Toddlers and Pacifiers

I often have parents ask me how to get their toddlers to stop using a pacifier and/or a bottle. A lot of parents are uncomfortable with their toddler using a pacifier after the age of two and others don’t want them using one at all. The same goes for bottles.

There is no “rule” as to when the right age is to stop using a pacifier. Dentists do though provide a guideline and say beyond age three is not a good idea. Other than that, my answer is usually whatever you’re comfortable with. I will say however, that pacifiers provide comfort and soothing to a toddler and I see no sound reason to stop using them before age three. Often they will discontinue using them on their own before that and there is no need for any kind of weaning process. But if you have a toddler who needs a pacifier to comfort her, my advice is by all means let her have it. You can though put some limits around where and when to use it.

A pacifier will often help a toddler soothe herself back to sleep and if she can easily retrieve it in her crib or bed she is less likely to cry out in the night for a parent’s comfort. I used to have two or three in my daughter’s crib in case she couldn’t find one when she woke up. When she stopped using her pacifier she started sucking her thumb. That was fine by us as well, until age five. I support anything that provides a sense of comfort and security to a toddler, as long as it is safe and doesn’t interfere with normal development.