Pediatricians recommend limiting or eliminating the pacifier because of several reasons:

Even if the sucking reflex for babies is a need, pacifier weaning for teeth will be better as soon as early. Depending on how long and intense it is used, it might lead to dental problems (misalignment of the baby teeth).

Therefore, it’s worth weaning it slowly (ex: to offer only at bedtime).
Any shortening of the time with a pacifier reduces significantly the severity of any mouth misalignment, which may affect speech.

Speech therapists point out that too late pacifier weaning can negatively affect language development. In particular, sounds S- and Z- cause problems that’s why speech disorders occur such as a lisp.

The hiss is the most complicated part of the acquisition of language and can be practiced often by kids over the 3 years.

Another reason for pacifier weaning is ear infections. Pacifiers might cause
ear infections up to three times higher due to bacteria that enter the ear-nose-throat system.

Every kid is different, and some babies can self-soothe without pacifier use, but for others, there are other pacifier alternatives. While it might not be easy, raising without it, is possible.

Breastfeeding and comfort nursing is one ways of calming babies in many situations, particularly in the first year.

There are promoting ingredients for sleeping in breast milk and skin-to-skin contact release oxytocin known as the “love hormone” that soothes babies in addition. When babies fall asleep it’s an effective way to kick the pacifier.

Using a baby swing to soothe babies is a popular option for a pacifier alternative. It gives you more freedom to fulfill other tasks. Therefore, while being rocked, you can also do a shushing noise and take the pacifier away and have your kid nap in the swing.

Teething toys or teething rings are used to soothe babies’ gums when their teeth start coming in. They help in reducing teething pain and soothe sore gums.

Teething toys are made of natural materials such as silicone that are safe and soft to chew on, and can be used as pacifier alternatives.

Another popular option is using a special sleeping bag or sleep sack for comfort. They are designed for both baby and toddler sleepers and have many benefits over a pacifier.

They give babies something to hold onto, so if they wake up during the night, they’ll find comfort in the familiar fabric of their sleeping bag.

When it comes to pacifier alternatives for toddlers, stuffed animals are a great way to go. And the benefits don’t end there. Cuddle buddy or Lovey can offer more than just comfort – they can help children develop in a variety of ways, even if you have a baby shower.

Stuffed animals are perfect for providing an emotional connection for your child that no pacifier ever could.

Soft toys also make great playmates because they can be whatever your child imagines them to be! From pirates to princes, a soft toy can open up a world of creative play and help kids develop their imaginations to new heights.

Soft toy is an excellent alternative to pacifiers as your child grows older!

Using pacifiers appropriately, you hardly face impeding speech and speech development. However, prolonged pacifier use can cause speech sound disorders or a speech delay.

At the age of 1 parent should consider the frequency and duration of pacifier use. It might be helpful if, pacifiers are used during rest times of the day, which would include book reading, nap time, and bedtime.

At the age of 1 and 2 babies move from babbling to saying their first words and sentences. That’s why parents should encourage oftener “talk time” with them.

However, during “talk time” pacifiers might negatively impact the way toddlers produce sounds which may lead to articulation problems.

As parents, you may want to remove or avoid a pacifier. You may wonder how this can be done. There are a few tips and alternatives to pacifier soothing that can help:

The cold turkey method involves removing the pacifier without giving your child any warning or alternatives. It’s not recommended because it might cause distress and lead to your child being more stubborn in the future.

Instead, you can try the distraction technique, where you offer some sort of alternative when your child wants their pacifier.

This could include offering them a stuffed animal or a baby blanket to soothe themselves with instead of a pacifier.

The gradual withdrawal method is another option for discontinuing the child’s pacifier use. It involves gradually decreasing the time your child spends with a pacifier each day until they are no longer using it at all.

This may be less stressful for your child than abruptly removing it from them.
With any of these methods, parents need to stay firm and consistent in their decisions to reduce the other negative effects of the prolonged use of a pacifier.

There is no concrete time for the weaning process. It goes more slowly if you have a baby or toddler who uses it for the comfort of sleeping.

Some older babies have been sleeping with a pacifier since birth, they may awaken at night without really caring that it falls out and fall asleep again. But what if otherwise?

If falling out of the pacifier during sleep times bothers your child, a night light or a night light projector will be creative solutions that can help transition from the pacifier use.

By providing even a night light, a child can ease into bedtime without the need for a pacifier teat. Night lights provide a calming effect for your child to fall asleep, even if your child wakes up during the night.

Moreover, because a night light emits only low levels of light, you don’t have to worry about your little one’s eyes being exposed to too much brightness during the middle of the night while they sleep.

Pediatric dentists recommend limiting pacifier use at this age as it can lead to problems with the alignment of the teeth and changes in the shape of the roof of the baby’s mouth.

Most children are emotionally ready to kick it on their own. So, you might think that the day to say bye-bye to the pacifier is coming.

From time to time, you might say to your baby girl or boy something like, “When kids turn 3, the pacifier fairy flies away with the old pacifier and brings back a new toy! I wonder what will it be?”

The earlier a child can kick their sucking habit, the better! That’s why the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends reducing pacifier use by 18 months of age.

Frequent use of it will change the way the child’s teeth bite together, increase the chances of crooked teeth, and change how the jaw is aligned.

When it comes to soothing without a pacifier, give your toddler a new toy to smooth the transition or give a sippy cup to substitute pacifier sucking. Sippy cups may help with breast and bottle weaning as well.

For a crying baby, the white noise machine can be a good solution. White noise helps to calm down and improve sleep. Some babies love to hear white noise.