Here are some unique ways to wean off a soother/pacifier, including a few ideas you haven’t tried!

Word of warning: it may not be fun.

When is the best time to wean off a pacifier/soother:

Sleep experts show that weaning between 6 – 9 months of age is the easiest time. Beyond that, the child may have developed an emotional attachment to the soother, which can make it harder to remove.

After the age of 2, watch for chewing. If your child starts chewing on their pacifier, it can be a safety hazard, and it’s time for it to go.

The American Association of Pediatrics says before age 4, so don’t panic, parents; you’ve likely still got time!

Before you get overly creative, try these basic, cold-turkey tips to wean off the soother first:

1. Start by reducing the amount of time your toddler spends with their soother. Limit the use of the soother to only certain times of the day, such as nap time or bedtime.
2. Distract your toddler with other activities that they enjoy. Encourage them to play with toys, read books, or engage in physical activities like running around.
3. Offer your toddler a replacement for their soother, such as a stuffed animal or a blanket. This can help them feel comforted without the need for a soother.
4. Offer other ways to help them soothe, especially at bedtime, rubbing their back, deep breathing, snuggles, and cuddles.
5. Cut off the tip of the soother or poke holes in it; without the ability to properly suck, it becomes much less appealing. They’re unlikely to know you’ve done anything to it, but they’ll just become less interested in using it.

Remember to be patient and understanding with your toddler. Weaning off a soother can be difficult, and your toddler may experience some resistance or tantrums. Be supportive and offer plenty of love and encouragement.

This all seems too easy, right? Often, parents need to resort to more unique ways to ease off the pacifier.

Here are some unique ways to wean off the soother:

The pacifier fairy:

The pacifier fairy visits overnight and removes all soothers/ pacifiers. In return they leave a special gift. For added touch, leave some glitter and a special note saying how proud they are of your little one being so brave and passing along the pacifier.

The Cake-pop plant:

This is a fun an unique way to trade-in the pacifier. Take the soother and plant it in the garden with your toddler. The next morning, take them to the garden and watch their astonishment as they discover the soother has grown into a cake pop!

Bye-bye balloon:

Let your child pick out a helium balloon at the store, then tie the pacifier to it and send it up into the air. The bonus of this one, is that they watch it disappear which leaves little confusion or question about whether it comes back.

Big-kid day:

The day they give up their pacifier, allow them to have a special day to do things they’ve never been able to do before. Maybe that’s riding on the lawn mower with dad, buying ice cream, watch a movie, or stay up a little bit later.

Mail it to a new baby:

Put the pacifier into a new box, wrap it up and “mail it away” to a new baby who needs it.

Toy store trade-in:

Take the pacifier or soother to the store and do a trade-in. Let your child choose a toy, and when they get to the cash register, they must “trade-in” their pacifier for the toy.

Tips for parents when giving up the pacifier:

-The earlier you wean off, the easier it will be. Studies show that between 6 – 9 months is ideal.
-Choose the right time, don’t do this during any time of transition (new baby, new daycare, or busy holidays, etc.). These times will be harder, as they’ll be more stressed and looking for comfort.
-Keep it positive, lots of reinforcement
-Validate their feelings; it will be hard.
-Stay strong; the more times you give in, the longer the process will be.
Mentally prepare yourself for some long nights and lots of tears.

Remember, the goal is to wean your toddler off their soother in a gentle and supportive way. If you choose to make it creative and fun, that’s great! If you choose to go cold turkey or slow and steady, it’s also cool! With patience, persistence, and support, you can help your toddler make the transition to a soother-free life.

Related:  Best pacifiers for babies who spit them out.

The post How to wean off a soother / pacifier, including a few ideas you haven’t tried!   appeared first on The Mabelhood.

If you are wondering whether your child is ready for this transition, it would help if you asked yourself:

• Is my child consistently trying to climb out of the crib?
• Is the crib getting too small or tight for my child?
• Is my child showing interest in a big kid bed?
• Do I need the crib for a new sibling?

  If you answered yes to these, it may be time to transition to a big bed!

Check out these five tips that can help make the process easier for both you and your child:  

