For many mothers, a pacifier (dummy) in the first months of a newborn baby's life becomes a real salvation. The kid falls asleep with her easier, worry less and is capricious. But children are so tightly attached to their "girlfriend" that sometimes they continue to use the pacifier at two and three years old. Naturally, this is not a very useful habit at this age, and parents are trying to gradually pick up and wean the child from the pacifier in all possible ways. But all methods are suitable for the fragile psyche of the child and in order to choose the best option and the right time for weaning nipple sucking, it is necessary to take into account the nature of the baby and follow the advice of pediatricians.
The benefits and harms of a pacifier
Read in detail: Should a child be taught to use a dummy? How to teach if a child spits out a dummy https://razvitie-krohi.ru/razvitie-rebenka-do-goda/nuzhno-li-priuchat-rebenka-k-pustyishke.html
The sucking reflex is considered one of the most important for a newborn child, and it is not for nothing that pediatricians check its presence when a baby is born. If the sucking reflex is developed at the proper level, it means that the baby will eat well and develop. Unfortunately, babies cannot control him, and can calmly suck on a blanket or pillow edge that has turned up under his arm, even worse if a child pulls his finger into his mouth. The biggest nuisance from this is getting an infection in the mouth.
In some babies, the sucking reflex is completely satisfied when he sucks the breast. Others begin to worry without a nipple when falling asleep or at the first sign of hunger.
Many believe that a dummy can ruin the bite and correct pronunciation of sounds, in fact, this theory is not supported by anything. The fear is more caused by the psychological aspect - the baby, accustomed to the nipple, is less interested in the world and can grow up closed. You should not completely abandon the pacifier, but in order to further wean the baby from the nipple without problems, you need to take into account several basic recommendations:
- If the baby feels great without a pacifier in the first weeks of life, does not pull diapers or fingers into his mouth, is not capricious and falls asleep easily, then you should not impose it. Many children grow up without a rubber assistant;
- During the daytime, you need to talk more with the baby, show him the world around him - this will allow him to quickly and better adapt to an unfamiliar and unfamiliar world and will not leave time for sucking a pacifier;
- From about 6-7 months, the baby needs to be taught to drink from a cup. The sooner he learns to swallow well, the sooner the bottles disappear from the house, and therefore the usual pacifier. (How to wean from a bottle);
- Closer to 7-8 months, you need to remove the pacifier so that your baby cannot see it. You can give a pacifier only before falling asleep in the daytime or evening hours;
- The kid, closer to the year, already likes to listen to fairy tales and the process of falling asleep with a pacifier is better to replace with two or three fairy tales read. Usually, the child falls asleep well to the sound of his mother's voice;
- Your child must have an activity during the daytime - playing with pyramids, cubes, that is, everything that allows him to explore the world with interest without being distracted by sucking.
Pros and cons
Many mothers hear tips on how to wean a child from a pacifier from grandmothers, neighbors or just acquaintances. Each of them should not be carried out immediately, each baby is already a person with his own character and mental stability, therefore, what suits one person can harm the other.
It is impossible
First of all, in the weaning process, you need to understand what can cause even more harm than the nipple itself. Therefore, you cannot:
- Apply various bitter substances to the nipple, such as mustard or garlic. Not all adults can tolerate this spice, but imagine what it will be like for a child. In addition, it is not safe - in recent years, allergic diseases have been growing and spices can cause swelling and spasm of the throat;
- Many advise you to wean your baby off the nipple by cutting it like a chamomile. This is also unsafe - the baby already has several sharp teeth in his mouth and he can bite off some of the latex and it is easy to imagine that it will go down the throat and, at best, move into the stomach. And at worst, a sticky gum can attach to the throat, causing spasm and suffocation;
- You can’t raise your voice at the child, and even less shout during the period when he asks for his "pacifier"... The kid will not understand why his mother is angry with him and will be even more capricious (Important related article: what to do if you yell at a child);
- There is no need to deprive your baby of a pacifier during the period when he is sick or teething. Every mother probably understands why - your baby will feel even worse and the healing process will drag on.
When it's time to pick up the pacifier
Many psychologists recommend starting to wean the baby from the nipple from three months to a year. You should not delay the decision, the main thing is to choose an opportune moment and make the most of your efforts. And for this you have to follow the following recommendations:
- Spend more time with your child;
- In the daytime, you need to constantly walk with him, show everything new and play with toys;
- After falling asleep, the nipple must be removed from the mouth and put next to it in the crib;
- Never offer the pacifier yourself, but remove it from his eyes during the day.
The Brovchenko family experience
What time you need to wean the baby from the nipple. How best and painlessly to do it. Three ways to wean from a dummy.
There are two methods of weaning a baby from a pacifier, each of them suitable for a specific age.
Smooth failure
Any habit is formed in 21 days!
Smoothly giving up on your favorite nipple means getting rid of the habit in a few weeks. This method is more suitable for babies up to one year old and a little older. Gradual abandonment involves following these tips:
- Do not take a pacifier for a walk;
- In the daytime, move the nipple away;
- Teach your baby to drink from a cup as much as possible (how to teach drinking from a cup);
- Come up with new exciting games and entertainment for him;
- During sleep, you can put your favorite toy in the crib, so the baby will understand that he is not alone and will devote less time to his old girlfriend;
- When falling asleep, wait until the baby falls asleep, you do not need to leave it at this time.
Weaning scheme per week
- For the first 5 days, give a pacifier half as long as usual.
- For the next few days, give the pacifier only at night (and during naps).
- The time for falling asleep with the nipple should be halved, giving the breast after the nipple.
- Give the nipple for a few minutes - then the breast.
A pacifier should be given to a baby only in those difficult moments when he really cannot calm down without it.
Abrupt refusal
This method is suitable for babies from one and a half years old and older, that is, for those who already understand their mother and can understand what she is explaining to him.
Abrupt rejection of the nipple means once and for all!
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But the crumb must be prepared for this. And for this, many effective ways are suitable, depending on the character of the child, each mother will be able to choose a convenient and optimal option.
- You need to give the pacifier to someone. Ideally, a newborn baby - a neighbor or relative. Your son or daughter already understands that they have become older, and the little baby needs a nipple. It must be said that nipples are necessarily passed from seniors to younger ones, and for even greater effect, you can organize a moment of solemn transfer from hand to hand (of course, as a joke);
- You can pacifier “send a little bunny into the forest or a fish in the sea“. Your baby needs to be told that the animals are afraid in the forest and only a dummy can protect them;
- For some children, throwing into the sea, the window of a car, train, or just in the trash can work;
- After getting rid of the nipple of the crumbs, it is imperative to give a good gift, focusing on the fact that only large and independent children play with such toys.
Having got rid of the nipple, you need to endure the baby's whims for several days. Perhaps he will wake up at night, cry and demand a dummy.
If the whims continue for more than ten days, and you understand that the baby is getting worse, then you do not need to experiment on him - buy him a new dummy.
Most children themselves, by about three years old, throw out their "pacifier" and forget about it forever.
On the topic (interesting publications):
- 7 reasons not to give your baby a pacifier
- Weaning a baby from breastfeeding - basic tips and tricks;
- If you take the pacifier from the baby, then there is a possibility that the baby will switch to sucking fingers to prevent this from happening, read this article;
- The time comes when it's time to wean the child from the hands - https://razvitie-krohi.ru/razvitie-rebenka-do-goda/otuchaem-rebenka-ot-ruk.html
P.S. How to wean a baby from a bottle link at the beginning of the article 🙂
On the topic (interesting publications):[sc: ads]
