I would judge the hell out of this but this is the road my niece is on.... She's four and still has a pacifier in her mouth, 70% of her waking hours and 100% of her sleeping ones

Anonymous wrote:I’m a dentist and I would judge you hard. Sorry.

I wouldn’t care. Just do your job.

I’m a dentist and I would judge you hard. Sorry.

Anonymous wrote:that’s a lot of pacifier use for a 5 year old and yes I would judge you.

And I wouldn’t care. My daughter loved that pacifier. She was a content kid enjoyed being wherever we went as long as she had her pacifier in her mouth. It was only at home by five years old and when she lost her last pacifier at five years that was it.

No one in my family was born with straight teeth. Orthodontia was a given. My son lost interest in a pacifier when he was two. My youngest did more damage to her teeth with sticking her fingers in the left side of her mouth.

Yes, I’d judge. Of course.

5 years old is way too old, and I think it’s disastrous that you think you will deal with it in a year or two.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - she will just start with her thumb, it happened last time, at least this is limited to not cause damage. Is it not the best of a bad situation. As I mentioned earlier, whilst I've not brought it up with the dentis, equally the dentist has no concerns over her teeth

I'm the one with a 7 year old who still sucks her fingers. You should bring it up with the dentist and see if the dental appliance will work for your child. It won't work for mine because it precludes the seal made from sucking on your thumb, but my kid doesn't make a seal when sucking on her fingers so she can't use it. I bet the seal made with a pacifier is the same as the thumb, so the dental appliance would work for your child. Definitely ask.

https://hdorthodontics.com/blog/orthodontic-appliances-to-prevent-thumb-sucking/

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course a relative would say something, it's not developmentally appropriate. You should have addressed this years ago, but you took the easy road and now it's a bigger issue. Parents who suck have kids who suck.

Says a parent whose child never had sensory issues. Judgmental B___.

Anonymous wrote:Kody and Robyn's kid still has a pacifier on Sister Wives at times and she is over five. I am not a parent, but I do wonder if there is some long term effects that you should be worried about with her mouth.

That kid never had a chance, will need orthodontics as well as lots of therapy.

OP you must allow your daughter to grow up. She is no longer a baby.

She is old enough to figure out another way to self-sooth. She just never has had too.

Also sleepovers are coming soon. Wouldn't you rather help her transition now with lots of time versus cold turkey?

Yes of course a relative would say something, it's not developmentally appropriate. You should have addressed this years ago, but you took the easy road and now it's a bigger issue. Parents who suck have kids who suck.

Nope, wouldn't judge you, I have a 7 year old that still sucks her fingers and I know how hard it is to get them to stop. I asked about the dental appliance and they said it wouldn't help given the fingers she sucks on. I think we just have to wait it out and pay for orthodontics when the time comes.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - she will just start with her thumb, it happened last time, at least this is limited to not cause damage. Is it not the best of a bad situation. As I mentioned earlier, whilst I've not brought it up with the dentis, equally the dentist has no concerns over her teeth

I bet if you actually asked the dentist, they would recommend you stop. But I very much doubt you intend to speak to a dentist or pediatrician about this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 5 year old still drinks a 5oz bottle of milk at night. I realize he’s way too old, but he likes it. It takes him less than a minute, so I doubt it is doing much harm to his teeth. And he brushes after.

I wouldn’t worry about the paci if the use is as minimal as you say. Let them move on when they’re ready.

I wouldn't take advice from a woman who gives her Kindergarten aged kid a bottle.

+1. And a couple hours per day, which is what OP said, isn’t minimal. But OP has said she is happy to be a lazy parent, so I doubt she’s interested in fixing it.