You could say the same for all the kids who can’t sleep in the same room as other people, or without blackout curtains or without sound machines. |
Same here. Two of my three kids loved the pacifier for sleep/rest. We had rules, only in bed, in the stroller or car seat. Never playing, walking around.
I sucked my thumb until kindergarten. I remember trying to quit, it was tough, but I only sucked my thumb in bed by then. My parents were very chill about it, they bought me a doll as a reward for trying to quit and were supportive but did not tell me I had to quit. I wanted to because I thought since I was in school, I shouldn't suck my thumb anymore. I never needed/had braces (my brother did so my parents would have gotten me braces if needed) and still (at 50) never had a cavity. Go easy, set some boundaries but know that your kid will be fine. |
Well, if we're being very honest.
I sucked my thumb at night until like-- well into elementary school. Can't remember exactly when I stopped? But, I remember it was late enough that my teeth would leave red marks in my thumb the following morning. Happy to say though, my teeth are fine! Now in my 30's and never once even had braces or anything of the sort, and my teeth are straight as can be. |
I dont have advice about weaning from it (I would probably just go cold turkey because I think kids that age are incapable of understanding only allowing it under certain circumstances) but for if you have another kid, just don’t allow a pacifier from the start. I never gave my kids pacifiers for this reason. |
Pacifiers are actually now encouraged for newborns (at least they were for me) because it reduces the incidence of SIDs. |
Take a pin and poke a hole in the tip - they won't want it any more. |