What age should you take away the pacifier?

I wouldn't call the parents lazy but maybe they just caved in you know. I think that two is a perfect age to get rid of the pacifier. Thankfully though I never had to really deal with this issue becuase my kids didn't like it. But my nephew is three and still has it. It makes me want to take it from him and throw it in the trash. Lol But every kid is diffrent and every family is diffrent. Sometimes the child will just not give up and the parents can't handle the screaming and tantrums any more.

The earlier the better! I don't think there is a right or wrong age, but, from experience, I do know that its much harder to help a child rid themselves of a "binky" after prolonged use. Not to mention, it could be detrimental to the growth of their teeth. I think 2 is an appropriate age, but I also don't think its wrong to have a pacifier longer. I just think that they should be used when necessary, in moderation, in effort to prevent an addiction that can be very difficult for a child to beat!

A parent does not have to be lazy for a child to love a sucker. I have not had this problem with my daughter. A bit over 8 months I asked my doctor how to get her off. he said pop a hole in it to remove the air. The man was right she would not suck that flat thing again. I also never bought one again either. I think the child should use it until comfortable to let go. It beet sucking a thumb in my book.

I agree with you. I think it should be gone by the age of 2. Trying to get kids off of it at a later age just makes it more difficult to do so, not to mention, the kids never learn how to soothe themselves whenever they are stressed or upset. So, the kids just constantly want something to suck on, because that's the only calming thing that they know. I wouldn't say the parents are lazy when they refuse to get rid of the pacifier, I just think they don't want to hear the kid cry and whine about it once it's gone, so they cave in and give it back because it's easier than listening to earth shattering crying.

I think age one, if the bottle is taken away at one so should a pacifier, I really hate those things in general.

Hi,
I hope pacifier is not all needed if the child has not addicted to it. Still it is might be given for comfort of child later they may create more difficulty if the child is addicted. Hope variety of various methods other that this also available that is much better. Hope a child specialists could give a better advice.

We decided to take away the pacifier, at the same time we took away the bottle! And we took away the bottle when they started eating solid food! And when they started getting teeth they started eating solid food! We decided this because when they got teeth, they would tend to chew the nipples!

i took my first off at age 1 she had no prblem giving it up, my second daughter never took to a nuk, she was 2 months premi and in the nicu for a month, when she came home i just didnt bother with the nuk she never caused a problem as in wanting it. i guess i got lucky. but i think 2 is a good age to rid of it, but i think some parents get overwhelmd at times and the nuk is all thats left. i guess it realy depends on how that certain family is, sometimes with as busy as some ppls lives ar its harder. im a stay at home mom so alot comes a bit more easy for me but there are alot of moms that have to work.

I agree it should be taken no later than two. But I would start at 1 1/2 weening them off of it so they could go without by 2. However, I can see why some parents still do it and it isn't necessarily laziness. I agree five is far too long, but between 2 and 3 1/2 is understandable. A little excessive to me but understandable. You see I have seen countless 2-4 year olds with their thumbs in their mouths, sucking them. Well this is very unsanitary, especially when they play in the dirt and all kinds of other stuff. The passi is a way for them to suck or whatever without being unsanitary. It is meant to go in the mouth and so they don't need to suck their dirty thumbs. As I said this is excessive to me and it would stop by two to two and a half and no later unless I had a child who was mentally below that age. Even then I would try to treat them their age as this helps them to develop. So in general I think you are right but I can look at all sides and see the arguments.

I can only tell you how I dealt with this.My daughter, now four spent a bit of time in the hospital when even younger. Her "binky" gave her alot of comfort while there. So i didn't feel right taking it away and traumatizng her further. At around two, she was really developing teeth. She bit through the nipple..in the trash it went. We talked to her about it. the gist was when you have bitten through them they are gone. Choking hazard and all. It worked by around 21/2 no nore "binky"