When is the best time to start weaning our child off pacifiers? How can we help him adapt and make this transition easier? All babies need to satisfy their sucking reflex. Whether through breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, pacifier use or thumb sucking.

Delaying weaning is not without risk

It’s important to note that delaying weaning can have serious repercussions for young children. For this reason, the Pediatric Society recommends that weaning from pacifiers should start at 12 months.

The review of the literature for the purposes of this post does not allow us to find a common and unanimous guideline among health organizations as to exactly when it is best for parents to begin weaning from pacifiers. However, we can say that a large number of early childhood specialists agree that the need to suck tends to diminish significantly, naturally, from the age of 18 months onwards, and advise that pacifier weaning should be started slowly.

Why initiate pacifier weaning?

Frequent pacifier use in young children (over the age of 2) can be a major cause of recurrent ear infections, as well as having a negative influence on learning and development.

Here are some examples:

• Social and emotional development, as the 2-year-old is faced with an accumulation of new emotions. He must learn to cope and manage them by finding comfort outside the pacifier.
• When teeth emerge, the alignment of teeth and the proper functioning of mouth structures (jaw, palate, musculature, tongue mobility, etc.) can be adversely affected by repeated, persistent thumb or pacifier sucking. Orthodontic pacifiers in no way protect against the possible repercussions of longer-term use on future dentition.
• Language development depends on well-coordinated movements of the lips, tongue and larynx. Delayed weaning from pacifiers can lead to misalignment of the tongue, resulting in problems with pronunciation (for example, speaking on the tip of the tongue) and swallowing (for example, mismanaging the accumulation of saliva in the mouth).

Since every child is different, it’s obvious that many of them will continue to spontaneously ask for their pacifier after the age of 2, and they’ll definitely need their parent’s support to get through this transition. That’s why, for prevention, we recommend that parents gradually limit the use of pacifiers from 12-18 months.

How do you make this transition?

Methods for weaning off the pacifier

There’s no doubt that gradual weaning is the best way to make this transition smoother. Cutting your child off from this comfort overnight could create insecurity, as well as big reactions that no one wants to face.

Of course, every child has his or her own rhythm, but it’s you, the parent, who can best accompany your child by offering presence and kindness. To do this, why not try a playful activity with your child that will touch his imagination, encourage good times with you and reduce the more negative reactions.

For a young child, letting go of his pacifier means experiencing a separation, a sort of mourning, which takes time. That’s why it’s important for parents to be ready, consistent and reassuring, but firm, maintaining the measures that will be gradually put in place to avoid creating even more insecurity in the little one.

Here are a few interesting tips to help with parenting a little one who is weaning off his pacifier:

• Between the ages of 18 months and 2 years, you can limit pacifier use to night-time and naps only. Start by cutting off pacifiers when your child is awake in the morning for a few days, then gradually start cutting them off in the afternoon.
• Explain to your child that he/she is now a big boy/girl and doesn’t need his/her pacifier as often. During the day, you can hide pacifiers out of the child’s sight to avoid confronting him/her with the ban. After bedtime, invite the child to say bye bye to his pacifier, until the next bedtime. This invites the child to cooperate with you.
• Offer to compensate for the loss of his pacifier by giving him a cuddly toy or stuffed animal, so that he can find comfort in other ways. You can also read him a happy story in which the star child lets go of his pacifier and is very happy.
• If he’s angry or sad, welcome his emotion by naming it (Are you sad?) and offering reassuring support, without requiring him to use the pacifier.
• Take advantage of a special situation to initiate the change, such as your child’s birthday (he’s all grown up now), when his friend at daycare runs out of pacifiers (by imitation), when a new baby is born and he needs a pacifier, so you’ll send him his own (involve him in packing)…
• Avoid initiating change at a time when your child is feeling less well. For example, if he’s ill, or going through another transition such as the arrival of a little brother or sister, moving house, starting daycare…
• During this process, it’s very important to hide all the pacifiers in the house, to prevent him from finding one and regressing through the process.
• When he talks about or looks for his pacifier, suggest a pleasant activity to take his mind off it. Play outside, draw, do crafts…
• Praise his cooperation frequently. Acknowledge and encourage his efforts and positive reactions, and keep his negative reactions to yourself along the way.
• It’s also possible to cut off the tip of the silicone (or rubber) pacifier to eliminate the swollen part needed for good sucking. This will make the child dislike sucking and may lead to more spontaneous weaning. You’ll soon see him abandon his habit, which has become less satisfying. Make sure that the cut part remains solid, to avoid detachment and the risk of choking.
• Use a calendar of successes, with fun stickers or smiley faces to get a little surprise after a few days, in the spirit of positive reinforcement.

Always remember that there’s no magic bullet when it comes to transitioning with children, but your love, support and attentiveness are always at the root of much comfort. It’s sure that children will have to traverse unknown paths throughout their lives, and the lessons they learn in early childhood with their parents will have a definite impact on their future and the development of their confidence to dare in complete safety.

Marie Fortier
The baby expert