Weaning Baby From Binky

Hi moms! I want to talk today about pacifier weaning. Mom started
weaning me off mine when I was six months old.

Mom says it’s not healthy for my mouth. So I starting researching
to find the latest info.

We’ll talk about why and when to wean. Also, the different ways to
help little ones get used to going without one.

Reasons To Wean

Pacifier Teeth

One of the reasons to wean baby is the health of our mouth. 
Many dentists say it can harm the roof of our mouth.

“According to the AAPD and American Dental Association, some
dental effects of using pacifiers include:

Crooked teeth

Problems with bite and jaw alignment (for example, the front teeth
may not meet when the mouth is closed)

Protruding front teeth

Changes to the roof of the mouth”    read here

At parents.com they also talk of dental problems.

“Children who suck anything—thumb, finger or pacifier—past age
2 have a higher risk of developing protruding front teeth and/or a
crossbite in baby teeth, according to a study published last year
in the Journal of the American Dental Association. 

In some cases, these problems persist when permanent teeth
come in.”   read here

Ear Infections

Another problem that can be caused by a pacifier (also known as a 
soother or binky) can be an ear infection.

According to Webmd, there are 25 million baby doctor visits each
year cause of ear infections.

A team of researchers in Finland thought it may be due to baby using 
soothers:

“In Finland, a team of pediatricians suspected that the very
popular pacifier might be a factor in some ear infections.

They conducted a study comparing the use of pacifiers and risk of
ear infections.

Results of the study, reported in the September issue of Pediatrics,
suggest that limiting pacifier use can cut the number of ear
infections by 29%”   read here

What Age Is Best

Children are more willing to change their habits when they are
younger. The process of weaning off the soothing toys is much
easier with children of younger ages.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of
Family Physicians recommend limiting or stopping pacifier use after
your baby is 6 months old to reduce the risk of ear infections.

After that, using a pacifier is linked to increased ear infections,
especially among 2- and 3-year-olds.”  read here

Most experts agree that it’s alright to just limit the use of a binky 
from 6 months to 18 months.

Only allow baby to use one when going to sleep during that time. It
can help calm and soothe us, making sleep easier.

Some say it’s alright till age 2.” Any problems that do develop before
that time will likely self-correct within six months of kicking the
pacifier habit.

After age two, problems including slanting teeth can begin to occur.
And pacifier use beyond age four, when adult teeth begin to form,
can mean long-term dental issues.”   read here

How To Wean

Although this can be a hard thing that requires time and patience,
there are ways to make this transition a lot easier.

Make it look like it’s broken.

Finding a way to make the soother unwanted can be a helpful way.
The child might quickly lose interest in his soother if you simply cut
its tip or poke a hole in it.

Give it a different taste

One of the best methods is to dip the pacifier into something that will
make it taste different.

The taste of the soother can be a form of habit, so when it tastes
different, the child might simply give up on using it.

Mom says she put vinegar on mine! She says it worked well and I
threw it down on the floor.

Use distractions

Hide the soother during the day when your child is awake. If your child
asks for her soother, tell her she can have it later, then distract her
with other activities.

If it looks like baby wants his binky, another distraction is promise
to give him his favorite toy or snacks.

Using the “Binky Fairy” method

The Binky Fairy is a similar idea to the tooth fairy. This is a modern
method used by parents to ease the process of weaning off soothers.

You tell your child that he can give his soother to the Binky Fairy so
that she can donate it to other children who need it.

Making use of imaginary characters is always helpful with us. This is
also a good method to teach your child to be generous.

Night Soothing

When it comes time to ditch the pacifier completely, you can sing or
read to baby, if not doing that already.

That will let her know it’s time to relax and fall asleep.

Mom took me off my soother at bedtime, last week. She gave me a
new stuffed teddy bear to cuddle. It worked!

You can also use a favorite blankie or doll.

OK, moms. I hope you find what works for your munchkin!

Have a great day!

 courtesy June Day and Sunshine @youtube.com

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