Some habits are hard to quit—and the pacifier (or binky or whatever your pet name is for it) is definitely one of the hardest for babies. Sure, it provides lots of comfort for your little one, but at a certain point they've gotta learn to live without it. “I don't think we can keep playing the pacifier game with our two little ladies. We’re in and out of the nursery all the time,” shares Wantastickybaby, a community member on The Bump. “They wake up every 45 minutes looking for the pacis and fuss if it's not put back in their mouth right away. This also means that they’re waking each other up!” As with any breakup, there will be tears. Baby will be missing their binky, and you’ll be temporarily missing a good night’s sleep. But the good news is that you can both get through this! Follow these trusted tips from experts and real parents for tackling pacifier weaning head-on.

In this article:
Key takeaways
When to stop pacifier use for baby
Why should you wean baby off the pacifier?
How to get rid of the pacifier
How long does pacifier weaning take?
How to help baby sleep without a pacifier
Frequently asked questions

Key Takeaways

Pacifier use should be weaned after baby’s first birthday, as they can start to affect the shape of baby’s mouth and teeth between the ages of 2 and 4, as well as cause speech delays.
While there’s no best or easiest way to wean, experts cite going cold turkey as very effective—as long as parents are consistent. The best method will ultimately depend on what’s right for your individual family.
Try offering baby an alternative comfort object as they wean, like a blanket or a stuffed animal.
After weaning the pacifier, it’s okay to let your kiddo suck their thumb. This habit doesn’t affect their oral health in the same way, and it’s a habit they’ll naturally grow out of once they start school.

When to Stop Pacifier Use for Baby

According to experts, when baby’s between 6 to 12 months old, it may be time to start weaning them from the pacifier. Preeti Parikh, MD, a pediatrician in New York City), says after age one, sucking is no longer an important source of soothing. While many toddlers continue using a pacifier for a couple of years beyond that, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says sucking on a pacifier past age 2 to 4 can affect the shape of baby’s mouth and how their teeth align as they come in. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) also recommends toddlers stop using pacifiers by age 3.

Most kids will stop using pacifiers on their own between the ages of 2 and 4, but others may need some help learning to let go of that little bit of security and soothing. And if your child happens to fall into that camp, don’t wait around for signs they’re ready to give up the paci. “They [may] never show signs!” says Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at Pediatric Associates in South Overland Park, Kansas. “This is most often a parenting choice.”

Why Should You Wean Baby Off the Pacifier?

The main reasons experts recommend weaning off the pacifier after age one is because it starts to affect children’s speech and dental development, says Karen Klawitter, MD, a pediatrician with Just Answer based in Illinois and Florida. Per the AAP, it could affect the alignment of your tot’s teeth and mess up their bite, leading to orthodontic issues and treatment later on. Plus, prolonged pacifier use has been linked to an increased risk of ear infections, which are already very common in kids under 2, Klawitter adds. “General consensus is to start weaning the pacifier between one and 2 years of age, with the pacifier [fully stopped] between 2 and 3 years of age. Ultimately, the earlier the better.”

Why do babies get attached to their pacifier?

Of course, stopping pacifier use in babies can often be easier said than done. Babies have an innate sucking reflex that helps soothe and comfort them, Klawitter explains. They become attached to their pacifiers because it mimics the comfort they feel while feeding. Plus, pacifiers can help babies fall and stay asleep. In other words, the pacifier can become baby’s comfort object, which makes a child unlikely to want to give it up.

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How to Get Rid of the Pacifier

Kicking the pacifier habit can be a bit of a challenge, and there’s definitely no one-size-fits-all approach for how to wean off the pacifier that works for every toddler. “There’s no best way to wean a pacifier,” Klawitter says, adding that the key is to be consistent and push through to the end once you make the decision to wean. That said, there are a few pacifier weaning techniques you can try:

Go cold turkey

Burgert and Klawitter both recommend ditching the pacifiers in one fell swoop. “Toddlers have simple minds,” Burgert says. “Either things exist or they don’t. So at the end of the pacifier-weaning process, the paci moves from ‘present’ to ‘absent.’ You may as well just make that transition swiftly rather than lengthening it out.” Klawitter agrees, noting that while it may be hard to hear baby’s cries, she’s found it to be the fastest and most effective technique for many—but the key is consistency. “Throw away all pacifiers at once and never look back,” suggests Klawitter.

