11 yr old pacifier

[eb1960]

How abnormal/normal is it for a 11 yr old to still want to suck on a pacifier at night?  

[rebbecca]

i think it would be very abnormal, my son isnt 2 yet and he doesnt have a pacifier anymore.

[oldmum]

It seems quite abnormal to me, but I never gave any of my children pacifiers to start with.

If you however concider thumb sucking to be the same as pacifier sucking, my almost 12 year old daughter still sucks her thumb at night and when watching TV. We want her to stop but she won't!

Does your child still want the pacifier whilst sleeping over somewhere with other children?

[Pattyh1]

My 10 year old niece does the same thing. All I know is my brother is going to have a big orthodontist bill because it has ruined her teeth. I suggest that pacifiers are taken away at age one while they can be taken away. Maybe give her something to look forward to like pierced ears or  buy a body pillow to get cozy. And plan a funeral for all the pacifiers to put a closing to it.

[wannabenana]

It's very abnormal and I blame the parents.

[RockRose]

eb,  this is a little unusual,  but it seems harmless.  

[CMR_5]

I really think that it is abnormal. Since I don't know you, I just want to ask, does your child have any behavioral issues? If not, Letting your child throw away or have some kind of cerimony for letting the pacifier go. At older ages like 11 or so, your child should really be able to deal with not having the pacifier. I'm not a doctor, but I am a nurse and I have devoted much of my time to my own 3 children. I will not badmouth any parent who is going through this. It can be very hard if you don't have the skills to know exactly what to do.......but you are here for advice and help. I agree with one of the other posters about replacing the pacifier with something else that might be comforting. It's almost like taking the pacifier away from a baby or very young todler even though your child is older. It can be hard on parents because we love our kids so much and don't want to see them upset, but it's for the best and that is the way that you have to look at it. It can cause dental problems as well as social problems. It's best to break the habit asap. Another idea that may work if your child won't go for the going away party for the pacifier is to put something that doesn't taste good on the part that they suck on (ie. the stuff you use to stop nail biting or hot sauce) Whatever you decide to do, just stick with it and be consistant.

[kyle167]

I am a 18 year old kid and i had pacifier at night until i was around 13, it did not efect my teeth, my uncle is a child phsycoligist he told me this is more commen then most people think,your 11 year will give it up himself soon like i did dont worry about **** other people say .

[Rosie84]

I have to respond to this. My 12-1/2 year old daughter still uses a pacifier. She would be humiliated if her younger siblings or friends knew. She may not use them every night. I don't know if she uses them to fall asleep or in the middle of the night. Every time we have checked on her, she does not have them in her mouth. She is in the top of her class. She is an excellent athlete. She went away to science camp with her class for one week without them. She went to tennis camp this summer for one week without them. I am not worried that she will go to college with them. She needs them under her pillow. I think she is using them less and less. I drink coffee every morning. I look at it the same way. And yes, she is going to an orthodontist.

[Bibi2504]

Hi... I'm 29 yo and I'm a normal guy, except one thing... I still suck on a pacifier every night. I realize that's not a normal habit but I can't help myself. I don't bother anyone. I don't want to stop this habit. But if she really wants to give it up, she' ll do it herself.

[mommylove30]

Last year I saw my then 13 year old daughter sucking on one of her old pacifiers she had when she was much younger (about 3 years old).  I had a talk with her and asked her why she was sucking it and she said she had been sucking it on occasion for several years without my knowing.  I told her that I never heard of such an old girl still sleeping with a pacifier but I told her if she's going to sleep sucking a pacifier, I would have to replace the old and worn out one she had.  To sum it up, I replaced it and I still occasionally see her sleeping with it in her mouth but my husband and I don't say anything and it hasn't been an issue so far with the dentist.  Hope this helps...

[AkiraClaymore]

To be all honest with anyone here.  There's nothing wrong with sucking on a pacifier at night every night or even sucking on it when alone, its a very good source for comfort.  No matter how ANYONE puts it, even a 30 year old could do it and feel the same way.  I mean for goodness sake, its not like these people are sucking it 24/7 and in front of public.  I think you should allow your child to keep sucking on the paci' Just make sure you make some simple "rules" but I doubt you'll ever need to speak of those kinds of rules, most people who STILL suck on their binky don't just go out and say "oh hi, I'm sucking on a pacifier still, because I can, and I want to embarrass myself by showing you all"  In-fact some children like to hold on to SOMETHING because it comforts them, just like when you were little and you always watched your favorite cartoon and that was one of your sources of comfort.  No one should take away a item that is of comfort to them.  If its a pacifier then just lay some rules down for it when your child gets older, don't replace it either, not unless you can't use it, otherwise just keep cleaning it and put it in storage or whatever.  Moving on, I'm 20 years old, and I suck on my pacifiers during random times, which is only on occasion.  My teeth are well aligned.  Truth be told, parents are paranoid that their child will get really bad teeth, but the thing is, everyone is different so its just like anything else, its like saying "omg, stop breathing in smoke from that cigar, you'll get cancer" yet people get cancer even without being around smoke.  Everyone's body is different, no matter how you put it, the only way to go is to be the best judger of yourself.  Also, let me lay this down, I've done plenty of research for both "theories" because that's what they are.  I was 7 years old before I gave up my pacifier and put it in storage.  Again, a 6 or 7 year old kid isn't going to take their paci' to school, they know distinctively that it would be embarrassing, so they leave it home.  I've finished my rant.  I'm sure everyone gets my point now.  I hope this helped you out and other people too!  ^ ^    

Akira Claymore ~