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787406 tn?1339203183

The use of pacifiers in Toddlers

Children above the age of 1 and 1/2 should not be using a pacifier. It ruins their teeth for one and makes them have buck teeth. The second reason, it is harder on the parents trying to get their child down for naps or nighttime without it.The third reason is that children need to learn to soothe themselves and find other ways of comforting themselves other than a pacifier.


This discussion is related to Pacifier.
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973741 tn?1342342773
Well, the nervous system is a mysterious thing and every child is different.  Many kids naturally potty train (other than being shown where the potty is) and just kind of get it.  These are the kids that parents will say at 2 . . . she's dry all night long!  And other kids don't get the signals at night if they are sound sleepers.  Extremely common.  In fact, statistics show that 10 to 12 % of kids up to age EIGHT or NINE will not have a strong enough signal from their nervous system to wake at night to urinate.  THAT is why the diapers go up to the weight limit you describe kooberz.  Really, parenting rarely has much to do with the later years and soiling/wetting issues.  It is kids that are 3ish that it seems difficult to get started the task of potty training in which a parent can make a difference.  But many a child is quite obstinate about it.  Things go much easier when a child is excited about potty training and overstressed parents who think it has to be done the minute they say so compound the problem.  Usually takes longer that way.  I backed off and kind of let my kids take the lead.  Two beautiful potty trained kids later . . . all is well.  

The US national average age for potty training in boys is 3.5 and slightly earlier for girls.  

All kids are different and while there are a lot of bad parents out there . . . it helps to stay informed about the subject.  Lots of Grandparents think they can do it better . . . but judgement lends itself to hard feelings.  Many parents are doing the best they can.  Good luck to all parents as they make decisions for their own children.  
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879179 tn?1287503465
I think that is really sad if she is not potty trained because her parents won't 'take the time' to potty train her.  I just feel sorry for kids that are older and still are not potty trained and things like that.  I realize that some kids are harder to train then others, sometimes there are other circumstances that makes it harder for them to catch on to using the potty .... but I have often wondered if the reason why baby diapers go up to like 70 + pounds is because many people just can't find or make the time to work with their children and potty train them.  If she knows when she has to go, I think it would just take a little encouragement from you, I'm sure she will get to where she wants to use the potty.  Good luck.
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973741 tn?1342342773
Well, first------------ it doesn't make kids teeth permanently buck.  Um . . . those baby teeth fall out, remember?  And not usually until age 5.5 or 6 does the average first lower tooth fall out.  The structure of the jaw is not affected by a pacifier.  Now, the soft palate, on the other hand is.  And early on---------- the use of a pacifier is actually beneficial for this.  Soothing and self soothing is really important for children psychologically.  S ucking is the first form of self regulation to the nervous system.  Actually many adults are still using it---------- smoking and gum chewing are examples.  

I have read about speech issues with prolonged usage of pacifiers but honestly,  know not  one kid affected in this way.  Neither of my boys ever took a pacifier but have nieces, nephews and friends kids that certainly have.  And none have had a speech issue.  

So personally, I wouldn't worry about this.  They won't go down the wedding aisle with it and might just need the soothing and comfort of it.  You can have a rule about only at bed time if you wish as many kids past 2 do.  They have to leave it in their bed.  

But, I guess every family must do what they feel is best in this regard.  I never had the issue myself . . . couldn't get those kids to take a paci no matter how hard I tried!  LOL
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535822 tn?1443976780
well use the reward method for that, she gets a small reward when she does 'go' each time,ha ha she sounds very cute and every normal ...
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787406 tn?1339203183
We have tried everything you have mentioned and she knows when she has to go, she just doesn't like sitting still, she would rather be playing, for her it just takes too much time.LOL
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535822 tn?1443976780
Many times childen dont potty train permanently till they are around 3, in my experience if its done too early they often regress, but certainly now you daughter should be starting the training its easier when they are 3 as they comprehend more, how about you buy your granddaughter some pretty underpants with the lovely pictures on them the diapers/pullups should be removed, if she has an accident thats okay, say nothing no rebuking, also at 3 she can use the big potty and have a little step to climb up. Lots of praise making her feel clever I found helps.She'll get there .good Luck
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
  We always felt that it would be easier to get rid of the pacifier then the thumb.  Both of our children used a pacifier.  No teeth problems and I don't believe that there is any scientific research showing that it causes a problem.  I've got a feeling that you object more to seeing an older kid running around with a pacifier in their mouth.  Heck, I don't like seeing boys running around with there pants down to their knees, but I don't think taking away their pants when they were younger would solve that problem.   As margypops said, we all have different viewpoints.
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787406 tn?1339203183
My Granddaughter is 3 years old and her parents were letting her keep her pacifier just so she wouldn't scream when she didn't get her way. I broke her of that pacifier in one day and now she has learned to cuddle with her doll or do other things to soothe herself. She is also not potty trained because her parents won't take the time to potty train her.
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535822 tn?1443976780
See its not our opinions that matter,it doesnt matter if you see someone else's kid of 4 sucking on a p. accie ..its up to the Mom and Dad how they raise their child, sucking is important and its not the same as hugging a blanket, if the paccie is taken away too soon that child goes onto suck his thumb Again there are no hard and fast rules about this we all think differantly ,its what works for the child ,after all how does it affect adults ,because you hate to 'see' it ....what does that mean .ha ha we all have differant view points ...
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879179 tn?1287503465
I don't want to tell anyone how to raise their kids but with that said ....
I TOTALLY agree with you.  I HATE to see older kids running around with pacifiers in their mouths.  I weaned Jade off the pacifier at about 4 months, and at that young of an age, she didn't miss it much.  Now I guess I will see how addicted she is to sucking her thumb .... but that's another thing lol.

I can remember bits and peices of when I was 2 years old and quite a bit about being 3 and above.  I would be completely embarassed if I would have been like some of these kids today, running around sucking on pacifiers and wearing diapers almost all the way to kindergarten.  

All the above is totally MOO, to each their own!!
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787406 tn?1339203183
The way I see it there are too many things that will help a child soothe themselves than having a pacifier in their mouth. I know sucking is a great way to soothe. And this is only my opinion. Many parents out there today are letting their child have them over the age of 4 years old and that is just to old.

What about learning to cuddle with a doll or a woobie blanket, anything is better than a pacifier.
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535822 tn?1443976780
I disagree with the age group you talk about, I have known many mothers who have had their children use a paccy for up to 3 years old and no they do not have 'buck' teeth,.Children find the sucking very soothing ,it is entirly up to the parent in their decision, too many rulkes nowadays by governments and the powers that be telling us what to do and how to feed our children ..I will say one thing that if the child is showing a disinterest in the paccie younger is easier,what we did with my kids pacifiers, is at about 2 years old we popped them in a bag and told her they were going off to the chlildren who didnt have one ,then threw them out, she only yelled for a day and a night we got her a pretty new baby doll and she immediatly started sucking on the dolls toes ...
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