Pacifier Patience |
Most children stop sucking their thumb or using a pacifier by about age three. Pardon the pun but this isn't necessarily the rule of thumb! In fact many children use a pacifier or suck on their fingers or thumb well beyond this point. Experts warn that while this may seem fairly harmless, if your child is over three years of age and performing this routine most of the day, you should consider taking steps to rid him of this habit that may have some long-term effects. Children who have a long time dependence on an oral device may develop problems with communication skills, social skills, or other teeth and jaw related issues.
A pacifier or thumb is simply a child's security object - something that makes him or her feel secure. Like any long-term habit that must be stopped, a weaning process has to begin to allow your child to learn to let go of his "binky". Many parents find that the weaning process works best when they enforce a time usage on the pacifier. For example only allow your child to have their pacifier at sleep times. Gradually the habit will only come at bedtime and you can take the pacifier away once he's fallen asleep. From this point on start to sooth him to sleep without the pacifier, comforting him as he drifts off.
Never put down your child or use the term 'babyish' when trying to persuade him to give up his pacifier. Also avoid nagging your youngster or letting the situation turn into a power struggle - you'll most certainly be the loser in the end. Instead use praise as a form of communication and let your child know that you're their to support him and help him in this stage of growing up. Encourage your child to express how he's feeling about the situation and offer plenty of hugs and kisses to help him cope.
If your child fusses a lot over not having his pacifier try these tricks of the trade. Have a "farewell party" for the pacifier. Make a celebration out of throwing it away - you could try burying it together or taking it to a dump to say good-bye. If you want to try the magical approach have the 'binky fairy' (i.e. the Tooth Fairy) pay a visit to your home and take the pacifier leaving behind a reward for your child.
Some parents like to use the do-it-yourself method when it comes to saying bye-bye to the pacifier. Try cutting a small whole in the tip of the pacifier which makes it harder to establish sucking - when he asks, tell him that it's broken and replace it with another broken one - eventually he should give up on all these "broken binkies". "Losing" a pacifier is sometimes a good method - try misplacing the pacifier and have your child help you try to find it, when it doesn't turn up hopefully your child can forge on without it. Each of these techniques allows your child to be the one who makes the final decision and you both can feel better about the outcome.
