How to properly wean a child off a pacifier. How to wean a child off a pacifier? Advice from a child psychologist

Many parents see learning to use a pacifier as a real salvation, since it calms the baby down and falls asleep faster. But the time comes when you need to wean yourself off the pacifier. In this article we will tell you how to wean your child off a pacifier or pacifier.

Why do you need a pacifier?

Until 6-7 months, the child actively wants to satisfy his sucking reflex. The best thing in this case is breast-feeding, which provides the sucking need in full. But the children who are on artificial feeding, need a pacifier. In addition to a bottle with formula, an artificial baby will also need a nipple, which will help fully satisfy the sucking reflex. Of course, the child becomes capricious and cries if his sucking need is not fully satisfied. The whims go away as soon as the baby gets what he wants.

If the baby is not given his favorite pacifier, then fingers, cheek, and surrounding objects can be used, which the child can use to replace the pacifier. Dentists note that this habit is harmful, as it can lead to the development of serious malocclusion pathologies.

Following simple rules will help reduce the risk of developing pathological processes and preserve the baby’s correct bite.

When to wean a child off a pacifier

Attentive parents can see a child’s readiness to give up the pacifier at 3-6 months. When the first signs of weaning from the pacifier appear, you should take action. By six months, ideally, a child should learn to do without a pacifier: this is the opinion of modern pediatricians and dentists.

Experienced mothers and grandmothers often invent the most different ways How to wean a child off a pacifier. But there are several important aspects that should be followed if you want to wean your child off the pacifier:

• do not smear the pacifier with bitter seasonings and sauces to cause discomfort in the baby, as this can cause an allergic reaction;
• if you are planning to as soon as possible to wean your child off the pacifier, cut it like a chamomile, keeping in mind that the sharp edges of the petals can cause injury to the baby;
• Do not leave your baby without a pacifier if he is teething.

To wean your child off the pacifier, you need to choose the most successful time. The first thing we have already said is that you should not take away the pacifier if the baby is teething. A period of illness or any stress will also be unsuccessful. If you have weighed all the points and are observing a calm period in the life of the family and the development of the baby, you can take the following actions:

1. If the baby falls asleep without a pacifier and does not require it while rocking, and also if he does not remember the pacifier until he sees this object, then there is no need to remind the child about it. As soon as you begin to notice that your baby is able to fall asleep without a pacifier, you can reduce the time he sucks while he is awake.
2. When you are preparing your baby for bed, distract his attention with a variety of jokes, songs, and other activities that will allow the child to forget about the pacifier. It’s good if a pacifier becomes the last resort for getting your baby to sleep. Often the problem is that young parents do not have the patience to wait half an hour for the child to fall asleep on his own and they give the baby a pacifier. This forms in the child incorrect ideas about sleep rituals.
3. During waking hours, try to hide the pacifier as far as possible from the baby. Let his entire consciousness be occupied with walks, games, and communication. Most children compensate for their parents' inattention with a pacifier, so try to spend as much time as possible with the baby.

If the baby is already one year old, then from now on you should understand the following: for a child after a year, a pacifier is no longer just a necessity - it is a toy, a friend, or at least an association with the moment of going to bed. A strong attachment to the pacifier creates psychological difficulties, so mothers should not listen to others who advise how to properly wean the child off the pacifier. It is difficult for a child to understand why he should give up his favorite item, why it suddenly became harmful, because before he received a pacifier from his mother’s hands, but today they give it less and less.

The most important rule for painless refusal is waiting for the right moment. When the baby is ready to part with the pacifier, you will need to act as quickly as possible, and first prepare the ground.

How to gradually wean your child off the pacifier

Psychologists say that a habit is formed in 21 days. What does this mean in this case? First of all, about the fact that it will take exactly that long for a child to get rid of a pacifier. Experts are confident that gradual pacifier abandonment is the best option and the least traumatic for the baby. How to smoothly wean a child off a pacifier?

• Firstly, give up the pacifier during a walk and try to keep the baby without a pacifier during the daytime, that is, while he is awake.
• Secondly, focus on mastering the skill of drinking from a cup.
• Thirdly, before going to bed, put your baby’s favorite toy in the crib. This will help the baby avoid feelings of loneliness, which means he will be calm and will not need a pacifier.
• Fourth, be sure to wait until the baby falls asleep and do not leave him for some time. This will allow the baby to feel completely safe.

How to wean your baby off a pacifier in 7 days

There is a pacifier weaning technique that you should apply to your child for seven days. The essence of this express method is to give the baby a pacifier for the first five days half as often as before, and on the sixth and seventh days, give the baby a pacifier only before bed. You can alternate between breast and pacifier.

It is worth noting that if a baby is going through exciting moments, then he needs a pacifier as a soothing one. If the baby is not particularly capricious, then you should not shove this pacifier unnecessarily.

If you see that your baby is experiencing discomfort without a pacifier, you can give him a pacifier for a few minutes and then replace it with a breast.

Quickly weaning your baby off the pacifier

You can abruptly wean your child off the pacifier. The technique is to take away the baby's pacifier once and for all. Of course, whims and tears are possible, but this will allow you not to prolong the process.

