DS2 is a paci lover. He's 16 months and has gotten to the point where he asks for it during the day. We typically do not let him have it unless it's nap or bed time (or if he's sick). But sometimes he will find a paci somewhere random and then SCORE! He has it and doesn't want to give it up!
I was thinking of trying to wean him totally by 18 months. We have a new baby coming when he's 22 months and I want the paci to be ancient history by then.
When did you paci wean?
44 votes
grapefruit / 4545 posts
2.5 years and still rocking the paci. K loves it too much...she only uses it at night and does not have it in her mouth all night so I dont feel as bad and concerned for her teeth!
We are starting the process now though...we have planted the seed that "big girls dont need binky's..." and told her that when she is ready to give it up she will get a special present (Radio Flyer Pink Tricycle). We plan to make her throw it out (I'm going to keep a back up at the house just IN CASE) so she knows its gone.
The other night she said she was ready to get rid of it but when I told her mommy still needed to order her present she said "then I'll keep my binky for now"...little sneak! Hopefully it will be gone in a month or so...
squash / 13199 posts
we did it at the 10 month mark. All the dentists and doctors kept saying that once she gets over a year it will start impacting her teeth,additionally she was getting so many ear infections. It was tough to do because she was addicted to her pacifier but within a week the worst was over
nectarine / 2173 posts
LO is almost 13 months. Since 11 months she has not had a paci at daycare. We started giving it to her only for naps and bedtime and if she gets too fussy in the car. We have an international trip at the end of the month so we decided not to fully break the habit until we get back. So should be weaned by 14 months.
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
uggggh we need to wean lo--she just turned 2. she doesn't use one at daycare but does almost constantly at home...
squash / 13208 posts
We waited until after the sibling arrived - DS was 2yrs 8 months - it went very smoothly
watermelon / 14467 posts
She only gets it at night and for naps at home, but we need to do it soon. She's 2.5 and will have a new sibling when she turns three. I'd like her to be potty trained and not using the paci by then. There's only one, so at least I don't have multiple ones hanging out.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
You and I both... K developed the obsession recently too and wants it all the time. I too, want it gone by 18 months (so I really have 2 more months, ahhh). I'm starting to think it's not realistic! I def want it gone before I get pregnant with #2 b/c then I probably won't have the energy/will power to take it away from her haha.
kiwi / 603 posts
We did it right before 14 months over thanksgiving weekend so we could have some bad nights but not have to work the next day. Not gonna lie, it was rough for two nights. We had already been only using the paci for sleep since she was 4 months but she was so addicted! We cut off the end of her favorite wubbanub and made it into a lovey. First night she cried for about an hour. The next night it was about 40 minutes. The third night was a few minutes and we were in the clear after that. I'm glad we did it earlier cause it was just one less thing to worry about.
blogger / nectarine / 2043 posts
We are 2 months shy of her 3rd birthday and still haven't done it. She only uses it at night and I really want to ditch it but I'm procrastinating big time because it seems to help calm her down for bedtime and she's a pretty active kid who takes forever to settle down.
cantaloupe / 6923 posts
I need to!!! But we have some big things coming up so we want to wait til life goes back to normal. I'm so scared!!!!!
nectarine / 2878 posts
We weaned DS1 around 17/18 months, a couple of months before DS2 arrived. He did really well.
pomelo / 5791 posts
DS1 was a little over 2, but only used it for sleep. It went smoothly.
DS2 is almost 18 months, and uses it a lot more frequently than DS1. The boys just started sharing a room, and they have a sister on the way, so I don't see getting rid of it anytime soon. I'd like to cut the use back to just sleeping though. We will probably wait until he is 2 or so.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@LBee: nooooooo we haven't. ugh! he's 25 months and I thought we'd do it over the holidays but he was quite sick so we delayed. He only gets it for naps and bed. We are due with a baby at end of June/early July so my new goal is April 
nectarine / 2262 posts
16 month old here, try to stick to nap/bedtime/car and he's generally ok with not having it during the day. The main problem is he will find one like under the couch or on the floor or something and then it's like JACKPOT PACI!!! And forget taking it away. 
I worry a bit about teeth, but at night it seems like it usually falls out of his mouth after he's asleep for a while, so maybe it's not so bad? It's not a battle I'm willing to fight right now.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@MrsADS: pacifier doesn't affect tooth development until age 3
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
We were soooo "lucky"... Like 2 weeks before DD1's 2nd birthday, she got coxsackie in her throat and swallowing was so painful that she stopped using the paci herself... So we took the chance and just stopped giving them to her and she only asked for it a few times, never really cried for it and that was that! Otherwise, I don't know how we could've done it!
pear / 1974 posts
A month before Jack's 2nd birthday, we had a binky "retirement ceremony" and surprisingly, it worked well! He only relied on it for naps and sleep, but he loved it, so I was a little worried but after 2-3 restless nights we haven't looked back! It helped to wean him at that point because when he would ask for it, I would remind him of our little "ceremony" and he would be sad but he would remember and understand. I think we would have had a harder time if we tried to take it away before this point.
pomegranate / 3375 posts
Our 3 year old still needs hers to sleep at home. She doesn't use it at school or during the day. It's the bane of my existence, haha.
If our next LO takes a paci, I will wean them at 12 months.
pomelo / 5298 posts
We took a cold turkey approach with both kids. Our older had it until 17 months for naps/sleep (including at daycare). We took it away one Friday night and never looked back.
Our younger had hers taken away by daycare before 12 months. She still had it at home. We had weened her down to just naps/sleep with the goal of taking it away at 18 months (post vacation). My DH held me accountable and we took it away the night we returned from vacation (had it for the flight home).
Our younger is just over two and she now chews/sucks on the tags on Jellycat's. Only Jellycats. And she has about 10 in her bed. Once it's wet, its discarded for another.
coconut / 8472 posts
We did it gradually and he was done by 2.5. We started restricting it to car and bed, then just bed. Then daycare stopped giving it at nap. We stopped giving it at nap and then they all started breaking. DH had DStgeow the last one away. Then when DS asked about it we'd just remind him he threw it away. Was actually way easier than I expected.
apricot / 315 posts
Our timelines are exactly the same! 16 month old who will be 22 months when number 2 arrives
nectarine / 2047 posts
@Mrsbells: @wrkbrk: I'm wondering too! Our ENT said it helps them but I'm curious to hear what others say
pomegranate / 3375 posts
@Mrsbells: @peaches1038: Our ENT and dentist said it shouldn't impact her until 4ish, when the mouth structure starts to get harder. We've not struggled with ear issues, so I'm sure it depends on the child. Also, our LO has already knocked a tooth out, so I know braces are in her future. 
apricot / 399 posts
We weaned on her 3rd birthday. She was a total addict at night and nap, but it had been at least a year since she had used it at other times. I had some anxiety about how long it went on, but I'm glad we waited. She was old enough and rational enough to understand when we told her that she was now a big girl and big girls don't need pacifiers. She gave them a hug and a kiss goodbye and that was that. The first couple of nights were a little hard, but she adjusted quickly. I sometimes suspect that we would have gotten her to nap for longer (she dropped it shortly thereafter) if we would have let her keep the paci, but I think it was time.
FWIW, we had a one month old when we did this. We weren't sleeping anyway, so...
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@winniebee: but it affects the palette of the mouth from the beginning. The damage is done by 11 months.
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