10. Let nature take its course

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages giving pacifiers to babies at nap time and bedtime for the first year to help reduce their risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But there are potential health reasons for banning the binky:

  • Kids who don't use pacifiers have fewer ear infections.
  • If your preschooler seems to be developing speech and language problems, the pacifier can make those problems worse.
  • If used long enough and vigorously enough, pacifiers can cause teeth and mouth problems.
Read more in our pacifier article.

But not all parents are determined to break the habit. Some think it's best to let children wean themselves.

Parents' voices

"Why do you have to take the pacifier away at all? I've read so-called experts saying everything from 'Get rid of it ASAP' to 'Let them have it as long as they want.' At 28 months, my son pretty much gave it up on his own. He had a cold and figured out that he couldn't suck on his pacifier and breathe at the same time. After his stuffiness subsided, he didn't ask for it back. Then he found one in his bedroom and put it in his mouth and spit it back out, saying, 'Yucky.'"
– JustLaugh

"My daughter is going on 5 and still loves her binky! My husband and I see nothing wrong with it because she only has it at nap and night. My motto in all this childrearing stuff is "What does it matter?" What does it matter what age the child was when she stopped nursing or taking a bottle? Or gave up the binky, got potty-trained, learned to walk, learned to pedal a bike, knew how to write or read or count to 100? Almost all of us turn out the same in the end! Relax, enjoy this age, let your baby or toddler or preschooler be just that. Too many parents are trying to push their children to grow up way too fast."
– Mama

"Why not wait until kids give up the pacifier on their own? How many adults do you see walking around with a binky in their mouth? None! Because they all decided at some point in childhood that they were ready to brave the world without it. My daughter's binky is her comfort item. It helps her sleep and makes her feel safe. I hope everyone who reads this and is having binky trouble will stop fighting the battle and let their kids be who they are happy to have their binkies!"
– Cindy

"Kids give the pacifier up when they're ready, like everything else. My 3-year-old gave up his binky on his own. I didn't force him. He decided to throw it in the trash. Don't be in a hurry for your kids to grow up, because they'll only be children once. The binky is a soother and comfort for them don't take it away."
– pamelon4

"My daughter is 2 and she still has her pacifier at nap/bed time. A year ago when I talked about taking it away, my pediatrician told me not to rush it. He said if she was still sucking on it (as opposed to chewing on it), she still needed it and would eventually give it up when she no longer needed it. He said he had yet to see a kindergartner walking around school with a pacifier in her mouth!"
— Anonymous