Abrupt disposal of the pacifier is best suited for babies over one year old.

Prepare your baby to give up the pacifier; there are many ways to do this:

1. Children love when they are told fairy tales in which they themselves are the main characters. Tell your child a story about helpless babies to whom a brave child gives his pacifier and thereby saves them. If fairy tales do not give results, you should “forget” the pacifier at a party and see how the baby reacts to this. If the child fusses, then the loss must be returned.
2. It is not advisable to give your child a pacifier while falling asleep. Distract the baby from the object, hide it from sight. But if a child demands a pacifier, you should give him what he wants. Try to replace the pacifier whenever possible, regardless of the child’s emotional state and his time spent. Put all your problems aside to spend as much time as possible with your baby. Often a baby uses a pacifier to get rid of boredom, stress, problems, and loneliness.
3. To others psychological techniques can be attributed to the fulfillment of a desire in exchange for a pacifier. You can talk about a fairy who, in a corner of the house, takes a pacifier in exchange for something the child would like to receive. Thus, the baby initiates parting with the pacifier, so he will not be offended by you if he is left without it.
4. You can cut off small pieces from the pacifier and tell the child that these animals are taking the pacifier for their babies. Soon all that will be left of the pacifier is a ring and the child will get tired of using the remnants of his once favorite pacifier.
5. You can ask your child to give his pacifier to children who are much younger in age. Explain to your baby that younger children need a pacifier more.

Such simple activities will help wean your child off the pacifier with minimal trauma. At the same time, be prepared that the baby will wake up at night, cry, and ask for a pacifier. To calm your child down, talk to him, sing a lullaby, stroke him, or maybe give him some water to drink.

If you notice your baby's moodiness and emotional instability for several days, buy him a new pacifier and postpone the experiment for a while. It is worth noting that most children simply forget about the pacifier by the age of two or three.

If you observe that your baby is dependent on the pacifier, then you will have to make every effort to wean your child off the pacifier.

It is not recommended to take away the pacifier, prohibit finger sucking, or be in the baby's arms. You and your doctor can choose a vestibular plate. It is made of elastic plastic, but the design of the plate is very similar to a pacifier. The plate is suitable for children from 3 years old, and for children younger age"Stoppie" is a suitable substitute for a record. Its design is characterized by the presence of linings made of silicone. This promotes comfort and ergonomic placement in the mouth. In addition, “Stoppi” also performs a healing function.

How to wean a child off a pacifier using Stoppi?

The “Stoppie” vestibular orthodontic plate can be one of the life-saving solutions if you have tried many ways to get rid of the pacifier. The plate is made of hypoallergenic silicone. According to the manufacturers, it allows you to get rid of the pacifier and correct the bite.

Other benefits of the plate include the prevention of problems with the development of the lower jaw, as well as the elimination of mouth breathing.

A positive result can be obtained within a month. At the same time, it is important that the baby does not put a pacifier or finger in his mouth.

Naturally, a preliminary consultation with a dentist is required. It is a specialist who can determine the need for such a plate for a child.

Psychological aspects of weaning from the pacifier

Oddly enough, behind sucking a pacifier there is a psychological moment of habit and comfort. Psychologists name several important reasons that prevent a child from parting with a pacifier:

• need for parental attention and care (first of all, we're talking about about the lack of communication and lack of parental love);
• the baby does not want to become an adult, so it is very important to talk with the baby, explain to him that he has already grown up, and you can also replace the pacifier with a more interesting activity;
• stress contributes to the fact that a child who has lost the habit of using a pacifier begins to suck on it again, most often this happens if the baby goes to kindergarten - the pacifier helps him remember about home and his mother;
• Stop bottle feeding your baby to minimize the association associated with the pacifier.

Naturally, every baby demonstrates its own character from the first months of life, so sometimes it becomes difficult to wean a child off a pacifier. At the same time, it is necessary to look for an approach to the child, and if necessary, contact a psychologist. In any case, your actions must be deliberate so as not to injure the baby and weaning off the pacifier takes place with minimal consequences.

What not to do?

Many mothers and fathers make the same mistakes, so it is very important to know what actions only aggravate the situation. So, what should you not do if you decide to wean your baby off the pacifier?

1. Do not wean your baby off the pacifier if he is capricious, feels unwell, or there have been changes in his life, for example, he is getting used to kindergarten;
2. If your baby is possessive by nature and is very attached to the pacifier, then you should not teach it;
3. Do not humiliate the child, do not call him a crybaby or a crybaby;
4. If you are offering a gift in exchange for a pacifier, don't let the gesture become traditional;
5. If your baby is teething, you should not wean him off the pacifier, as this will cause additional discomfort for your baby.

Video: Pacifier: pros and cons

Doesn't sleep well

Daytime nap

Hysterics

Not a single little thing sometimes causes such heated discussions within one family as the most common pacifier - a pacifier. Mom, for example, doesn’t see anything wrong with it, but grandma desperately protests and insists that the pacifier is incredibly harmful to the baby’s bite. Dad takes a neutral position, but only until the moment when the baby starts yelling.

