My 4 year old daughter was recently introduced to the pacifier. She was hesitant at first and so was I. I was naturally concerned about the dangers of overuse of pacifiers and what would happen if she got her mouth full of germs. But she’s a typical little girl, and I was just as curious as she was. So, I decided to check into the claims out there.
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I keep my sons pacis in the top of his toy box, but I have yet to find a reason why. I know they are dentally correct for his age, but they are something he is always complaining about – not only in the morning but in the evening as well. He says that they hurt his ears, they are uncomfortable for him, they keep falling out and they are a waste of money.
Scarlett, our little firecracker, will be four years old at the conclusion of this three-day weekend. On Monday night, she’ll snuggle up with her four loveys and a pacifier in her mouth, her cupcake blanket pulled up to her chin. A stack of extra pacis on her nightstand.
The following day, we’ll expel the pacifiers from our house and move on with our lives, and we don’t yet know how long the recovery period will be. (Neither have we chosen a method or myth with which to address this experience. Send them to “another baby”? Let the Binky Fairy turn them into a special toy?)
Here’s where I (and Katie Holmes) justify our decision to let a girl so large suck on an artificial nipple.
On our firstborn’s third birthday, we took away his pacifier. He didn’t take another sleep after that.
Julian, three years old, was tired about 2 p.m. every day for months. He was out of his mind by three o’clock, rolling about on the floor. He, on the other hand, was unable to sleep. By 5 p.m., he’d revert to his usual self, if such a thing exists for toddlers. But it looked like he really wanted that sleep and couldn’t get it without his trusty pacifier.
We decided to give Scarlett another year when she reached three and still napped consistently and happily every day. We decided that the advantages of sleeping outweighed the need to manage the pacifier issue.
I’m still amazed by that desired item of infants and toddlers. It’s what my friend Julie refers to as “a glass of wine for infants.” When they wrapped their lips over that nipple, both of my children showed obvious visual changes. Relaxation and happiness come quickly.
Scarlett really informed me last week that when her pacifier isn’t in her mouth, her loveys feel “scrubby.” Put the paci in and you’ve got yourself some rubbalicious security blankets. This information was given to me in support of my proposal that she give up her prized binkies next month in exchange for her soft evening buddies. It was as if she was saying, “Don’t worry about the consolation awards.”
I know we’re going to do rid of the naps next week, but she doesn’t need them anymore, and skipping the afternoon sleep will probably help nighttime go more easily. (Plus, Heather’s four and six-year-olds are still napping and haven’t used a pacifier in years, so I know it’s not necessarily linked.)
Good luck to me! What methods did you use to wean your kid off the pacifier?
I tried switching o his paci after several months of keeping him on it, and found that he would not take to it at all. If he woke up in the middle of the night he would cry, and then if I went to go give him his paci the pacifier would fall out of his mouth. I was so surprised that he did not like his paci, so we decided to try different things to see if we could get him to at least like it. Read more about taking away pacifier from 2 year old and let us know what you think.
Some kids love pacifiers because they are a comfort. Pacifiers can be used to soothe babies when they are fussy, and some kids use them as a security object.”}}]}
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for a 4 year old to have a pacifier?
It is not normal for a 4 year old to have a pacifier.
How do you get rid of a pacifier from a 4 year old?
There are a few ways to get rid of a pacifier from a 4 year old. One way is to put it in the freezer for about 10 minutes and then take it out, another is to use soap and water, or you can try putting it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Why do some kids love pacifiers?
Some kids love pacifiers because they are a comfort. Pacifiers can be used to soothe babies when they are fussy, and some kids use them as a security object.
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