Pacifier Weaning - Toddler - What To Expect

With a new baby, a pacifier can work wonders — quieting tears and calming him down quickly. But now that your little one is walking and talking, you may start to wonder whether it's time to ditch the binky.

"We are attempting to wean my 17-month old son off the pacifier right now, and I feel like a failure," says What to Expect Community parent cfulleman. "I assumed it would be easy since we only give him a pacifier for naps and bedtime, and he doesn’t get it at all when he’s awake during the day."

Get up to speed on the age-appropriate benefits of pacifiers, when to start pacifier weaning, and how to make this toddler transition go as smoothly as possible.

Key Takeaways

• Toddlers often stay attached to pacifiers because they’re soothing, familiar, and helpful for managing stress or sleep — but prolonged use past ages 1 to 2 can contribute to dental issues, ear infections, and overdependence.
• Experts recommend starting weaning around 12 months, either by going cold turkey (remove all pacifiers, prepare alternatives, enlist caregivers) or gradually reducing use (limit to naps/bedtime, set milestones, communicate expectations).
• Successful weaning requires consistency and support. Keep your toddler busy, avoid overtired or hungry moments, offer replacement comforts, and stay patient as your child adjusts to giving up the binky.

Why do toddlers get attached to pacifiers?

A pacifier can provide instant comfort when your baby feels restless or distressed — especially between feedings. The soothing benefits of pacifiers make it difficult for toddlers to say goodbye later on, even after they've grown old enough to learn new ways to cope with stress.

This attachment is especially true for toddlers who use their binkies as sleeping aids or rely on them in moments of uncertainty, like on a plane ride or at the doctor's office.

As a parent, you also probably appreciated the advantages of your baby's pacifier use. In addition to calming tears and tantrums, pacifiers may help reduce gas and the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

But now that your little one has walked right out of babyhood into the toddler years, you may feel sad about the pacifier stage ending too.

When should babies stop using pacifiers?

While there is no hard-and-fast rule, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting the pacifier weaning process around the 1-year mark. Trusted SourceAmerican Academy of PediatricsPacifiers and Thumb SuckingSee All Sources [1] That's because while pacifiers can come with a host of pros for babies, they can have some risks for toddlers.

Prolonged pacifier use (after the second year and beyond) can:

• Lead to an overdependence on the pacifier for soothing
• Cause dental problems as more teeth start to develop
• Increase the risk of middle-ear infections

So start a conversation about ending your sweetie's reliance on his binky with his pediatrician at the 12-month well visit, and revisit it again at subsequent checkups if the habit persists into toddlerhood.

How to wean a toddler off a pacifier

Ready to leap into weaning? If so, start by taking a deep breath. For some toddlers, weaning is quick and relatively painless. For others, taking away a trusted binky brings about a fair amount of distress.

To make the process go more smoothly for everyone, try to decide on a strategy in advance, but stay flexible along the way.

Some parents choose the cold turkey route — meaning without much warning, you take away the pacifier and never look back.

"We were forced to wean when we lost all of her pacifiers," says What to Expect Community user essieli. "It was in the middle of the night and we were frantically looking for one and really could not find it. So we kind of had to just do it and go cold turkey. It definitely caused a few rough nights, but eventually she stopped asking for it."

Other parents opt for a gradual release method: Start by limiting pacifier use to naptime and bedtime, and then slowly take away the option until it's out of the picture completely.

Here are some tips to ease the transition for you and your baby, depending on your strategy.

How to wean a toddler off a pacifier using the "cold turkey" method

• Communicate with all caregivers. If going cold turkey, share your decision with the adults in your child's life. You want everyone, including grandparents and day care teachers, to know that a pacifier is now off-limits. Trusted SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatric DentistryCold Turkey: How to Convince Baby It%u2019s Time to Part from the PacifierSee All Sources [2]
• Take advantage of a lost or broken pacifier. If your toddler's pacifier is damaged or worn out, attempt to use its demise as an excuse to break the habit. ("Sorry, honey, but your pacifier is broken. We have to throw it away.") If you're lucky, it may work.
• Remove all pacifiers, everywhere. Become a pacifier detective and make sure you remove every pacifier from reach of your little one. Toddlers are great at hiding their favorite items, so make sure you search far and wide to reduce the chance of starting over because your toddler found a pacifier tucked in the car seat.
• Have alternatives ready to go. Taking the cold turkey approach can lead to some restless nights early on in the process. Brainstorm some alternative soothing tactics before you take the leap. A sound machine, extra snuggles, and a long bath before bed can provide some extra comfort during this stage.
• Call on the "pacifier fairy." If your child is a little older, "donating" his pacifiers to the pacifier fairy and getting a gift in exchange may do the trick.

How to wean a toddler off a pacifier using "gradual release"

• Start with the path of least resistance. Gradually remove the pacifier from your toddler's routine beginning with the times he's least likely to miss its absence. (For many toddlers, the pacifier is hardest to give up at nighttime, so many parents opt to make this the final hurdle.) By starting with the easy wins, you can celebrate progress along the way and build your little one's confidence to let go of the pacifier completely.
• Set milestones. Based on your baby's current pacifier use, set realistic goals you can track. For example, if your toddler uses a pacifier for most of the day, start by only offering it when he's stressed. The gradual release method may feel more natural to your toddler, but only if you set reasonable expectations.
• Communicate early and often with your toddler. Eventually, your toddler will catch onto the fact he is requesting something and not getting it every time. Let him know you're on a journey. Don't make it a mystery, but share your reasoning and rationale. Your toddler will appreciate you answering all those "why" questions, and you'll be able to reinforce your message.

More tips for getting rid of a pacifier

• Keep him busy. Ask questions, strike up conversations, sing toddler-friendly songs, make funny faces in a mirror, and otherwise encourage your toddler to mouth off (in a good way!). If he tries talking with the pacifier in his mouth, let him know he has to take it out it so you can understand what he's saying.
• Don't let your little one get too hungry or too sleepy. Hunger and fatigue sap a child's ability to cope; that's exactly when he'll want his pacifier the most. Head off pitfalls by providing regular snacks and rest during the pacifier weaning process.

Struggling with breaking some tricky toddler habits? Check the What to Expect app to get expert advice and tips from other parents in the same boat.

Pacifier weaning can seem like a daunting task if your tot is still happily attached to his binky. Keep in mind that the life of a paci is meant to be short and sweet, and start thinking about your exit strategy around his first birthday. With a plan in mind, you can make pacifiers a thing of the past.