Difrax is proud to design reliable, top quality pacifiers for babies. With a mission to support parents, they’re here to offer practical advice when it’s time for your child to say “goodbye” to their beloved pacifier. Here are six steps to help make the transition to being paci-free a little less stressful for you and your child from Difrax’s Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg. These six steps are based on a 15-day structured weaning process. Adapt the schedule as needed to match the pace your child adapts to the change.

6 Steps to Break the Pacifier Habit

Step 1 (Days 1 to 5): Explain to your child that as kids get bigger, they no longer use a pacifier. Point out other kids and people you might run into so they can see who has a soother and who doesn’t. Depending on the age of the child, you can also talk to them about how a pacifier affects their teeth. Then slowly wean your child like you did for breastfeeding. Begin by only offering the pacifier in certain situations, like in the car, when they’re hurt, in the crib at nap or bedtime (when it’s truly needed for soothing vs. out of habit), then start taking it away one situation at a time. Your child will find comfort through other things, but going cold turkey will be hard on you and your tot. You can come up with other ways to soothe your child such as reading a story, or rewarding them with stickers or an extra hug if they’re able to go to sleep without the pacifier.

Make sure everyone is on-board with this process! Ensure nannies, babysitters, and especially grandma know that you are trying to get rid of the pacifier. It will do you no good to work hard and be the bad guy if grandma is slipping your child one whenever she watches him.

Step 2 (Day 5-15): Take away the pacifier during the day. Let your child know that pacifiers rest and are put to bed during the day. Also you can prick the pacifier with a tiny pinhole, as it will cause the pacifier to become useless. Your child will think it is broken and will not enjoy sucking on it anymore.

You can ask the child to earn “pacifier time” if he or she must use it during the day. Use the pacifier as a reward for eating all his vegetables or using the potty. Depending on how old your child is, you can use it to encourage alone time or room cleaning. You’ll be able to stop offering it eventually, and you’ll have created some healthy habits in your child.

Step 3 (Days 6-10): Tell your child it’s ok to miss the paci but that there are other ways to feel comforted such as a hug or finding an activity he or she enjoys doing like coloring, reading, playing with toys, etc.. Tell him or her that all “big” kids give up pacifiers. Use your child’s current role models (book, TV, video game characters) to demonstrate who doesn’t have a pacifier.

Step 4 (Days 10-12): Make sure you have located all of the pacifiers in the house and ask your child to say “goodbye” to some of them. Pull them out of your diaper bag, purse, and dishwasher, under the couch, bed, etc. One look at a pacifier and all your hard work is gone.

Step 5 (Days 11-15): Prepare for the final days of the last pacifier. Your child can also try sleeping without the paci at this point, although you may keep it close by just in case!

Step 6 (Day 15): Today your child puts the last pacifier into an envelope and sends it to the Pacifier Fairy. Or, have the Pacifier Fairy visit in the middle of the night like the Tooth Fairy, where she takes the pacifier and leaves a gift (usually a stuffed animal or blankie–something that can bring comfort). You can do it one night only, or leave little things each night that your child is able to go without the pacifier.

Parents can download the complete guide here: Giving Up Your Soother.

About Difrax and Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg

Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg is the owner of Difrax-a Dutch baby products company that pioneered a 3-stage pacifier system designed to accommodate each stage of baby’s development with newborn to 6 month, 6 + month, and 18+ month sizes in fun, fashionable patterns and designs. Difrax offers innovative, stylish, and trendy products that make the lives of babies and their parents as convenient and as pleasant as possible. See the entire line at DifraxUSA.com.

The post Six Steps to Help Break the Pacifier Habit appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Whether you call it a pacifier, a binky or a nuk – one thing is certain, it can be difficult to wean your toddler off of it. I’ve had six kids with another on the way, and I’ve learned a few tricks that help in the process of moving your child away from the pacifier.

Walk a While in their Shoes: Simply taking away the pacifier without giving the situation the thought it deserves is not the right strategy. Take a moment to walk around in your child’s shoes. The pacifier is a comfort item; it brings security while they fall asleep and helps them soothe when something goes wrong. An important thought for me was determining what was triggering the need for a pacifier, then, establishing a plan of action for gently removing the pacifier from the situation.

Find a Suitable Big Kid “Pacifier”: In order to move beyond the pacifier, your child might need to replace it with a more suitable comfort item. Take your child to the store to pick out a new “pacifier” in the form of a stuffed animal, a doll or a blanket. Whatever it may be, make sure it’s an item that they can hold onto during times when they need soothing comfort. Once you begin this transition you can start to teach your child how to ultimately self soothe and not to be reliant upon any one object for comfort – it takes time to learn how to self soothe though, so be patient with your child and take things one day at a time. 

Develop a New Routine: A lot of children rely on their pacifier when they’re crying or when they’re trying to go to sleep. Developing a new routine can help phase out the pacifier by instilling new habits. You have to start small and be consistent in this. If your child starts crying bend down to their level and ask them what’s wrong in a soothing tone. It often works if you hug or cradle your child for a few moments while singing them a song before transitioning them into another activity. At bedtime, give your child a stuffed animal or a small blanket instead of a pacifier. If you do this repeatedly they won’t expect their pacifier any longer, but the transition can be a bit tricky. 

Talk to Your Child: Many of you know I firmly believe in talking openly with your children. Keep them in the loop, so they know exactly what to expect. If you’re weaning a toddler off a pacifier, talking to them could be beneficial. Most toddlers reach a point where they believe they are “big kids”, and if you establish that big kids don’t use pacifiers your child may be more inclined to help you through the process. 

Weaning a child from using a pacifier isn’t always easy, and it can take time. Be patient with your child and help in easing them through this difficult transition.

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 6, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gear for dads, and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post How to Wean your Toddler Off a Pacifier appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.