And what a hassle it is to lose a pacifier if the child is already used to it! Parents are ready to run to the pharmacy in the middle of the night to get a new one, just to calm down their child. The famous children's doctor Evgeniy Komarovsky tells whether such a pacifier is necessary for a child, how to wean him off it in time, and whether there is any harm from the fact that a baby sucks a pacifier.

"For" and "against"

If you don’t give a pacifier as a matter of principle, then the baby will most likely begin to suck his finger as soon as he can reach his mouth with it. This is an unsatisfied sucking reflex, which absolutely all newborns have, and which goes away on its own at a certain age. A child sucks his thumb not because he wants to, and not at all out of boredom. This is an instinct, and it is completely useless to fight it, says Evgeny Komarovsky.

If you choose between a finger and a pacifier, then Komarovsky says that the pacifier is optimal. Its harm is greatly exaggerated, but its benefits are undeniable, because it:

helps satisfy the sucking reflex;

calms the child, puts him to sleep;

stimulates intestinal motility, develops facial muscles.

There is no consensus on the dangers and benefits of pacifiers in pediatrics. Some doctors say that it is harmful, others recommend giving it to little ones. One thing is certain, says Evgeny Komarovsky: you need to listen to the child himself. If he wants to suck, let him suck. If he spits out the pacifier, there is no need to insist. It’s not a good idea to teach it specifically at 2 months, at 3 months, or later, when teeth begin to emerge.

If the pacifier solves some specific problems of the child, there is nothing wrong with it, but if the pacifier itself turns into a problem, you need to try to part with it or endure it. So, many children at 5-7 months, when falling asleep, “lose” the pacifier or take it out of their mouth themselves, and then get scared and start screaming in the night until their relatives come to their aid and return the pacifier back. In this situation, only the parents themselves need to evaluate the pros and cons and decide what is easier for them to endure - crying without a pacifier for several nights or an occasional cry because of a pacifier, which will pass when the baby realizes that there is no need to touch it with his hands.

Often mothers are afraid: when the time comes to separate the child from the pacifier, his psyche will begin to suffer from this.

This is not true, the doctor is sure; weaning the pacifier does not entail any disturbances in mental and emotional development. Such information is disseminated by not very literate and knowledgeable people.

Another argument of opponents of nipples is a decrease in lactation. They say that the child, having sucked enough of the pacifier, will eat less of the mother’s milk, and her production of this same milk will expectedly decrease. Komarovsky advises not to panic, but to rely only on the facts: if the baby is growing well and gaining weight normally, you don’t have to worry about the fact that he didn’t eat something because of the pacifier.

If there are signs of malnutrition, low weight, other symptoms of delay in physical development, you need to find the cause, and it’s unlikely to be the pacifier. Sucking during a meal is determined by such an instinct as hunger, and sucking a pacifier is the satisfaction of another instinct, sucking.

How to choose the “right” pacifier

Today, on the shelves of pharmacies and children's stores there is a huge selection of pacifiers. There are silicone and latex, with and without rings, large and small. It is difficult for parents, especially those without experience in selecting such items, to understand which pacifier is considered “correct.”

Evgeniy Komarovsky claims that a properly selected pacifier has less impact on the bite.

Normally, at the moment of sucking, a child should create a significant load on the tongue, and the perioral and facial muscles should also work well. The lower jaw, which is smaller than the upper jaw at birth, grows more intensively with the help of such “training” and by six months it catches up with the upper jaw. When choosing a nipple, you need to understand that it should be as similar as possible to a female nipple, that is, physiologically adapted.

Latex pacifiers are yellow, silicone pacifiers are white. Both of them last a long time, unlike the rubber ones that our grandmothers used when they were little. However, silicone ones are better able to withstand repeated boiling and do not cause an allergic reaction.

Among all the variety, Komarovsky recommends giving preference to silicone pacifiers that have an anatomical or orthodontic shape and are appropriate in size for the child’s age. “One” in size is up to six months, and “two” is after six months. There is also a “troika” - after a year and a half. Foreign manufacturers designate these sizes accordingly with the letters of the Latin alphabet - A, B, C.

It is better if the chosen pacifier does not have a bulky base and dismountable parts, so that the child does not accidentally choke on spare parts from the pacifier.

When the first teeth come out, it is better to change the silicone pacifier to a latex one - it is softer and will not deform the teeth. You need to change a latex pacifier about once every month and a half, since it is less suitable for boiling and wears out faster.

Pacifier and bite

The favorite argument of all nipple opponents is the bite. Yes, the pacifier affects him, says Evgeny Komarovsky. But she is not alone. This is largely influenced by metabolism (how much the child receives and how he absorbs calcium, phosphorus), and whether there is enough vitamin D in his body.

If the child is “artificial” and in his life deals only with nipples, then this increases the load on the jaw. If he also sucks on his mother's breast, and then continues to satisfy his sucking reflex with the help of a pacifier, then there are other risks of changes in the bite.

When a baby acquires teeth, the state of the bite is affected by the quantity and quality of solid food that the baby will receive.

