As a new parent you struggled with the decision to let your baby
take a pacifier. Now, your little one is a toddler and it's time to
give up those baby habits. But what is the best way to get rid of a
pacifier? Well, for each child and parent the best method varies.
In this article, you'll learn about several methods.
It's recommended that you choose the method that best fits your
parenting style and your child. Some children will simply accept that
the pacifier is gone if you throw it away, while others must be weaned
off a pacifier, or rewarded for going without one.
!! Steps !!
!! Method 1 - The Slow Wean !!
* Slowly wean your child off the pacifier, like you did
the bottle or the breast. Remember that your child has formed an
attachment to their pacifier and giving it up may not be easy for
them.
* Choose the times of the day when your child is least likely to
want their pacifier and remove it from sight. When they ask for
it, tell them that they can have it later. Try to reassure them
that they are okay without it and move on to another activity.
* Distract them with a snack or toy. To keep them from thinking
about their pacifier, give them something else to do and avoid a
fit or a fight that might make you feel like giving in to your
toddler.
* Gradually increase the times you refuse to give your child their
pacifier until they no longer think about it. Bedtimes and nap
times should be the last instances you wean your toddler off the
pacifier, as they are probably the times your child will ask for
it the most.
* Get your toddler used to the idea of sleeping without the pacifier
before removing it from them for good. Help them find other
self-soothing methods, like hugging a teddy bear or sleeping with
a special blanket.
!! Method 2 - The Instant Throw Away !!
* Throw it out. With your toddler watching you, remove all
pacifiers from your house in one fell swoop by throwing them in
the trash and taking the trash out of the house.
* Prepare yourself for some crying, as your toddler may not
understand why you're getting rid of their pacifier. Soothe your
child and explain that they are big now and it is time to act like
a big girl or boy.
!! Method 3 - Active Involvement !!
* Discuss with your toddler that you think it's time to
give up the pacifier. Let them be active in the decision by
offering them rewards for each day they go without the pacifier.
* Create a sticker chart with the days of the week on it. For every
day they go without their pacifier, let them put a sticker on the
chart and praise them for a job well done. If they ask for their
pacifier during the day, let them know they will not get a
sticker.
!! Method 4 - Selected Times Only !!
* Allow your toddler to have their pacifier at bedtime and
nap time only. Instead of letting them run around with the
pacifier in their mouth all day long, tell them it's only to be
used when they're in bed.
* Use a pacifier clip to attach the pacifier to the sheet of your
child's bed. If your toddler goes to their room to get the
pacifier, explain to them that they can only have it if they're
going to bed and ask them if they're ready for a nap or bed time.
* Start taking it off the bed and hiding it during the day. When
your child stops returning to their room every day to spend time
lying in bed with the pacifier, try taking it one step further and
hiding it. When your child asks for it, tell them maybe it will be
there for them later.
* When your child stops asking about and looking for the pacifier
during the day, start eliminating bedtime usage. Leave it hidden
when they go to bed and only give it to them when they ask about
it. Before long, you'll be able to say "Hey, you haven't asked
about it in four days, how about we just go without it tonight?".
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* The best way to get rid of a pacifier is to limit usage when
they're an infant. This will help create less of an attachment to
the pacifier in the future.
* If you choose to get rid of pacifiers by throwing them away or
simply refusing to let your child have one, be prepared for a
fight. Remain calm with your child and remember that for them it
may be scary to sleep without the soothing comfort of their
pacifier.
* Make sure you dig through toy boxes, dressers, and any other
hidey-holes your child may have found and get rid off all the
extra pacifiers. You may be surprised to find that your toddler
remembers that one that rolled under the bed or that they dropped
in the toy box when they come to see you with it tucked into their
mouth.
* Get your partner, other family members, and child care providers
on board. To succeed in any major change you'll need the support
of everyone who cares for your child.
* Pacifiers are also known as dummies in British and Australian
English.
!! Warnings !!
* Not all children are ready to wean from pacifiers at the same
time. Some will take longer than others; for some, it will even
seem like they just won't give up the fight. Be patient with your
child and help them find ways to cope with the loss of comfort
they've previously gotten from their pacifier.
* There will always be unhelpful and unsolicited advice when raising
children. Unless the advice really resonates you, just smile and
say thank you, it's all sorted, and brush such unwanted advice
off.
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Entertain a Toddler
* How to Teach Manners to a Toddler
* How to Get a Toddler to Eat Lunch
* How to Get a Toddler to Stop Writing on Walls
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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