Set some parameters

Of course, going cold turkey may not work for every family. If that’s the case for you, start limiting the times and places where baby can use a pacifier—such as only in bed or during naps, Klawitter says. Eventually the goal is to get rid of it completely, but taking a gradual approach may help ease the transition for some kiddos.

Snip the pacifier

Another common weaning approach is cutting the nipple of the pacifier. This makes it “less appealing for a child to suck,” Klawitter explains. “We clipped the end of the nipple a little bit every few days. Eventually, she didn't want the paci,” shares LoCarb, a community member on The Bump.

Try positive reinforcement

When it comes to toddler developments, positive reinforcement can go a long way. Praising baby when they avoid using the pacifier can help encourage the behavior you want to see. Depending on your child, you might also opt to use a reward system or try distracting them with other activities.

Trade it for something desirable

So-called bribery can often be an effective tool for pacifier weaning. Tell your toddler they can trade it in to “pay” for something enticing—like a new toy or a favorite treat. Or, Klawitter recommends offering them an alternative comfort item, such as a blanket or stuffed animal.

Use the binky fairy

A clever take on the tooth fairy, the “binky fairy” takes away the pacifier in exchange for a treat, Klawitter explains. For example, “plant” the pacifier in the backyard and replace it with a cake pop or lollipop for your kiddo to find the next day. This turns it into a game and peaks their curiosity, distracting them from the situation at hand.

Don’t cave

Got a stubborn sucker? Once you’ve said you’re getting rid of the pacifier, don’t give in to your toddler’s demands. “Be quick, confident and convicted,” Burgert says. “Regardless of how attached a kid may be, you’ll have three bad nights. That’s it.” It’s a small price to pay for saying bye-bye to the binky for good.

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How Long Does Pacifier Weaning Take?

According to Klawitter, how long pacifier weaning will take can depend on multiple factors. “The weaning process can take days, weeks or even months, depending on the age of the child, the method used to wean the pacifier, the individual child’s needs and parents' consistency to follow through,” she explains, adding that cold-turkey is often quicker than a gradual approach. Plus, a lot of it also has to do with your child. “Some children are easy going and not bothered by an absent pacifier, [while] some strong-willed children tend to be harder to wean,” she adds. Babies under a year old also tend to wean faster, as they don’t have as strong an association with their pacifier.

Keep in mind that baby may also experience pacifier withdrawal, which can last a few days or a few weeks. “This may manifest as crying more, attention seeking and sleep issues. In most cases this resolves spontaneously, as baby finds other ways to self-soothe,” Klawitter reassures.

How to Help Baby Sleep Without a Pacifier

As noted, offering a replacement comfort item, such as a blanket or stuffed animal (once your baby’s old enough to have them in the crib) can help. If you’re gradually weaning and your child is still using a pacifier to fall asleep, Klawitter suggests removing it once they’re asleep and starting to phase it out. She notes some other ways to help your little one calm down before bed include:

A consistent bedtime routine Extra cuddles and stories before bedtime as they wean off the paci Singing familiar lullabies and songs White nose machines

“It’s also okay to allow other self-soothing behavior like finger- or thumb-sucking,” Klawitter adds. It may feel like a step back, but, as the AAP notes, most children stop sucking for comfort pretty quickly once they start school due to their peers. While you do want to wean your child off a pacifier to prevent damage to their oral development, if they still use sucking for comfort every now and then, don’t put too much pressure on them. They’ll grow out of it completely on their own.

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It can be hard to wean baby off their pacifier, especially if it comforts them. But know that, as hard as it is in the moment, it’s best for baby’s development in the long run. And if you have any questions or concerns about the process, reach out to your provider.

Plus more from The Bump, What You Need To Know About Growth Spurts:

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