In addition, a lot of information about what shape the jaw will be, as well as how the upper and lower ones will be located in relation to each other, is contained in the genetic code, that is, it is embedded in the child even before his birth.

Thus, it is impossible to draw a parallel - a pacifier - an incorrect bite. Not a single doctor has yet been able to prove and argue that this is not the case. Therefore, the danger is rather theoretical in nature.

How to wean a child off a pacifier?

Weaning off sucking a pacifier is a troublesome task, and, most importantly, pointless, says Evgeniy Olegovich. In some children, the sucking reflex is strong and stable from birth, in others it is weaker. Second children, as a rule, quickly spit out the pacifier that has become unnecessary. And babies with a very strong reflex may require a pacifier at both 2 and 3 years old. However, no one has ever gone to school at the age of 6-7 with a “duda” in their mouth, says the doctor, and therefore there is nothing to worry about.

The problem of prolonged pacifier sucking is not a problem for a child, not a disease, not bad habit- this is his need, but an absolute problem for the whole family. Mom and grandmother really want the baby to grow up quickly. Giving up a pacifier, in the understanding of most parents, is one of the steps towards growing up, like the first step, the first itch, the first word. And if the child does not want to part with the pacifier, then there is no need to mock him. His time, says Komarovsky, has not yet come.

The parents' action algorithm should be as follows:

We tried to hide the pacifier. If she screams and can’t sleep during the day, there’s no need to experiment anymore. The attempt is repeated six months later.

A small child is not only the all-encompassing joy and boundless happiness of the parents, but also a lot of worries and troubles that take away almost everything from them free time. Feed, put to bed, take a walk, entertain, console - your head is spinning! Therefore, often, in order for the baby to give parents the opportunity to rest a little, they choose an ordinary pacifier, popularly called a pacifier, as an “ally”.

Days and months go by, the child happily puts the pacifier in his mouth day and night, throwing tantrums about its absence, and the mother finally understands: the time has come to wean the child off the pacifier. But how can this be done if the baby actively protests against such a “bad” proposal? Of course, he spent days and nights with her, and now they want to deprive him of such a sweet and pleasant-tasting friend.

And here the real war begins! Mom scolds her child, trying to wean the child off the pacifier, and tells him scary tales: they say, if he doesn’t stop doing this, his teeth will grow as sparse as a fence, and the terrible Barmaley will bite him on the nose. But the child “listens and eats,” or rather, sucks, and is not going to end his friendship with the pacifier.

Moreover, he not only hides it under the pillow and in the stroller, but also “steals” the pacifier in the yard from other kids. Seeing this, mothers clutch their heads, but still can’t do anything!

So when should you wean your child off the pacifier so that such problems do not arise? How to do this correctly? What mistakes should not be made during the weaning process, and what tricks, on the contrary, can help mothers on this difficult path? About this and much more in our article today.

Why does pacifier addiction occur?

First, let's figure out why a child becomes so attached to a simple pacifier. The fact is that the sucking reflex is one of the main reflexes of a newborn, which is checked by pediatricians immediately after the baby is born. After all, it is in the sucking reflex that the baby’s further ability to develop correctly and even eat well and with appetite lies!

Most babies satisfy it when they are attached to the breast, and therefore calmly do without a pacifier. But other children cannot control the reflex and begin to behave restlessly, putting into their mouths everything that comes to hand: the edge of a blanket, a toy, and even their own finger, thereby increasing the risk of contracting some nasty infection.

Which babies are the most difficult to wean off the pacifier?

It is impossible not to mention the category of children whose weaning from pacifiers is not only difficult, but simply impossible! Let's look at them in detail.

"Underfed"

"Flukes"

Let's say right away that there are few such children - somewhere around 2-3%. Their peculiarity is that they taste the world: they put a rattle in their mouth, or a bear’s paw, or a piece of paper. This is not a whim, but a natural need that they satisfy.

"Survivors of Trauma"

After a long illness, the baby may become very attached to the nipple. In difficult times, she calmed him down, so after solving the “problems” she remains a loyal friend to him.

Is a pacifier harmful to a baby?

Some mothers are afraid that a baby who does not part with a pacifier will face speech problems in the future, as he will pronounce letters incorrectly. Also, many of them assume that the child’s teeth will grow crooked and ugly because of this.

What do doctors say about this?

They do not confirm the original theory, but they warn parents about something else: a child accustomed to a pacifier is not very interested in what is happening around him, and therefore can grow up to be a rather reserved person.

Doctors also say that a simple and harmless-looking pacifier can seriously ruin a baby’s bite. Therefore, the mother should wean the child not only from the pacifier, but also from the desire to push his fingers into his mouth and suck them (and this is sometimes much more difficult than fighting the pacifier).

When should weaning start?

As a rule, many children stop sucking a pacifier on their own when they are one or two years old. However, you shouldn’t be happy about this, because it is necessary to wean your baby off the pacifier much earlier: from 3 months to a year.

Moreover, most children are completely ready to part with the pacifier from 3 to 6 months of life, only mothers do not notice this. And, most importantly: during this period, weaning from the pacifier is less traumatic for the child.

