Using and Losing the Pacifier
My first child never wanted a pacifier. I tried at times to give her one, mostly because I thought it might calm her down and make my life slightly easier, but she really didn?t care for it.
When my second child was born, she was quite ill. When she was several days old, she was admitted to a Children?s Hospital because of intestinal issues. In order to prepare for the intestinal surgery in a few days, she was put on an IV to keep her hydrated. I was not allowed to feed her. I still remember how she would scream because she was hungry!
When I picked her up to comfort her, she?d scream louder and try to nurse. It was just horrible. I ended up letting her lay in her crib and trying to console her by rubbing her tiny little back because that was the best option I had at the time. One of her nurses suggested I try a pacifier to help calm her down. The pacifier worked! I was thrilled, but I remember thinking?what have I just done? I?d heard stories about how hard it can be to get a child to give up a pacifier.
I now have 3 other children. My third child liked to suck her thumb rather than use a pacifier. I thought this was a good thing, but actually it wasn?t. I found that a thumb can actually do more damage to your child?s teeth than a pacifier can! Of all of my children, it was hardest to get my 4th child to give up her pacifier. She kept it until she was 4 years old! However, we were also in the midst of a stressful family situation at the time. Perhaps that was her way of coping? When the situation resolved itself, she did give up the pacifier.
My youngest son is now 18 months old and we are weaning him from his pacifier which he used occasionally. Truly, he is so busy exploring his world that he doesn?t miss it during the day. At night, he still likes to have his pacifier and his favorite blanket. I am ok with this. Eventually, he will outgrow his blanket and his pacifier. Eventually, he will be potty trained too. When I get stressed, I need to remember to take it one step at a time and to remember that growing is a process, not just a series of tasks that need to be mastered immediately.
If your child uses a pacifier, there will be opportunities to give up the habit as he grows. Some helpful hints: resist the urge to give him his pacifier every time he cries or throws a temper tantrum. If you notice that the pacifier has fallen out of his mouth when he?s playing, let it out if he really could care less about it. In other words, resist the urge to use the pacifier as a crutch. If your infant doesn’t really like the pacifier, don’t force it upon him.
Have you used a pacifier with your children? When did your children give up their pacifiers?
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