Both my kids are addicted to soothers! One is 3.5 years old, the other just turned 2. I know alot of people keep telling me to get them to stop and right away, but soothers have been my godsend considering most of the time I am a single mom and i work from home. I guess this is selfish, but you know, i dont get alot for myself so this is a gift i give myself.
My oldest however is primed about giving up her soother on her 4th birthday. I dont want to stress her out but i know it is time as I dont know if it will be bad for her teeth and gums. She loves it so much though and she is my baby so i would like to do what is best for her.
I guess one of the reasons she has been using it so long is because when her brother was born, he got one and we just sort of let her have it too, so it is fair.
I have researched a few places online about Weaning and these answer seems quite good:
“Like your son, many young children use the sucking of a pacifier as a comfort mechanism; it helps to calm them down, and is soothing especially when they are tired. There is nothing wrong with this, and most children have less of a need to suck as they get older.
I do recommend that, just as you have done, the pacifier use be confined to the crib, once children have turned a year old. Children can then use it when they want to settle down and go to sleep, they don’t use it at all the rest of the day. The only problem with this is that then children truly associate their pacifier with falling asleep, and they almost can’t fall asleep without it.
You can break this association, and I would do it abruptly, rather than try to limit the time he is using the pacifier. You’ll have two or three bad nights, and then the whole thing will be over. For children of about two or three years, I recommend that you pick a date, and tell your child that he is going to stop using the pacifier because he is a “big boy” now. Remind him a couple of days beforehand, and again the day before.
On the appointed day, collect all the pacifiers, and have your child go with you as you “give away” the pacifiers to a baby. You can use a friend’s new baby, a baby from church or preschool — it doesn’t matter, as long as he can see that there really is a small baby. It’s best not to have a baby that he will see regularly, or knows very well. Then have him leave the pacifiers in a little bag with the baby (obviously, the baby won’t really use these used pacifiers, but he doesn’t know that).
You should then go to get some predetermined “reward” (a new older kid toy, a special outfit, etc.). Most two or three year olds will go along with all of this pretty well. Kids under two might have some difficulty actually giving their pacifiers to a baby, in which case you might just want to plan on throwing them out.
The difficulty begins that first night or with the first naptime. The child will get in the bed and then realize there is no more pacifier. You will have to remind him that he can’t have it anymore. You won’t have to worry about giving in, since you’ve gotten rid of the pacifiers! It will likely take a good hour or more for the child to now fall asleep, because he doesn’t know how to without the pacifier, and needs to learn a new way to fall asleep. Be prepared for tears and screams, but don’t scold him, just support him as he works his way through this.
Usually, by the third or fourth night, he will have learned how to fall asleep in a short time again, though don’t be surprised if he still asks about the pacifiers. The one thing you have to make sure of is that you don’t substitute yourself as the new “object” that he needs in order to fall asleep. You want him to learn how to fall asleep on his own. Read more on FamilyEducation: http://life.familyeducation.com/toddler/sleep/42317.html#ixzz1iN3RnnhO“
What are the disadvantages of using a dummy?
Using a dummy for long periods can result in middle ear infections:
Sucking may back-track bacteria from your baby’s mouth into the narrow channels between his ears and throat (Eustachian tubes).
If your baby uses a dummy a lot, it may affect the structure of his mouth. This may result in mucus not draining so well along the Eustachian tubes.
Limiting the time your baby uses his dummy will guard against ear problems. Perhaps just let him use it to settle himself to sleep.
Using a dummy may affect your baby’s health in other ways too. Babies who use dummies seem to be prone to more chest infections and tummy upsets. The exact cause hasn’t been established, but using a dummy has been linked to an increase in:
vomiting
fever
diarrhoea
colic
The longer your baby uses a dummy, the more likely it is to cause changes in the way his teeth grow. This can result in an overbite or crossbite, where the top and bottom teeth don’t meet properly. This is especially the case if your child uses his dummy until he’s three or four.
The same goes for thumb-sucking, though. The British Dental Health Foundation recommends avoiding the use of dummies and discouraging thumb-sucking.
Using a dummy may affect your baby’s speech development. Encourage your baby not to use his dummy while he’s trying to talk or make sounds.
Will using a dummy interfere with breastfeeding?
It may do. Unicef and the Department of Health say it’s best not to give your baby a dummy until you’ve established breastfeeding. This usually happens by the time your baby is between six weeks and eight weeks old.
It’s also recommended that you use a dummy only for settling your baby to sleep. That way your baby won’t waste valuable time sucking on his dummy instead of at your breast.
Dummy use has been linked to earlier weaning off the breast, and breastfeeding exclusively for a shorter length of time. However, we don’t whether this is because dummies interfere with breastfeeding. There could be other reasons why mums stop breastfeeding.
For example, if you are having problems breastfeeding you may find yourself relying more on a dummy. Or you may use a dummy because you made the decision to stop breastfeeding.
Other experts believe that if you use a dummy:
Your baby may find it hard to switch between the different types of sucking needed for the dummy and your breast.
You may miss your baby’s cue that he wants to feed and use a dummy to calm him instead.
Your breasts may not get enough stimulation. This could cause a fall in your milk supply. The belief that they don’t have enough milk is the main reason that mums give for stopping breastfeeding in the first six months.
I’ve decided I do want to use a dummy. What else do I need to know?
Dummies can give you a break when your baby’s distressed. If you’ve decided it’s best for everyone if your baby has a dummy, here are a few tips:
Use an orthodontic or flat dummy. There is some slight evidence that this might be better for your baby’s developing mouth than a cherry dummy.
Keep the dummy as clean as possible. Sterilise it as you would any other bottle-feeding teat.
Check dummies regularly. Cracks, splits and holes can trap germs. If you find any problems, buy a new dummy straight away.
Never dip the dummy in sweet foods. Don’t coat your baby’s dummy in foods such as honey or juice to stop him crying. Honey can harm your baby, and sticky, sweet food and drink can cause tooth decay.
Wait until your baby really needs a dummy. For example, if your baby has colic or you want to settle him. Don’t let his dummy use become a habit.
Wean your baby off his dummy before he turns one. It will be easier to do it then, than when he’s older. He should have stopped using a dummy before he’s four.
Help, my baby refuses to give up his dummy!
If your baby is using his dummy all the time, or is not giving it up as soon as you’d like, try these ideas:
Gradually decrease the times when you let him use his dummy.
Only let your child have his dummy at certain times, such as bedtime, or when he’s ill.
Comments on this entry are closed.