How Do I Get My Child To Give Up The Pacifier?
Author: Dr. Sarah Mischo, DMD
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, so we are going to focus on the ever-recurring topic of pacifier use and thumb habits. While thumb-sucking and pacifier use are a normal part of child development, either of these habits can cause long-term dental problems it they continue too far into childhood.
As most parents know, there is nothing worse than an inconsolable, screaming child in the middle of the night. If your child likes a pacifier, then this small piece of plastic can be a godsend if it lulls your child back to sleep. Babies also have a natural rooting or suckling habit that may lead them to eventually finding their finger or thumb for comfort, other children may prefer using a pacifier to get the sense of comfort they can offer. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a pacitier habit over a thumb habit whenever possible. Pacitiers can easily be tossed in the trash, where thumbs are forever!
Many children will discontinue the habit of pacifier use or sucking on their thumb on their own between the age of 2 to 4 years old. Parents are encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry to actively discourage the use of the pacifier and thumb habit by the age of 3 years old, if possible. If a prolonged habit remains beyond this age, it can affect the child’s tooth position, jaw development, bite, and even speech. The earlier the child can quit the sucking habit, the better the chances are the child won’t need orthodontic intervention.
How to break the habit? There are a couple different methods parents can use:
- The first method is going cold turkey. Collect all the pacifiers from around your house and simply get rid of them. This will lead to some tears, but try to replace the pacifier with something else such as a blanket or stuffed animal. Keeping your child engaged in activities will also help take their mind off the fact they wanted the pacifier in the first place. If you decide to go the cold turkey route, it is important to make sure all caretakers are on board with this method.
- If you aren’t ready to go cold turkey, decide to limit the pacifier to only at nap times or bedtimes and gradually start to decrease the time the child is allowed to have the pacifier.
- Another alternative, find a toy that your child is really excited about and tell them once they give up the pacifier they can have the toy.
- If there is an older sibling at home that may be getting visits from the tooth fairy, you can try some good old-fashioned peer pressure. Tell the younger child that the tooth fairy’s good friend the ‘paci-fairy’ will come and visit them if they put their pacifier under their pillow for her to take
How to discourage a child from sucking their thumb? This habit is a little harder to break, but here a couple ideas on how to discourage thumb or finger sucking:
- Place a glove over the finger or thumb
- Use ‘anti-bite‘ nail polish. It has a bitter taste that most children don’t like
- Praise the child for not sucking on their thumb or finger, instead of scolding them
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