It is your faithful inseparable friend, infallible to provide comfort and calm your crying. Many small children and their pacifiers go in an indivisible pack. But, sooner or later, the dreaded moment of removing it arrives. As a general rule, this process will not be easy, neither for the child nor for his parents.
Not having the pacifier at will will translate into feelings of insecurity and frustration for the child. Therefore, the main objective of the parents in this mission is to make it as easy as possible for the little one, empathize with her feelings, be patient and transmit a lot of love and trust.
An error that we must avoid is withdrawing it at once by imposition or lying to them by telling them that it has been lost. It is also not advisable to spread it in vinegar or lemon so that it tastes bad, or cut it to tell you that it has broken and you can no longer use it. Well, these techniques will result in a negative experience for the child. Instead, there are a series of tips –and the odd trick– that we can put into practice so that saying goodbye to the pacifier is as easy as possible.
The process of leaving the pacifier should begin with a talk with the little one, where you explain why you have to remove it so that he can understand you. Tell him that if he keeps using it, his teeth could become misshapen or he might have trouble speaking.
It also usually works to explain to him that the pacifier is “for babies” and that he is too old to use it. Have a conversation where your child feels heard and understood.
If you take it away from him at once, it will be difficult for him to deal with that dependency. Instead, it is better to reduce and limit your use little by little. For example, just for naps and sleeping at night.
For the rest of the time, distraction will be essential. Every time he asks for it, offer him an alternative such as a relaxing massage, pampering, reading a story, playing something, painting, singing…
You should not leave the pacifier within their reach or in sight, because that way they will miss it more. Many children find it helpful to carry out a pacifier farewell ritual. For example, keeping it in a special box, hanging it from a tree –in some cities there are trees full of pacifiers–, or whatever comes to mind with his amazing imagination.
Patience and understanding are key in the process of giving up a pacifier. If the child has moments of tantrums or you catch him using the pacifier, do not scold him. Remind him why it is better that he stop using it, out of love.
You can propose some reward game for each day that passes without using it. Like a calendar where you put smiley face stickers or a celebratory dance. Meeting small goals will encourage you to move little by little until you no longer need it.
