacifier occurs. For example, you arrived with guests and discovered that you forgot your pacifier there. What are you going to do? Trying to calm your baby without a pacifier. The next day, when you buy a new pacifier, you may find that your baby no longer needs it.
The main rule in this difficult matter: if you see that your child is nervous, crying, or demanding a pacifier, postpone separation from the pacifier for an indefinite period of time.

How to wean an adult child off a pacifier

Children can give up a pacifier on their own no earlier than three years old, or even later. Many parents are very worried when a completely independent three-year-old child sucks a pacifier, the main thing is not to turn your anxiety into psychological trauma for yourself and the child. The motivating factor may be the opinion of peers, which is more important for the child than the opinion of his own parents. If a three-year-old child comes to kindergarten and pulls out a pacifier, he will immediately hear from the children how bad and shameful this is. Rest assured, your child will immediately give up this bad habit!

You need to constantly talk to an adult child and explain that he is already an adult and that at this age no one sucks on a pacifier.
The best way would be to arrange a solemn farewell to the pacifier with poems and songs, sending her on a long journey.
You can make a joint decision to give away the pacifier. fairy tale character. Or a small animal that lives in the forest and is very scared without her.
You can give a pacifier to a younger child because he needs it more.
Talk to your child first and agree that we won’t suck the pacifier anymore, and then throw it in the trash chute.
The child will also be interested in burying it in the garden and planting a tree or flowers in this place. The next day, put a gift in this place for the baby, as if it were an encouragement for giving up the pacifier.

If all attempts to wean your child from sucking end in failure, then the time has not yet come. Be patient and know that sooner or later this will happen!