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| My oldest, pre-paci weaning |
It has been about 3 months since we broke our two year old from using her pacifier (nicknamed “paci” in our house.) She was 2 years, 9 months old. I refused to have a 3 year old with a pacifier.
Hers was not even a huge issue. She has an amazing vocabulary, speaks very clearly (and adorably, I might add). She only used her paci to sleep and when she was sick. She knew she couldn’t talk with her paci in her mouth and it wasn’t allowed out of her bed. But I still knew it couldn’t go on.
It was a hard first few days. She cried. A lot. We had to
bribe her and comfort her and threaten to take away toys but we survived.
Naptime is still a huge task and bedtime has its moments but we survived.
You may be wondering, wouldn’t it simply be easier to not
introduce the pacifier? I have two more kids to go through this with, of course
I would love to avoid the entire scene but is there a benefit to pacifiers? Is
there an age that is too old for them? Or too early for them? Should hospitals
immediately give them to babies? Should toddlers or preschoolers be walking
around with them?
There are many sources that try to answer these questions:
· Kellymom is a site I use regularly to help with my breastfeeding questions. It suggests
that pacifiers lead to nipple confusion and less success during breastfeeding
because of pacifier use (I did not experience this with any of my three
children).
·
Earth Mama Angel Baby agrees with the risks above but gives information about the benefits of using
pacifiers, specifically by helping reduce the chance of SIDS. This specific
benefit according to the site outweighs any risks involved.
·
Super Nanny explains that pacifier use in older children will typically lead to an increase
in ear infections. My older daughter just recently got her 2nd set
of tubes put in. I came across this information once her 1st set of
tubes fell out. It did impact our decision to wean her from the paci. It is
hard to say though if the surgery or if the lack of pacifier is leading to her
feeling better.
·
Colgate gives detailed examples of the damage pacifier use can do to an older child’s
teeth. Many parents say things like “It’s their baby teeth. They will fall out
anyway.” It is important to understand that pacifier use can actually damage
the gums under the teeth and cause the child’s adult teeth to grow in
misaligned.
For me, the possible reduced risk of SIDS was enough in
itself to convince me. Pacifiers were offered to all of my girls almost
immediately to help them understand the suckling reflex. With 3 preemies, it
was not exactly an option to have the girls go straight to breast like I
wanted. Once I was able to breastfeed, it was important for me to not become a
human pacifier. Don’t get me wrong, I love nursing and cuddling my daughters
but as a working mom (when my oldest was a baby) and now with twins, I have no
choice but to need my children to soothe themselves without my boobs.
I do think my almost 3 year old had her pacifier too long.
Our original intention was to wean her before her 2nd birthday but
for me, it was right in the midst of a complicated pregnancy and she needed the
paci for extra comfort when her world was vastly changing. I cringe when I see
a toddler trying to talk with a pacifier in their mouth though or even worse, a
clearly older child (2-4 years approx.) with one while out at a store or
restaurant, especially when the child is perfectly content, showing no distress
or need for comfort.
Pacifiers have been in use for decades and are likely not going anywhere. Whatever your choice for pacifier use, it’s important to
understand the benefits and risks.
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2 comments:
My oldest never took a paci (or a bottle, for that matter). I was the human pacifier. My younger daughter used a pacifier but weaned herself after we did a bit of sleep training and she learned how to soothe herself. I'm glad the paci battle is one we've never had to fight!
My son was a thumb sucker and we have had a difficult time breaking him from it (while he is sleeping). My daughter was a pci girl. She slept with 3. One in each hand and one in her mouth. We dreaded the day we would take it away. We took it away after her 2nd birthday. She never cried for it. We just told her she was too big for it and it was ucky. Our very stubborn girl was perfectly fine with it. Thank goodness! I say yes to the paci. Reduces SIDS and she was a super easy baby!
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