Learn how to get rid of the pacifier for even the most attached, stubborn toddlers.

Pacifiers are a great comforter, but often children become very attached to them when used for a long time.

That can make it really difficult to wean your child off the pacifier when the time comes.

This simple 5 step pacifier weaning system will help you ditch the pacifier for good.

Many parents struggle to get rid of the dummy (that's what we call pacifiers here in Australia, so they continue to use it to avoid the tantrums and tears that come when they try to remove it.

However, prolonged pacifier use can have long term implications for children, so it is important to cease pacifier use as early as you can.

The steps you'll learn in this article are a gradual, gentle approach to wean off pacifier use once and for all.

5 Proven Steps to Get Rid Of The Pacifier For Good

Do This First!

Stopping the use of a pacifier doesn't have to be a traumatic experience for you and your toddler.

The main reason getting rid of a pacifier is so hard is because children become very attached to them over the years.

They're usually reliant on it to help calm them in stressful situations as well as to soothe themselves to sleep.

And for this reason, you need to do it gradually.

The very first step is to help reduce the use of the pacifier throughout the day, and ideally restrict the use to only naps and bedtime.

Now, for some toddlers, restricting the pacifier to naps and bedtime might be too big of a jump.

And if that is the case, an alternative approach is to establish pacifier free times at times of low stress.

Meaning, times of the day when your toddler is most comfortable and less likely to be stressed.

So for example, you might remove the pacifier when your toddler is at home, happily playing, but continue to give them the pacifier when they're outside traveling in the car, as well as during naps and bedtime.

Then as they become comfortable with not having the pacifier while playing at home, you could extend that pacifier free time to include car trips and outside play, and only offer the pacifier for naps and bedtime.

Don’t Miss This Vital Step!

Now, one challenge that you might experience as you start to limit the pacifier use to just naps and bedtimes only is your child actually won't have the pacifier to pop into their mouth to soothe themselves when they become distressed during the day.

For example, in the past, if your toddler became upset when you told them it was time to leave the playground, you would've automatically given them the pacifier to help calm them back down.

Now, because they're so used to using the pacifier as a soothing tool, and it's no longer available to them, you will need to help them develop new strategies to cope with those big emotions like anger, frustration, and sadness.

So some alternative strategies that you could actually try with your little one is talking to them about what is upsetting them, labeling their emotions, giving them a cuddle and reassurance, or doing some deep breathing, or offering them a toy to cuddle.

If we were to use leaving the playground example again, instead of giving them the pacifier when they get upset, you would first label their emotions.

The way you do that is to identify the emotion by saying something like, "I can see you are feeling frustrated.

I understand it's frustrating when you're having fun and we have to leave.

The key is to label the emotion in a way that's not negative, and communicate to them that you understand how they're feeling.

Then, you would suggest an alternative calming strategy for your toddler to use instead.

So you might say, "It's hard leaving the park.

Do you want a cuddle or do you want to cuddle your teddy?" This will help teach your child new ways to cope with their big emotions like sadness, frustration, and anger instead of using a pacifier as the first line of defense.

And once they have those skills, it will make removing the pacifier completely much easier when the time comes.

When you are helping your little one learn these alternative coping strategies, it can be extremely helpful if you know what level of communication skills they have at each age.

So make sure you click on the link in the description box below to get access to the free communication milestone chart, so you'll know what to expect in regards to your child's language skills at 12 months of age all the way up to four years of age.

Choose The Best Time To Get Rid Of The Pqcifier!

Now, once you've managed to limit your toddler's use of the pacifier to naps and bedtimes, it's time to decide on a date to get rid of it for good.

The most important thing here is choosing a date when your household is calm and in a regular routine.

You're going to have a higher chance of success, and the transition will be a lot smoother if your toddler is calm.

Therefore, you should avoid removing the pacifier when you're in the middle of things like toilet training, moving house, changing jobs, changing childcare services, or a sibling is arriving.

How To Prepare Your Toddler/Child

All right, so once you've decided on the date, it's time to prepare your toddler.

By preparing your toddler for the big transition and letting them know that you will be there to help them through it, you are reducing the likelihood that your toddler will have a very big reaction when the pacifier suddenly disappear.

If your child is under three years of age, make sure you stay calm, and simply state what is going to happen when you tell them you are getting rid of their pacifier.

If your child is three and over, it can be extremely helpful and motivating to actually involve them in the process of choosing a special date to ditch the pacifier, as well as discussing where they want the pacifiers to go.

So for example, they may choose to pack all their pacifiers up on Christmas Eve, and give them to Santa to use to make new toys for other kids.

In addition to involving them in the process at this age, another good idea is to swap the pacifier for a gift, and this can help to provide your toddler with a little bit extra motivation to give up the pacifiers, and make that overall experience feel a little bit more positive for them.

What To Do On The Big Day (best time of day to remove the pacifier).

Now, let's talk about what to do when the big date arrives.

So on the date that you've decided, it's time to collect all the pacifiers in the house, the next steps actually depends on your child's age and your plan for getting rid of the pacifiers.

So if your toddler is under three years of age, you would simply inform your child that today is the day that we say goodbye to the pacifiers, and collect all the pacifiers following their midday nap.

If your child is over three years of age, and the pacifiers are going to be re-gifted, then you would wrap the pacifiers up in a box, and say goodbye to them well before bedtime.

So if they have a midday nap, then you would do it after that midday nap.

Then at bedtime, you would simply help your toddler fall asleep without offering them the pacifier.

Now, the reason you remove the pacifier at bedtime first, and not before a nap, for example, is because your toddler circadian rhythm and sleep pressure will actually be working together to help your little one fall asleep.

And this means that your toddler is more likely to have success falling asleep without the use of the pacifier.

Now, it is important to acknowledge that those first few nights without the pacifier may be challenging, because your toddler has to learn how to fall asleep without actually sucking on a pacifier.

So you will need to be empathetic and prepared to provide more comfort than usual during naps and bedtimes.

But it's really important that you do not give the pacifier back.

I know it is hard, but if you give the pacifier back to your child after they've cried, screamed, or kicked for 10, 20, 30 minutes, you'll only encourage your child to do this every single night, and it will make it that much harder to get rid of the pacifier.

And just remember that your toddler's sleep and behavior will get better.

In fact, most kids adapt in less than a week.

In addition to experiencing sleep challenges, your toddler is also highly likely to tantrum more frequently during this period of adjustment.

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