Pacifier

[Thumper]

i have a 19 month old and would like to know if it's too early to take the pacifier away.

[iris986]

A related discussion, The use of pacifiers in Toddlers was started.

[Emily Ann]

Are you aware that a just-published medical study found that children who used pacifiers have a MUCH higher incidence of ear infections ( this was in the national news yesterday...I'm sure you can find it on the Web) . Also, kids who depend on the pacifier never learn to sel-soothe. And, as a speech researcher, Ii can tell you that it is definitely related to langauge delays ( if it is over-used).

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

You'll receive various points of view about this - there's no right or wrong. My guidance is to wait until your child loses the need for the pacifier. There's really no need to take it away. The only obstacle at this age is when the child uses the pacifier at bedtime and wakes up during the night without it and then is upset and cries for the pacifier. But, if your child doesn't use it at bedtime or doesn't have a problem during the night, I wouldn't worry about it.