Weaning from a pacifier.

[marie521]

My daughter just turned one at the beginning of this month. I almost have her off the 3am bottle (we have had a couple setbacks). She is very attached to her pacifier. I know it soothes and helps her fall asleep, but she is to the point if I take it out of her mouth while she's dead asleep she starts scream crying. I want to break her of her pacifier simply because I don't want her teeth to shift and have narrow/high pallets. Is there an easier, quieter way instead of going 'cold turkey'? Please help!!

[ginny60]

I would not worry about  taking it away my daughter is 40 she had hers till she was 4 carried one in her little purse and had one around her neck at all times, great teeth never needed braces, grandson who has other issues today did have several all over the house they were. your choice but if it makes her happy and gives you somepeace why mess with it.

[skepticalpeach]

I also do not believe this is true. IMO I would not take away the pacifier yet, but then I breast fed my daughter until she was almost 2. She is 5 and we still let her use her pacifier at night ONLY. The thing is with my daughter is that she's autistic and needs to chew/suck on something to calm down. She doesn't like the regular chewers they give autistic children so we settled for a pacifier at scheduled times. My family has always believed that you should never take away items like a blankie, stuffed animal, or pacifier (of course they can't bring these to school though!).

[Sandman2]

   Ya, I am pretty sure that you can buy pacifiers that will not harm teeth location.  My daughter is 33 and used a pacifier for a long time and never had any problem.  Don't know where you are getting this information, but I think it is wrong.

[adgal]

Well.....not really.  And honestly, I would just leave her alone with it.  I asked my pediatrician about problems resulting from pacifier use and she said that there is no evidence that there actually is an issue.  We weaned my son from in at 6 months old because it would fall out of his mouth while sleeping, and he would wake up screaming.  This was happening every 15 minutes, so we just took it away.  One night and he was fine.  He switched to his thumb and now at 27 months still ***** his thumb. No big deal, we aren't bugging him about it at all.  Check with a specialist to see if they truly believe this is a problem.  I'll bet they tell you it's fine.