Therefore, if you notice that the child has ceased to be actively interested in the pacifier, switching his attention to something more entertaining, but not harmful to his health, support his “decision” and hide the pacifier away.

Four methods of giving up pacifiers

Today there are several effective ways wean your baby off the pacifier.

Smooth withdrawal: for children up to 1-1.5 years old

Smooth withdrawal involves getting rid of the pacifier over a few weeks.

According to this method, it is necessary:

• do not take the pacifier with you outside;
• hide the pacifier away during the day;
• teach your child to drink from his favorite cup;
• keep your child busy with exciting games;
• put a favorite toy in the child’s bed so that he feels protected;
• You should not leave the room until the baby falls asleep.

After some time, after taking the above measures, the baby will forget about his not so long ago beloved “friend”.

Abrupt refusal: for children aged 1.5 years and older

Abrupt refusal is a way to get rid of the pacifier for babies who already understand their parents well.

For it to work, you must select one of the following options:

• solemnly present the pacifier to the newborn baby. Since your child already realizes that he has become an “adult,” it will not be difficult for him to give a girlfriend to a baby who needs her more;
• send the pacifier on a long voyage: a small fish or a little gray bunny needs it so much! After all, only a pacifier can protect them in dark forest from Barmaley;
• Throw the pacifier out the window or trash. True, this option is not suitable for all children, but only for the calmest and most flexible ones.

After saying goodbye to the pacifier, you need to give your child something very good, and be sure to note that only independent children play with such valuable toys.

Cancellation within a week - is it possible?

Some mothers share their stories on forums about how to wean their child off a pacifier in just a week.

We cannot help but tell you about this method. However, only practice will show how effective and applicable it is for you.

Action plan:

1. Give your child a pacifier for 5 days, 2 times less than usual (not for 30 minutes, but for 15, not for an hour, but for half an hour).
2. For the next 2-3 days, offer the pacifier only at night. In this case, it is better to give it for a few minutes, and then replace it with breasts.

At the same time, do not “push” a pacifier into the child’s mouth just like that, but only when he really needs it.

STOPPI for children from two years old

Modern medicine has come up with another effective way of weaning off the pacifier, which is simply called “STOPPI”. This is a special orthodontic plate that must be given to the child instead of a pacifier.

Manufacturers claim that just a few weeks of using this plate can wean your baby off the pacifier forever (the use of “traditional” pacifiers during this period is not allowed).

A small disadvantage of “Stoppie” is that it can only be purchased in pharmacies, and it is only suitable for older children (2 years of age or older).

All children are different, and therefore there is no single recipe for weaning a child from a pacifier. However, thanks to the observations of mothers and the experience of doctors, this is much easier to do today than 50 years ago.

So, general advice on this matter would be:

Don't force a pacifier if you don't need it

If your child feels wonderful without a pacifier from the first days of life, does not put his finger in his mouth and falls asleep well, you should not impose it on your baby at all.

Communication is the mother of unlearning

If you communicate with your baby throughout the day, demonstrating the beauty of the world around you and its features, he simply will not have time left for friendship with the pacifier.

Drinking is not harmful to health

If you teach your baby to drink from a mug at about six months, he will quickly master the swallowing reflex and lose the need for bottles and pacifiers.

Bedtime story - problem solving

If you tell your child fairy tales before bed, then by the age of one year the pacifier can be replaced with a whole series of exciting stories.

Daytime games are so much fun!

If a child plays with blocks and pyramids throughout the day, he will not be distracted by simple sucking.

Out of sight, out of mind

If you yourself do not persistently offer the pacifier to your child and begin to remind him of its existence, he may well forget about it in a couple of days.

What should you not do during the weaning process?

Some mothers make a lot of unforgivable mistakes on the way to getting rid of the pacifier. So, what should you not do during the weaning process?

Damage the pacifier

Under no circumstances should you cut the pacifier. Imagine what will happen if the baby takes a bite from this “chamomile”? It will either get into his stomach or cause a spasm in his throat.

Lubricate it with food preparations

Do not put mustard on the pacifier. Not every adult can withstand this “muck” in his mouth, let alone small child! Plus, it’s not entirely safe, since mustard causes swelling and spasms in the throat in children.

Also, under no circumstances should you put syrup on your pacifier, since sweets not only damage your teeth, but are also highly addictive.

Yell at a child

Under no circumstances should you yell at your baby if he insists on asking for a pacifier. The child does not understand why his mother is so angry with him and begins to be even more mischievous.

Start weaning while sick

Finally, you should not deprive your baby or begin the weaning process of a pacifier when he is sick or teething.

What to do in case of a “relapse”?

When you get rid of the pacifier, be prepared for the fact that the child may be naughty for several days and miss his “girlfriend” again. Perhaps he will even wake up at night and demand that she be returned “to her homeland.”

If the whims continue for a very long time (more than 10 days), and you notice that the baby’s psychological state is becoming restless, just buy the child a new pacifier and after a while repeat the “weaning” procedure.

Don’t be afraid that your child will live with a pacifier until retirement: almost all children by the age of 3 completely forget about the pacifier.