1. Start preparing earlier. It is always a good idea to keep the child involved in the whole move process. Children find comfort in knowing what to expect. It would be helpful to start talking to your child about how sleeping in a big kid’s bed would feel. Shortlist the beds you like and let your child browse them and decide which one to buy. Picking out their favorite character’s bedsheet and pillowcases can excite the child to sleep in it. Picking up a date for the big move would also build excitement and prepare them for it.
2. Keep the bedtime routine the same as before. When your child is about to experience a big change, it is always helpful that all the other factors of their routine remain the same. It would make the whole process a little less overwhelming for them. Whether it is story time before bed, their usual night light, or the stuffy they sleep with, the child would find comfort in all those familiar things. Making a big deal out of their big move would make them feel proud of themselves for achieving this milestone.
3. Keep a water bottle close to the bed for nighttime waking. Kids wake up a lot during the night for water, a scratchy throat, or simply some comfort sips. Having a water bottle nearby would help them stay in their room in case they need a drink. It also helps them stay in their room for longer in the morning when they wake up and want to just independently play in their room.
4. Be prepared for your child rolling over at night. During the initial days when the child is getting used to their new bed, they might roll over during the night. For this reason, lower toddler beds are more useful. Having some floor cushions beside the bed would lessen the impact of the fall. It is okay if you find them sleeping on the floor the next morning. They will eventually get the hang of it. Child proofing the kids’ room would help in ensuring that the child remains safe in case he rolls over. Having a video and sound monitor in the room is a great help for parents to keep a track of their child.
5. Start the bedtime earlier than their usual time. For at least a month, it would be helpful to start their bedtime routine and getting them in bed around half an hour earlier than their usual bedtime. This is because the child might want to play in their room a bit or take longer to fall asleep initially. This would help avoid morning crankiness due to lack of sleep.

Moving to a toddler bed gives the child a sense of freedom. Letting them explore their room and their toys inside their room during bedtime and after they wake up in the morning would help encourage them to play independently. Gradually, they will find their way around, and start sleeping without getting distracted. Know that you will get through this too, like always! The key is to be consistent. Happy transitioning, you got this!

For A Sleep Consultant’s Answers to Parents’ Top 10 Sleep Questions check this out!

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Some weird toddler behaviors that make us nervous wrecks but relax, mama; these odd things are normal: 

 Hair twirling or pulling:

This behavior can be alarming or frustrating if they’re tangling their hair. But, it’s simply a way of self-soothing. It seems quite an unusual way of soothing, but it is normal (as is nail-biting and picking). So, redirect this when you see it, give them something else to do with their hands, and they should eventually grow out of it. 

Rocking back and forth:

Another typical self-soothing technique. Rocking back and forth is often seen in kids who are not yet verbal and can’t express their feelings. They may be feeling frustrated or angry, or upset. A mother’s instinct is to our babies, so it makes sense that it’s something they do for themselves too. 

The behavior only becomes worrisome if they appear to be in a trance-like state. In which case, you may want to contact your family doctor.

Lying:

Totally normal! Toddlers often have a hard time distinguishing between reality and fantasy, and lying is a blurry way of providing an answer to something that they wished happened or might happen or could have possibly have happened- it’s a blurry line for them and nothing to worry about. So don’t discipline for these lies; just encourage honesty. As life gets more precise, the lies will become less. 

Imaginary friends:

Imaginary friends are a healthy part of child development. It was believed that toddlers having an imaginary friend was a sign of mental health issues, but studies have completely disproven this archaic way of thinking.  

 “Imaginary friends are now considered a natural part of childhood for many children, and have been associated with a range of positive developmental outcomes.”

Head banging:

This one can be very scary for parents because it’s so hard to understand and watch your child do something that appears to be harmful. But rest assured, head banging is common and normal. It’s more common in boys than girls and usually doesn’t happen after 4. It’s self-soothing, tension-releasing, and they quickly learn that it gets your attention.  

While it can be alarming, you probably have very little to worry about as long as your little one is happy and healthy.

Playing with poop:

As horrifying and gross as this can be, playing with poop is a normal toddler behavior. It’s simple sensory and exploratory, and curiosity. Poops can be fascinating to a little one; look what their body just did!

It could be a sign they’re ready to potty train. The best way to deal with it is never over-react (although that can be hard, try your best to keep your cool). Any behavior that gets a great deal of attention can use later for attention-seeking. And we don’t need that poopy situation. Make sure their hands are properly washed and talk calmly about how poop must stay in their diaper. 

Always being naked:

Totally normal (can you blame them?). It feels nice; they can have some independence and assert themselves. Plus, clothes can be uncomfortable. So, letting them go nakies at home is fine (choose your battles, right!). But, speak to them about the importance of clothing outside the house and that we keep our bodies private. 

Touching their peers or siblings’ genitals:

Another normal development stage touching themselves or siblings’ genitals is normal. They’re simply curious about bodies and haven’t been told the importance of privacy yet. It’s important to explain that we don’t touch anyone else’s private parts and only touch our own in private. Generally, kids quickly pick up on this, and the behavior is easy to redirect. 

Not answering when you speak to them:

This can be super frustrating. And if you’re certain your child doesn’t have any hearing issues, this is normal. Often this is their way of exerting power. Toddlers don’t have a lot of control over their life or environment. Not listening might be their way of taking some of that power back, and again, they’re looking for your reaction. Try giving your toddler small choices (red cup or blue cup) and making them feel like they’re in charge of their own lives. 

Any time the behaviors appear to be too much, you’re unable to redirect or accompany sudden mood changes or anxiety, reach out to your family doctor or mental health professional.

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