My son is 1.5 years old and still uses a pacifier before sleep and during the day. I've heard it can mess up his bite and speech. Should I wean him off it or can I leave it as is? When's the best time to do it?
Pediatricians usually recommend weaning off the pacifier after a year or eighteen months, because it really can affect how the bite develops and how sounds are pronounced. By eighteen months you should start gradually, though it's not critical if you do it carefully - don't just take it away suddenly, but introduce other ways to calm down (a toy, a word, a routine without the pacifier). The main thing is not to drag it out: the longer you wait, the harder it'll be to let go, because the habit just gets stronger. You could try limiting its use at first - only before bed, then only on certain days, gradually cutting back.
We weaned our son off the pacifier at two, and yeah, it was a process! But you shouldn't put it off any longer - the older the kid gets, the harder it is for them to break the habit. Try starting gradually: give the pacifier only before sleep, then just at night, then explain that the dummy is for babies and he's already a big boy. The transition usually takes a couple of months, but by age three you'll have fewer problems with his bite and speech!
Bite problems and speech really are at risk if you drag out weaning past two years. Eighteen months is a good time to start gently, but not abruptly - you can try "losing" the pacifier for a bit: tell her you forgot it at home or it needs to be "fixed," and offer something else to soothe her instead (a soft toy she can cuddle before bed). The main thing is don't make a big deal out of it and don't punish her for asking for the pacifier, or you'll turn weaning into stress. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes psychologically, because by three years old the pacifier stops being a physical need and becomes a full-blown habit she relies on.
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