In what cases is emergency pacifier withdrawal necessary?

Excessive attachment to the pacifier

Sometimes it happens that a fairly adult baby does not let go of the pacifier from his mouth: he chews on it day and night and screams loudly if he suddenly loses the pacifier somewhere. In this case, an emergency response is necessary: ​​you should not wait for the “suitable” period, it is better to start weaning right now.

So, how to act if time is lost, but something still needs to be done?

Explain the situation

Tell your child what harm the pacifier does to him: it spoils his teeth, interferes with talking, makes him drool... Anything, just so that the baby understands you! Just don’t scold him or laugh at him by pointing your finger at the child.

"Lose" the pacifier

Hide the pacifier. Yes, it’s as simple as that – put it out of sight and that’s it. Go visit your grandmother and leave her at home. Won't the baby run after her through forests and fields?

“Spoil” the pacifier

Cut off most of the nipple (just don't cut it all!). The baby, having taken the “Lala” in his mouth, will spit out the pacifier in bewilderment: why did it become so full of holes? If the child asks about what happened, explain: a big bear came from the forest, wanted to try the pacifier, but accidentally bit it off.

Hearing or speech defects

Also, you should not wait for the moment when the baby solemnly puts the pacifier in your hand and refuses it if he has problems with hearing or speech.

It is better to solve the problem once and for all, enduring a river of tears and a week of sleepless nights, than to later reap the fruits of your “compassionate” maternal labor.

Summing up

Weaning your baby off the pacifier is that easy. Some 1-year-old children easily find new interests and forget about the pacifier after a week or two, while others are still looking for a pacifier months later, throwing regular tantrums at their parents.

Therefore, the age at which you will wean your child off the pacifier is individual not only for each baby, but also for each family. Even cultural values ​​and traditions play a big role in this: if in Italy a four-year-old child with a pacifier in his mouth will not surprise anyone, here in Russia they will look askance at his mother.

However, when thinking about how to wean your child off a pacifier, you must remember: you should not rely on the advice of neighbors and relatives in this matter. It’s better to do everything so carefully and correctly that the baby will give up the pacifier on his own and feel just amazing!

For many mothers, a pacifier (pacifier) ​​becomes a real salvation in the first months of a newborn baby’s life. The baby falls asleep easier with it, worries less and is capricious. But children become so attached to their “friend” that sometimes they continue to use a pacifier even at two and three years old. Naturally, this is not a very useful habit at this age, and parents try to gradually remove and wean the child from the pacifier in every possible way. But all methods are suitable for the child’s fragile psyche, and in order to choose the most optimal option and the right time for weaning off sucking the pacifier, it is necessary to take into account the baby’s character and follow the advice of pediatricians.

The benefits and harms of pacifiers

Smoothly giving up your favorite pacifier involves getting rid of the habit in a few weeks. This method is more suitable for babies under one year old and a little older. Gradual withdrawal involves following these tips:

• Don't take your pacifier on a walk;
• During the daytime, move the pacifier away;
• Teach your baby to drink from a cup as much as possible () ;
• Come up with new ones for him exciting games and entertainment;
• While sleeping, you can put your favorite toy in the crib, so the baby will understand that he is not alone and will devote less time to his old girlfriend;
• When falling asleep, wait until the baby falls asleep; you do not need to leave him at this time.

Weaning scheme for a week

1. For the first 5 days, give the pacifier half as much time as usual.
2. For the next few days, give the pacifier only at night (and during naps).
3. Reduce the time to fall asleep with a pacifier by half, giving the breast after the pacifier.
4. Give the nipple for a few minutes - then the breast.

You should give your baby a pacifier only in those difficult moments when he really cannot calm down without it.

Abrupt refusal

This method is suitable for children aged one and a half years and older, that is, for those who already understand their mother and can understand what she is explaining to him.

Abrupt refusal of the pacifier means once and for all!

But the baby must be prepared for this. And there are many effective ways for this; depending on the child’s character, each mother will be able to choose a convenient and optimal option.

• You need to give a pacifier to someone. Ideally, for a newborn baby - a neighbor or relative. Your son or daughter already understands that they are getting older, and the little one needs a pacifier. It must be said that nipples are necessarily passed from older to younger, and for an even greater effect, you can organize a moment of ceremonial transfer from hand to hand (of course, as a joke);
• You can " send to a little bunny in the forest or a fish in the sea". Your baby needs to be told that animals are afraid in the forest and only a pacifier can protect them;
• For some children, the method of throwing it into the sea, a car window, a train, or simply into the trash is suitable;
• After getting rid of the pacifier, the crumbs must be presented good gift, focusing on the fact that only large and independent children play with such toys.

After getting rid of the pacifier, you need to endure the baby’s whims for several days. Perhaps he will wake up at night, cry and demand a pacifier.

;

The time comes when it's time to wean the child off your hands -

P.S. How to wean a baby off the bottle link at the beginning of the article :)

Opinion of a pediatrician (video)

Parents' experience

Weaning a child off a pacifier is a difficult task that requires patience from parents. Sometimes this can take up to 2-4 months, but most babies will wean off the pacifier within 4-6 weeks, with gradual weaning at an appropriate age.

