You’re absolutely right in believing a toddler pacifier should leave your toddler’s mouth and make an exit from your home as soon as possible, at least before your toddler turns two!
Pacifiers have been known to create problems in toddler speech because of the awkward positioning of the lip and tongue muscles while using the pacifier as opposed to how toddlers position these areas naturally when they speak.
Middle ear infections are also more prevalent in toddlers who use pacifiers, and the possible misalignment of their teeth has been widely known for quite some time now.
As much as I hate to tell you, the toddler pacifier your child has come to depend on so much-the one that has saved your sanity on many occasions can become the enemy after your toddler turns two!
Getting rid of the pacifier is no easy task but it can be done. The whole idea is to slowly and gradually distance them from their pacifier. Consider using this step-by-step approach and the toddler pacifier may become a thing of your child’s past sooner than you think:
During The Daytime
The first thing your toddler will look for upon awakening is their trusty pacifier. Distract your toddler with a book, video, or a toy until your toddler begins to cry, then try to soothe and distract them once again. Give them their pacifier if their discomfort doesn’t subside after 2-3 minutes.
If your toddler attends a daycare it’ll be much harder to wean them off their pacifier but not impossible. The key is to make it clear to the daycare staff that your child is in the process of not using a pacifier any longer and you can reinforce this message by no longer providing a pacifier when your toddler starts to show progress of not needing one all the time while in your presence.
When you run errands or go out during the day take the pacifier with you, but only give it to your toddler in extreme cases such as when they’re having a fit and you’ve exhausted every other means of comforting your child. Once again, soothing and distracting your toddler with other objects can work wonders in these cases.
At Night
Start by withholding it from your toddler at bedtime while you soothe him or her with a lullabye, caressing their hair and talking to them quietly. If they can’t fall asleep, if they start to cry, or if they start sucking on their thumb, try to keep soothing them for at least 2-3 minutes before giving them the pacifier.
These “get rid of toddler pacifier” tips can work wonders but remember; this is a big step in your toddler’s life. Withholding the pacifier from them gradually using the “soothe and distract” technique without making them suffer too much, and being patient is the biggest key!