Parenting Forums - View Single Post - HOW to get off the pacifier

seeeker · 12-18-2009, 02:53 PM

Having researched this for quite a while on the web, I have found countless articles, webpages, PDFs, etc, on middle road, cautionary theories about the pros and cons of the pacifier. How some children need them until this age, some until that age. Some reasons why they need them. The potential downsides, etc.

What I want to know is when enough is enough, HOW DO YOU WEAN THEM OFF THE PACIFIER. Like Step 1 do this. Step 2 do this. Step 3 do this.

My son is almost four. Although we have reduced and limited his pacifier dependency to down time, in the bedroom, he is still most definitely reliant upon it. He really needs it. Periodically throughout the day he may go to his room to be alone for ten minutes, we come home from four hours at the museum, such and such. And definitely at bedtime. I realize it might be a natural process, but it is really testing my patience. I don't think he should be dependent on it at four yrs old. It just seems a continuation of his infant dependency.

When I was young (5, 6, maybe, the age is not the comparison, it's the subject) I had a nightlight in my room. I remember vividly the night the bulb broke and we did not have a replacement. The first night I shivered in the pitch black thinking there were monsters. But after a few days, I forgot all about it.

I just get the urge to throw it in the garbage and deal with the crying for a few days, hoping he will get used to it being gone in short time.

But everyone around me tells me to just let it go, whatever.

So I would really like to find specific techniques, if there are any, on how to wean off its use. Just so if we decide it's time, maybe there's a right way to do it.

If you weaned your child off it, how did it happen?

12-18-2009, 02:53 PM
seeeker Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0 Reputation: 10	HOW to get off the pacifier - seen enough when opinions Having researched this for quite a while on the web, I have found countless articles, webpages, PDFs, etc, on middle road, cautionary theories about the pros and cons of the pacifier. How some children need them until this age, some until that age. Some reasons why they need them. The potential downsides, etc. What I want to know is when enough is enough, HOW DO YOU WEAN THEM OFF THE PACIFIER. Like Step 1 do this. Step 2 do this. Step 3 do this. My son is almost four. Although we have reduced and limited his pacifier dependency to down time, in the bedroom, he is still most definitely reliant upon it. He really needs it. Periodically throughout the day he may go to his room to be alone for ten minutes, we come home from four hours at the museum, such and such. And definitely at bedtime. I realize it might be a natural process, but it is really testing my patience. I don't think he should be dependent on it at four yrs old. It just seems a continuation of his infant dependency. When I was young (5, 6, maybe, the age is not the comparison, it's the subject) I had a nightlight in my room. I remember vividly the night the bulb broke and we did not have a replacement. The first night I shivered in the pitch black thinking there were monsters. But after a few days, I forgot all about it. I just get the urge to throw it in the garbage and deal with the crying for a few days, hoping he will get used to it being gone in short time. But everyone around me tells me to just let it go, whatever. So I would really like to find specific techniques, if there are any, on how to wean off its use. Just so if we decide it's time, maybe there's a right way to do it. If you weaned your child off it, how did it happen?