Many mothers do not know when it is recommended to take the pacifier away from the baby, and their decision is based only on public opinion. There are no strict age limits for weaning off the pacifier, so you need to focus on the condition and individual characteristics child.

The main reason why children quickly become attached to sucking a pacifier is their innate reflexes, primarily sucking. When a baby is born, neonatologists always check for the presence of the most important reflexes.

If the baby opens his mouth, trying to find and grab his mother’s breast, it means that his mental and emotional development will go right.

Newborn babies can suck on anything: the tip of a blanket, a pillow, a finger. The latter option is dangerous due to the high probability of infections, so if the baby begins to develop this habit, pediatricians recommend using a pacifier.

The pacifier of the correct anatomical shape reminds the baby of the mother's breast, so children fall asleep well and quickly calm down if they are given a pacifier.

If the baby does not satisfy the need for sucking (for example, during a short feeding), he may put everything into his mouth: from bedding to dirty fingers. To prevent this from happening and for the child to develop harmoniously, doctors advise using a pacifier.

Why a pacifier is dangerous: truth and myths

Statement 1. Babies who suck on a pacifier quickly wean themselves off the breast.

In fact: the technique of sucking a pacifier is different from sucking a mother's breast. In order for the newborn to receive hind milk, rich in vitamins and fats, he must latch onto the breast correctly: open his mouth wide, turning out his lower lip, and grasp not only the nipple, but also the areola.

When sucking a pacifier, the baby's lips are almost closed. If a child sucks on a pacifier for a long time and often, this leads to improper attachment, which, in turn, can result in a decrease in the mother’s milk supply.

Some women, after introducing a pacifier, cannot establish lactation, and they have to transfer the baby to artificial feeding.

Statement 2. Sucking on a pacifier causes an abnormal bite

In fact: modern dentists deny the connection between pacifier sucking and malocclusion. In some cases, it is true that children who are accustomed to a pacifier later begin to make certain sounds, but a direct relationship with sucking a pacifier has not been proven.

Statement 3. The pacifier is a source of infections

In fact: everything that gets into the baby’s mouth must be perfectly clean (even better, sterile). Toys, teethers and pacifiers should be washed and boiled each time before use.

In practice, this is difficult to do, since a growing baby often drops the pacifier into dirt or sand. If this happens on the street, some mothers consider it sufficient to pour some water over the pacifier and wipe it with a handkerchief, after which they give it to the baby again. This can be dangerous for the health of the newborn!

A huge number of bacteria live on street soil, including the tuberculosis bacillus, which are killed only by boiling. Tuberculosis and other infections are dangerous for children in the first year of life and can be fatal!

Statement 4. Children accustomed to a pacifier have little interest in the world around them.

In fact: this is also true. If a baby always has a pacifier in his mouth, he has no desire to stuff anything else in there and there is no point in weaning him off it just yet. Children of the first year of life learn environment through touch and taste, therefore the need to gnaw something and taste it is physiological and speaks of the correct and healthy development child.

In this video, Dr. Komarovsky shares advice with moms and dads on how to wean a baby off a pacifier, and what to do if parents are unable to do this.

Why is it difficult to wean children off pacifiers?

About 88% of children have a hard time parting with their pacifier. There are reasons for this. They can be physiological or psychological.

Physiological reasons:

• the child does not have enough mother’s milk, and he tries to deceive hunger with the help of a pacifier;
• the need for sucking is not sufficiently satisfied;
• The baby is teething, and a pacifier helps him more easily survive the pain and discomfort of this period.

Psychological reasons:

• With a pacifier, the baby feels more confident and calm, falls asleep faster;
• a pacifier for a little person is a “mother substitute”, so parting with it is always painful;
• Without a pacifier, the child feels confused and helpless, because he does not know how to cope with his experiences.

To make parting with the pacifier painless, it is necessary to show increased tenderness and love towards the baby, since this stage is very important for him.

When can you safely wean off a pacifier?

Each baby is individual, has its own character and preferences, so there can be no general recommendations about the optimal time for weaning from the pacifier.

Pediatricians advise using a pacifier before reaching six months of age, since the sucking reflex of the newborn period begins to fade away precisely by 6 months.

If you do this in early age failed, and the child is painfully experiencing parting with the pacifier, you need to postpone attempts for some time, and then repeat the actions again.

There is also no need to delay weaning from the pacifier too much. By the age of 2, the child should part with the pacifier.

How to wean a child off a pacifier?

Up to 1 year

At this age, the child does not yet understand that it is possible to do without a pacifier, so weaning should be smooth and gradual. During this period, parents need to be patient, since it will not be possible to quickly wean the baby off the pacifier.

It may take several months, but the baby’s peace of mind and stable emotional state are worth it. How to gradually wean a child infancy from a pacifier?

