There are many approaches to pacifier weaning. Here are some tried-and-true suggestions from BabyCenter parents:
Go cold turkey
You’re the parent and you have the power to take the pacifier away – at least that’s the theory.
If you think the best approach with your child (and for your sanity) is to just say no, this is your method of choice.
Make it taste bad
You’re probably familiar with the idea of stopping nail-biters by painting their nails with something that tastes unpleasant.
You can try a similar method to separate a kid from her pacifier.
Give it away
If your child is old enough to understand the concept, giving away the pacifier or trading it in for something special might work.
Take it away gradually
A slow, gentle weaning process can make things easier for your child.
Restricting the pacifier to certain times (like bedtime) or certain places (like her crib) can be the first step.
Leave it for the binky fairy
The binky fairy is the petite and powerful first cousin to the tooth fairy.
This magical creature may help your child make the transition from being hooked on the pacifier to living pacifier-free.
Transition from the pacifier to a lovey
Your child uses his binky to soothe himself, so, if you’re going to take it away, it makes sense to provide a substitute, like a lovey.
“Lose” it
This may come as a revelation: Next time you’re frantically looking for your child’s precious pacifier, stop.
If it’s lost, let it be lost.
Alternatively, you can lose it on purpose.
Both strategies have worked for desperate moms and dads.
Read books about it
Story time is a wonderful time to cuddle with your kids and encourage a love of books and reading.
But you can also use books to inspire the behavior you’d like to see and help kids deal with changes – such as giving up the pacifier.
Go for it and stay strong
Whichever method you choose, make a commitment.
Keep the end goal in mind, and don’t give in or your child will learn that the way to get what she wants is to fuss as long as it takes.
Of course, you’ll want to be understanding and comfort her in other ways as you both work your way through this transition.
Let nature take its course
Not all parents are determined to break the habit.
Some think it’s best to let children wean themselves.
Try these tips if your baby won’t keep a pacifier in:
Have patience
Everything is new to babies, including pacifiers.
So, it’s understandable that they may need a little time to accept this thing stuck into their mouth as a device for self-soothing.
Your baby may not take the pacifier on the first try… or the second try… or the tenth try, for that matter, but they could surprise you one day by taking it and refusing to let go.
You won’t know unless you keep at it!
Introduce it “for fun”
Don’t try to introduce it for the first time when your baby is upset; it’s more likely to confuse them than to be seen as something comforting.
Instead, offer it when your baby is happy and calm — they’re more likely to be curious and willing to try something new this way.
Offer after feedings
If you’re trying to introduce a pacifier when your baby is hungry, you’ll just frustrate them: They want food, not a piece of plastic.
If you do this frequently enough, your infant will learn nothing good comes from that unappetizing nipple substitute and they’ll never want it.
But when you offer your baby the pacifier right after they’ve been fed, they’re not expecting it to feed them — and they’ll be relaxed and calm enough to think about taking it.
Coat it in breast milk or formula
If your baby seems to not know what they’re supposed to do with a pacifier, dipping it in a little bit of breast milk or formula can entice them to actually take it into their mouth.
Once it’s in, it may or may not stay put, but this is a good trick for babies who can’t quite figure out where the pacifier goes.
Pretend you’re breastfeeding
If your baby is a milk snob (i.e., only interested in your human nipples and not silicone-based ones), it can be tricky to get them interested in a pacifier.
If this is your baby, you can try using your nipples as an introduction to the paci: As soon as they’re done feeding, swap in the pacifier in what’s called a good old fashioned “bait and switch.”
The quicker you do this, the less likely your baby will be to refuse the pacifier, since they won’t have time to realize what’s happening.
Once the pacifier is in, it might just stay there.
Try a million varieties
They might want a paci with a different shape (like round versus flat), one that sits higher or lower on their mouth, or one that’s made entirely of flexible silicone instead of hard plastic.
You might have gone through this routine if your baby is bottle fed, as you tried to find the exact right bottle and nipple combo for your baby’s unique preferences.
Use reverse psychology
Lastly, in a glimpse into your parenting future, you can try a little reverse psychology to get your baby to do what you want and think it’s their idea.
If your baby is randomly spitting out the pacifier, you can tug on it gently once your baby has taken it into their mouth, as if you’re going to pull it out.
Many babies will naturally put up some resistance to this sensation, and this encourages them to suck on it to keep it in their mouth.
Going without a pacifier
There’s an old saying that you can’t force a baby to poop, eat, or sleep.
While that’s totally true, we would also add that you can’t force a baby to take a pacifier — nor should you.
Using a pacifier has some benefits, and it can be a huge convenience for parents, but it’s not a necessity.
Your baby will be just fine if they never take a pacifier.
