Our pediatric dentist told us she had to quit at 3. He said bring them all in and she could trade them for a prize. We figured it might take a week or two, but we talked it up for probably 2 months before her birthday, what a big girl, turning 3, won't need a paci anymore. We figured we'd do it the day of her birthday after she was super tired anyway and bound to fall asleep, or that coming weekend if it would be a problem. The night before her birthday she handed it to us. "I three now. Don't need it". Probably one my biggest parenting shocks in those three years. Tried to mask the look on my face (probably failed) and that was the end of it. She was so proud to take them to the dentist. We had to make a special trip, just to get her prize.

Anonymous wrote: Dude, take it away, let her scream for a week, and it's over. Stop fretting. You only prolong the process by continuing to give into it. Take it away, say no, and grow a pair. Wow.

Why? Just bc some people think based on nothing that a 2.5yo is too old?

Anonymous wrote:We tried to say it got lost which resulted in her screaming for 3 hours until we gave it to her (blood curdling, unbearable screaming like she was in terrible physical pain). We gave in on that. We poked some holes in it, no change.
We have told her she can get a brand new stuffed animal like her friends, give it to a new baby who needs it, used elmo videos about saying goodbye to pacifiers, etc.

This to me might be an issue. You say your DD is really verbal. But it sounds like you are giving conflicting info. We prepared our DD for a couple of weeks by saying other babies needed them. And eventually she would talk about how the younger babies were going to get them. But we have found we really need to prepare her well in advance for transitions. Offering too many or conflicting info makes it go badly. I don't really have an opinion on when you should do it. But inconsistency is a recipe for pain. Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:So, for the folks here who are insisting that child must give up the pacifier (and not based on teeth issues, but basicially because parent is somehow "wimping out" and not showing "tough love") how do you respond to a 2.5 kid who sucks her thumb?

I was going to suggest NOT taking it away but letting her give it up in her own b/c she might switch to the thumb.

Signed, a parent of a 7 yo who still sucks her thumb at night.

I'm a big believer in letting your kids do things at their own pace. My son was 2.5 and my ped insisted that I let him scream and take it away. I disagreed and one night he just forgot about it. I think the more you press certain issues the more the kids want to dig in their heels. IF you relax, I believe they will relax too. I'd let it go for now.

Eh, why go the screaming route? Our dentist also told us not to worry about it at 2.5 because our son's teeth were fine. He had his pacifier until 3. He'd given it up on his own at daycare at 2, just used it at nights and the occasional nap at home. A couple of months before his 3rd birthday we started talking about how big boys (3 year olds) don't need pacifiers, and that there would be no more after he turned three. We had a few fussy nights after he turned three, but no screaming or crying, and he understood he no longer needed it. Done!

Anonymous wrote:My daughter had hers until she was 5, when she gave it up on her own. Her teeth are pretty darn straight. She's almost 7 now and still talks about her paci -- she misses it. But she feels pretty accomplished for giving it up on her own. I think that counts.

I'm going to go against the grain and say let your child have it -- she's only using it for bed and it seems to provide some level of comfort for her, so be it.

No, giving up paci at age 5 doesn't count for anything. That said, I don't see what the big deal is with 2.5 using pacifier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter had hers until she was 5, when she gave it up on her own. Her teeth are pretty darn straight. She's almost 7 now and still talks about her paci -- she misses it. But she feels pretty accomplished for giving it up on her own. I think that counts.

I'm going to go against the grain and say let your child have it -- she's only using it for bed and it seems to provide some level of comfort for her, so be it.

So, for the folks here who are insisting that child must give up the pacifier (and not based on teeth issues, but basicially because parent is somehow "wimping out" and not showing "tough love") how do you respond to a 2.5 kid who sucks her thumb?

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, i just dont see a reason to impose hours of screaming on your.kid when dentists say its not harmful until 3 or 4. A three year old is much better equipped to handle this - a 2.5 year old can't understand why they can't have it.

Yes, they can. Just take it away and explain it.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This explains all the entitled and spoiled little kids I see at the playground. You parents are wimps.

Wow. This explains all the entitled and spoiled little kids I see at the playground. You parents are wimps.

relaxed mom here. my DD, per daycare rule, had to put her pacifier in her cubby and could use it only for naps. she could not have one there after she moved to the older kids at around 2, but she kept using it at home. kept it until 3 or 3.5, I don't remember. no problems with her teeth. younger DD never wanted one, even as an infant. every child is different and I do not see why you need to force something like this

Honestly just let her stop it on her own. For the people who say just say her scream...would you take away your child's lovey because you didn't like it and just let the scream to get over it? I get that she is old for it and it should have been taken away a long time ago but at this point just ripping it away from her isn't fair.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, i just dont see a reason to impose hours of screaming on your.kid when dentists say its not harmful until 3 or 4. A three year old is much better equipped to handle this - a 2.5 year old can't understand why they can't have it.

I agree. And sorry but all the letter writing in the world to a 2 year old is not going to help! I'd let her have it for now (sounds like you already have a number of restrictions in place anyway) and then deal with it later when she's more capable of reasoning with you.