• When the baby is awake, you need to constantly engage with him: play with blocks, collect pyramids, just walk around the room and look at the surrounding objects. Walking outside is especially useful in this regard. If the child receives a lot of new impressions and positive emotions, the need for a pacifier will gradually decrease.
• You should not take a pacifier for a walk. On the street you can show your baby animals, trees, flowers, passing cars, etc. His attention should be constantly occupied with something (if he is not sleeping at this time).
• You should not leave your pacifier in a visible place at home. It’s better to put it in the closet and take it out only when it’s really needed.
• You need to give your baby a pacifier after satisfying his hunger, so that he does not develop the habit of replacing feeding by sucking on a pacifier. This is harmful to development and can cause eating disorders in older age.
• After falling asleep, you should not leave the pacifier in your child’s mouth. It should be carefully removed and left in the crib so that the child does not experience stress if he suddenly wakes up and does not find a familiar object nearby.
• You can try reading fairy tales to your baby before bed (in a darkened room). By 6-7 months, the baby is able to fall asleep without sucking a pacifier if he hears his mother’s voice.
• Mastering the cup can also solve nipple problems. How earlier child learns to drink from a cup, the faster he will lose the need for pacifiers and bottles.

Weekly weaning plan

• 1 day. Remove the pacifier during the day, providing the baby with interesting leisure time and the constant presence of the mother.
• Day 2. Do not give your baby a pacifier after feeding - it is better to try offering the breast again. Perhaps the child is crying because he has not had enough to eat.
• Day 3. If your baby sleeps with a pacifier outside, it's time to give it up. It is advisable to go for a walk while you are awake.
• Day 4 The actions of the previous days are repeated so that the child gets used to and adapts to new conditions.
• Day 5 Do not give the newborn a pacifier during the day (until he falls asleep).
• Day 6 and day 7. Try to put the baby to bed without a pacifier (sing songs, read fairy tales).

Throughout the day, it is necessary to remove the pacifier from the child’s mouth after falling asleep (at night). This is an important stage in the process of weaning a child from a pacifier.

Up to 2-2.5 years

At this age children are very sentimental, so the best option It may be a request to give a pacifier to someone younger. It’s just important to explain to the baby why this needs to be done, to tell him that he is already big, and Masha from the next apartment is still small, and she doesn’t have a pacifier, so she constantly cries and is sad.

If your child is more receptive to fairy tales, you can tell him about a teddy bear, a cat, or any toy you have at home, and come up with a story asking him to give a pacifier to the hero. Children usually love their toys and willingly take such a step, enjoying the action.

If the baby categorically refuses to part with the pacifier, you should not put pressure on him, shout or ridicule him. This can cause serious psychological trauma, and it will become almost impossible to wean the child off the pacifier (up to 3, and sometimes 4 years).

Over 3 years old

If a child is already 3 years old and still sucks a pacifier, you need to act decisively. At this age, children do not experience a physiological need for a pacifier, so parting with it does not bring much suffering. Abrupt weaning from the pacifier involves complete isolation of the favorite object from the child’s eyes.

The mother needs to talk to the baby and explain to him in a calm voice that from today he will not use a pacifier, since he is already big, and such a habit can negatively affect health and development. It is important to speak confidently and firmly so that the child understands that this decision is final.

If a child begins to cry and be capricious, you should not give in and return the pacifier, otherwise he will understand that parents are easy to manipulate, achieving what they want with tears and screaming. This behavior usually goes away after 1-3 days, after which the child completely forgets about the pacifier.

What not to do?

• Do not smear the pacifier with mustard or other bitter spices. This can cause spasm of the laryngeal muscles and a severe allergic reaction.
• You should not raise your voice at your baby and get angry at him for still sucking his pacifier. The child is not able to understand the reason for his mother’s anger, which will cause fear and increase dependence on sucking.
• You should not try to wean yourself off the pacifier during periods of illness, poor health, or teething.
• You cannot cut the pacifier. This is extremely dangerous, as pieces of latex or silicone can get into the baby’s throat and cause a suffocation attack!

When is emergency pacifier weaning required?

Abrupt weaning from the pacifier should be used in the following cases:

• the child reaches three years of age;
• hearing impairment;
• delay speech development, incorrect pronunciation of sounds;
• delay general development, lack of interest in the outside world;
• isolation in communication with peers;
• problems with appetite.

What should I do if my child takes the pacifier again after weaning?

Retraining to suck a pacifier is most often associated with psychological reasons. Parents should analyze the situation in the family and identify moments that negatively affect the emotional state of the baby.

Stress is also the reason why the child began to take the pacifier after weaning. Parents' divorce, moving to new apartment, fear - all this can lead to psychological discomfort and traumatize the child’s psyche.

Sometimes parents are not able to cope with such a situation on their own, so in severe cases help may be needed child psychologist. To restore a calm atmosphere in the family, you should avoid talking in a raised tone, sorting out relationships and other moments that can frighten the baby.

Important! You cannot swear or scream in the presence of a child. If parents have disagreements, they must be resolved without the child and in a calm tone.

After the reason psychological problems will be resolved, you can try weaning off the pacifier using the methods listed above.

Weaning off a pacifier is a difficult process that requires maximum commitment and patience from parents. For a successful result, you will need love and tenderness - these are the main components of the baby’s calmness and confidence, necessary for an easy parting with the pacifier at any age.