Some children couldn’t care less about using a pacifier, and others are absolutely obsessed. Eventually, many children make the transition to give up their binky on their own, but for the stubborn remaining few, here are a few tips to get your toddler to give up their pacifier:
Gradually Take it Away
If your little one uses their pacifier all the time, start to gradually limit the amount of time that they use it. Take it away in the morning, then eventually during the day, then allow them to use it only at bedtime, then phase out the pacifier completely. It helps if you have them voluntarily give it up, so they feel ownership over the decision to stop using their pacifier.
“Break” the Pacifiers
Part of the pacifier’s allure is that it allows them to suck it and the sucking motion soothes them. If you poke a hole at the end of it or snip the ends off them, it removes the pleasure of sucking the paci, because it will then “give” a little while they suck it. They may decide to toss the pacifier on their own at that point.
Have Them Throw it Away
If you feel that your toddler is willing, you may be able to convince them to help you throw them away. Not many toddlers would be a good candidate for this strategy, but it is worth a shot.
Buy Them Something They Want and Use the Pacifier as “Money”
Is there something that you know that your little one would want, and would be willing to give his / her pacifier up for it? This is the route to go. Tell your tot that to receive the new item, they will need to “pay” for the item with their pacifier. Some toddlers will wholeheartedly trade their pacie’s for the new item.
Have Them Give it Away to Babies in Need
Some toddlers are very aware of other babies out there, and empathetic to their needs.
Have your little one “mail it” to the hospital for new babies. They can assist with decorating the envelope and sealing it, and if they ask about their binkies let them know that the new babies need it more and appreciate their donating it to them. Of course, if it were me I would actually give it to a friend / family member with a new baby (but explain the situation to them and let them know that if they would like to toss the binkies after we leave that is fine with me).
Gift it to the Binky Fairy/Santa/Tooth Fairy
If you are a family that believes in Santa Clause, you may want to tell them that if they give the binky to Santa, they will get a big boy/girl gift in return. Or, you can have them tie the pacifiers to balloons and release them into the air for the Binky Fairy. Or, you could let them know that binkies are not good for growing teeth, and have them leave the binky under their pillow for the tooth fairy.
Pacifier Fairy Book
I have heard some good things about “The Paci Fairy” book, but there are a few others you could check out (“Goodbye Binky”, “Florrie the Paci Fairy”). These stories help your little one to feel involved in the story, and release their binkies voluntarily.
Build a Bear
This idea is one of my favorites – take your little one to Build a Bear Workshop and have them stuff their pacifier in the bear’s tummy, before it is stitched up (this way it is with them, but not in their mouth).
Cold Turkey
If you have tried the above methods and none of them work, you could always go cold turkey. I don’t like this method, because it can cause lots of tears and toddler meltdowns; but eventually they will need to learn to let go and some children do better with a “ripping off the band aid” approach.
Hope these ideas helped!
XOXO
Charlotte